Feeding Thousands . . . Again!

Mark 8:1-10, CEB - In those days there was another large crowd with nothing to eat. Jesus called his disciples and told them,  “I feel sorry for the crowd because they have been with me for three days and have nothing to eat.  If I send them away hungry to their homes, they won’t have enough strength to travel, for some have come a long distance.”

His disciples responded, “How can anyone get enough food in this wilderness to satisfy these people?”

Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?”

They said, “Seven loaves.”

He told the crowd to sit on the ground. He took the seven loaves, gave thanks, broke them apart, and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they gave the bread to the crowd.  They also had a few fish. He said a blessing over them, then gave them to the disciples to hand out also.  They ate until they were full. They collected seven baskets full of leftovers.  This was a crowd of about four thousand people! Jesus sent them away, then got into a boat with his disciples and went over to the region of Dalmanutha.

 

Only Matthew and Mark include this story in their accounts along with the feeding of the five thousand (which all four gospels include).  This should cause us to ask, “why tell a very similar feeding miracle only few paragraphs after you’ve told the first story.  If you are the gospel writer and you want people to know about the second similar miracle, why not just quickly mention that Jesus “did it again” and move on.  Mark does this with other types of miracles saying things like, “He healed many others.”  Why not do the same thing here?  The reason is in the details.

Many of the details are exactly the same.  Jesus has compassion for a crowd that has been following Him and is hungry.  The disciples are almost offended that Jesus asks them to feed the crowd and they complain about how much it will cost. Jesus asks them what they have, the disciples take inventory, report to Jesus, and then Jesus uses whatever they have to feed everyone.  There is not only enough to feed everyone, but there are leftovers.  Mark takes care to use a lot of the very same words to tell the two feeding stories.   What He wants to stick out like a sore thumb is that the disciples have learned nothing from the previous feeding miracle.  If they had, they would not wonder about where the food is going to come from.  They would have known this meal will cost nothing because Jesus will provide.  Jesus will take whatever they have available and multiply it.  There will be enough and then some.  In fact, in both the feeding of the five thousand and the feeding of the four thousand, there is at least as much leftover as they had to work with when they started. 

We, the church of Jesus’s continuing disciples, are the people Jesus has chosen to continue His compassionate ministry to those who are hungry and in need.  Like Jesus’s first disciples, we sometimes “don’t get it” either.   Though we have seen Jesus provide in the past, we wonder if He will provide in the present, even in almost identical circumstances.  We complain that we don’t have enough resources or the cost is too high.  We fail to believe that, somehow in miraculous and mysterious provision of God, the little bit we have will not only be enough, but we will not really lose anything; the needs will be met and we’ll still have as much as we had before if not more.  As we’ll see a couple reflections from now, Jesus is frustrated with His disciples lack of understanding.  I’m pretty sure his frustration persists with us.

 

Questions:  When have you witnessed God’s miraculous provision when it seemed obvious that there would not be enough?  When have you witnessed ministry not being undertaken because the cost is high or there didn’t seem to be enough resources?

 

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, forgive us for our lack of faith and inability to learn from what You have done for us and through us in the past.  Have patience as we learn to trust in Your provision. Amen.

 

Prayer Focus:  Pray for churches that are struggling to stay open right now.

 

Song:  Battle Belongs – Phil Wickham

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtvQNzPHn-w

Jesus Chose Political Rivals

Mark 3:13-19 - Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.  He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.  These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

 

I have else reflected on the diversity of Jesus’s disciples.  Professional fishermen and tax collectors are chosen.  Impetuous, impulsive, “thunder-like,” doubt-prone, educated and barely-educated all chosen.  What never occurred to me recently, however, is that Jesus intentionally chose political rivals to travel with Him for three years and take on the same authority He wielded to preach and cast out demons. 

 

Matthew was a tax collector, who by definition, was aligned with the Roman state.  Roman contracted tax collectors to collect the taxes from those under their rule and Matthew was one of those contractors.  Simon, identified as a Zealot, is, by definition, one that believes the Roman state should be eliminated or at the very least, resisted.  I would have loved to be a fly on the wall hearing these two guys talk after a long day of ministry with Jesus.  But both were chosen, trained, given authority, and eventually sent out to represent Him. 

There is much talk these days about the growing divisiveness in our culture.  Politicians in separate parties seem to be more and more driven by the desire to malign, discredit, and defeat their “rivals” rather than find a way to govern together.  The people represented by these public servants often mimic and even expound upon the toxic rhetoric on social media.  Mainstream media outlets strategically brand themselves as allies of a particular and cunningly seek to discredit the outlets of other “flavors.”  All this divisiveness can increasingly be seen in the church as well – the community of Jesus’s current disciples.   Church disputes are increasingly involving the secular law courts and all too many congregations have begun to brand themselves in the same way that media outlets do.

 

I am convinced that this state of affairs saddens and likely angers our Lord.  Matthew, Simon, and almost certainly the rest the disciples regularly disagreed about important matters.  But Jesus intentionally chose people that saw the world differently than others that He chose.  They were anything but a homogenous group of yes-men for a particular viewpoint.  But their “rivals” were not each other.  Their rivals were the many variety of “demons” that tortured the people Jesus came to preach to and save.   

 

There is nothing wrong with having strong political opinions.  But as followers of Jesus, we’re called to advance the mission of Jesus more than the “success” of those opinions.  In fact, I happen to believe that our differing convictions enable us to pursue this mission more effectively.  Those who see the world and current issues differently than I do are able to reach people that would not even give me the time of day and vice versa. What would be even more effective than that would be for congregation of individuals who include in their ranks people aligned with opposing worldviews united by a mission that is bigger than all those worldviews put together.  I think that is why Jesus intentionally created such a community.  A tribe that includes Matthew and Simon might just make both Roman sympathizers and anti-Roman zealots wonder if there is something even more important than Rome. 

 

Question:  Do you believe the community described above is possible?  Why or Why not?

 

Prayer:  God of All, give us eyes to see our “rivals” the way you do.  Amen.

 

Prayer Focus:  Pray for people wrestling with some kind of “demon” today (feel free to define “demon” any way you feel appropriate). 

 

Song:  Where is the Love? - Black-Eyed Peas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiy-oEGYYPc

Receiving the Disappointment of God - January 7, 2022

 

Receiving the Disappointment of God - January 7, 2022

 

Today we resume our journey through the Gospel of Matthew that we started back in August after focusing on Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. 

 

Matthew 17:14-20, The Message - At the bottom of the mountain, they were met by a crowd of waiting people. As they approached, a man came out of the crowd and fell to his knees begging, “Master, have mercy on my son. He goes out of his mind and suffers terribly, falling into seizures. Frequently he is pitched into the fire, other times into the river. I brought him to your disciples, but they could do nothing for him.”

Jesus said, “What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here.” He ordered the afflicting demon out—and it was out, gone. From that moment on the boy was well.

When the disciples had Jesus off to themselves, they asked, “Why couldn’t we throw it out?”

“Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,” said Jesus. “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.”

 

In today’s passage, it’s especially important to remember what has just happened in the passage leading up to this one.  Jesus and three of His disciples have just finished witnessing Jesus being transfigured before them up on the mountain and in addition to that, Moses and Elijah show up to confer with Jesus.  If ever there were a faith-building event for these disciples, they have just experienced it.  They have just seen with their own eyes proof that Jesus is indeed the Son of God and all of heaven’s power is behind him. Fresh from that experience, they come down off the mountain and a man brings his son to Jesus’s disciples to be healed.  They are unable to heal him.  Jesus shows some emotion as he hears this. 

 

                “How much longer do I have to put up with this?,” he asks in exasperation.

 

                Jesus is disheartened that His disciples haven’t enough faith to perform this healing.  If I’m honest, I feel Jesus’s impatience personally as if He had directed at me.  While I have not witnessed anything like the transfiguration, I have witnessed many miracles over the course of my life, some of them in my own family.  If anyone should have a mustard seed’s amount of faith, it is me.  But I have to confess that I have often come up short when my faith was called upon to move even little molehills, much less mountains.  I hear Jesus’s frustration in this encounter and it hits home in my heart.

 

                Part of Jesus’s urgency here concerns Him having knowledge that the others do not have; His time is growing short.  He knows the time is quickly approaching that he will be hanging on a Roman cross and He wants His disciples to be ready.  It frustrates Jesus that his cohorts are further along in their faith journey than they are.  Likewise, it often frustrates me that I am not further along in my faith journey than I am.  Perhaps some of you know what I’m talking about from your own experience. 

 

                There’s part of me that would like to think that God never gets frustrated with me and my bumbling faith.  But the larger part of me knows that it can’t be true.  To love someone means that you will get frustrated when they aren’t living at the level you know they could.  Loving parents know just when to express this frustration to kids who need a little kick in the pants to do better.  Jesus is giving His disciples one of those shoves.  And they will do better as a result.  These men will be the leaders of the movement Jesus starts after Jesus ascends into heaven.  They will perform much greater miracles than the miracle they failed to perform here.  They are no worse for wear after being the recipients of Jesus’s expressed disappointment; in fact, they will be better because Jesus didn’t hold back.

 

Question:  When has another’s disappointment with you been the catalyst for positive personal growth?

 

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, we long to have even a mustard’s seed amount of faith.  Do with us as you know best to move us to that faith-filled place.  Amen.

 

Prayer Focus:  Pray for those who have experienced a discouraging failure recently.

 

Song:  Ain’t No Grave – Molly Skaggs (Bethel Music)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGncW_ueyHA

Matthew 14:22-33 - If You Want to Walk on Water . . .

 

November 12, 2021 - If You Want to Walk on Water. . .

 

Matthew 14:22-33, NRSV - Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.  And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.  And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea.  But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”  He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.  But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”  When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

 

Quickly notice that Jesus, whose intended break earlier (14:14) got cut short, now takes some “me and God” time after he dismissed the crowds.  He put them first, but afterwards, He still took care of Himself.  He sent the disciples out in the boat so that he could be alone to pray.  So this is what sets up the walking on the water.  After his intentional prayer time, he walks out on the water to rejoin His buddies. 

This totally freaks out the buddies; they think Jesus is a ghost.  Jesus tells them to “chill” and lets them know it’s just their fearless leader.  It’s at this point all of the disciples are awestruck, but Peter wants to join in the fun.  Notice the faith in his request;  “command me to come to you on the water.”  Jesus indulges him and tells him to come.  And then . . . Peter gets out of the boat and WALKS ON WATER!”  This is Peter who, on another occasion is associated with Satan by Jesus.  It’s Peter who would deny Jesus three times after the crucifixion.  But in this moment, Peter walks on water on the command of his Lord.  The faltering Peter shows up a few seconds later when he loses his faith and focus and begins to sink.  But notice how quickly the faith returns.  Peter calls to Jesus for a rescue and Jesus pulls him back up out of the water. 

Even Peter, one of the greatest of the first apostles, was a mixed bag of faith and doubt.  I have to say that this fact is somewhat comforting to me.  If Peter can have doubts and missteps while still being in the center of God’s plan, than there is hope for you and me.  However, this is not possible because of who Peter, you, or me is, but because of who Jesus is.  The disciples in the boat proclaim this truth when they exclaim, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

The ”impossible” becomes possible when Jesus tells us we can do it.  But too many of us stay in the land of possibility.  Peter had faith that it was possible for him to walk on water before he ever lifted his foot over the side of the boat.  But that possibility never becomes reality UNTIL he actually lifts his foot over the side of the boat, shifts his weight overboard, and lifts his remaining foot out of the boat.  It's one thing to believe that it’s possible to do the impossible with the Lord’s help.  It is another thing entirely to risk that belief by actually attempting the impossible.  Faith + Action = transformation of impossible to possible. 

 

Question:  Where in your life do you need to “lift your foot over the side of the boat and step out?”

 

Prayer:  Lord, command me to do that “impossible thing” that I feel led to do and that I believe is possible to do with your help.  Help me get my feet “out of the boat.”  Amen.

 

Prayer Focus:  Pray for your neighbors today. 

 

Song: Walking on Water – Needtobreathe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abwwcmQriq0

Matthew 11:6-15 - If John Had Doubts About Jesus, What Chance Do I Have?

Daily Devo w/ Pastor Eric October 14, 2021

If John Had Doubts About Jesus, What Chance Do I Have?

 

Matthew 11:6-15, NIV – “Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”  As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?  If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.  Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,

    who will prepare your way before you.’

Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.  For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.  And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.  Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Yesterday, we talked about Jesus responding to John the Baptist’s question about whether Jesus was the Messiah.  John seemed to be wavering in his belief, and Jesus gives him some scriptural reassurance to reinforce his faith.  As he finishes giving John’s disciples the message to deliver to John who is in prison, he makes the statement at the beginning of our passage for today.

“Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” (Mt 11:6)

This is a transitional statement that is for John and for the crowd that Jesus is now turning to address. The crowd has heard the exchange between John’s disciples and Jesus and will need some reassurance of their own.  If the great John the Baptist is having doubts about Jesus, then who wouldn’t have doubts? So Jesus talks to the crowd about John.

                The interesting thing about Jesus’s remarks to me is that Jesus does not even address John’s doubts (or the crowd’s for that matter).  He simply talks about the greatness of John and John’s ministry.  Though we (two thousand years later) may miss it, he is drawing a contrast between John (“among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater”) and the man that imprisoned John, the King Herod Antipas, whose public symbol was a reed (“a reed swayed by the wind”).  At some point though, you might expect Jesus to say something like, “John was great, but even the greats have doubts sometimes.”  Jesus does not make any such statement.  What he does with the crowd is similar to what he did with John/John’s disciples.  After affirming John’s greatness, Jesus quotes scripture. 

“This is the one about whom it is written:

‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,

    who will prepare your way before you.’”

The quote is from Malachi where Malachi talks about one who precedes the Messiah, an Elijah-like messenger.  By invoking this prophecy Jesus is simultaneously proclaiming that John is that Elijah figure AND that He (Jesus) is indeed the Messiah.  This is confirmed when at the end of our passage for today when Jesus says, “if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.”

                The implicit message of Jesus here is not a prescription to get rid of doubts, but an invitation to believe in the midst of doubts.  In fact, that is the very root of real faith itself.  Believing is easy when there is no cause for doubt.  But Jesus acknowledges that there is great cause for doubt (“the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it”).  Because of this, doubts will always be with us, but the invitation of the Kingdom is to keep on believing anyway.  The reasons for our doubts will fall away, but the Kingdom is forever.

                This sets up the last observation for today.  It concerns Jesus’s surprising statement, “whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than [John the Baptist].”  Why would anyone be “greater” than John, much less the “least in the kingdom?”  There is a lot that could be said here, but you’ve already endured a lot of explanation today, so I’ll keep it brief.  At this point in Matthew’s story, there is great confusion about the true nature of Jesus’s identity even among Jesus’s followers (and John the Baptist for that matter).  They hear Jesus proclaiming the Kingdom, but they aren’t ready for the “mind grenade” that it will come through Jesus’s death and resurrection.  They expect to see Jesus become an earthly king, not a crucified messiah.  There is no possible way for them to comprehend what even the most casual believer in Jesus embraces now – that the Kingdom that Jesus ushers in necessitated His death.  It is His death that makes the full expression of the Kingdom possible.  The “least in the Kingdom” now know something John the Baptist could have never known before.  You and I know that that too, “if we are willing to accept it.”

 

Question:  How do you choose to believe in Jesus and His Kingdom, in spite of doubts caused by all that is around us?

 

Prayer:  God, “we believe.  Help us in our unbelief”  (Mark 9:24) Amen.

 

Prayer Focus:  Choose a couple of specific people that you know that have not chosen to believe in Jesus yet.  Pray for them today.

 

Song:  Bill Gaither - I Believe, Help Thou My Unbelief

Note:  I have to confess.  I am not a huge fan of Bill Gaither fan (though my Mom adores him!), but this song deeply touches me and speaks to message for today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z__h1uiSC6I

Matthew 10:17-33 - Living Out Loud

Daily Devo w/ Pastor Eric October 8, 2021

Living Out Loud

 

Matthew 10:17-33, NIV -  Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues.  On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.  But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.  You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.  When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

“The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.  It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

“So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.  What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.  Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

 

                Yesterday’s message about sheep and wolves began a section of Jesus’s teaching that is difficult to hear because he warns his disciples that following Him will have unpleasant and sometimes even tragic consequences.  It was especially true for his first twelve disciples – all but maybe a couple met untimely deaths because of their proclamation of Jesus.  What Jesus told them would happen did happen, they were arrested and called before rulers.  They were jailed, exiled, and beaten.  It is a testimony to how convinced they were that Jesus was the Messiah and to give their life and safety to His cause was the greatest honor of their life.   

                For us in America in the 21^st century, we marvel at the sacrifice of these disciples who preceded us by two thousand years and for the most part, we see the danger of that hey faced down as ancient history.  But it’s important for us to remember that it is STILL very dangerous to be a Christian in many places in the world today.  Christians in North Korea can be executed for possessing even a torn-out page of the Bible.  Every month, an average of 312 Christians are killed, 214 churches and Christian properties are destroyed, and 772 forms of violence (beatings, kidnappings, rape, arrest, etc.) are committed against Christians.  Though our country is not immune to Christian persecution, it is much more the exception than the rule.  But our safety should not make us blind that others still face the dangers about which Jesus warned. 

                What is particularly striking to me about so many of the stories of modern-day Christian martyrdoms is how bold these martyrs are in standing up for their faith in the face of such obvious danger.  They refuse to deny their faith even when doing so would save their lives.  They tell people about their faith who could readily (and often do) turn them into authorities.  New believers are “declared dead” by their families because of their decision to follow Jesus and yet, these brave new Christians cling to faith nonetheless.  I’d like to believe that I’d be as courageous and steadfast as these modern-day martyrs, but I’m not sure I would be given the same circumstances.  I’m certain I’m not alone in that.

                Today, as we feel the discomfort of Jesus’s warnings and remind ourselves that these warnings are still relevant in most of the 21^st century world,  I encourage us to think about steps we can take exhibit a more courageous faith.  Let’s be brave enough to question some of the actions we’ve not taken out of fear of being unpopular or losing some Facebook friends.  Jesus has called us to live out “unsafe” faith with the promise that He is with us and has our back.  Let’s answer that call.

 

Question:  Does the way that you live out your faith ever put you at odds with others?

 

Prayer:  Jesus, help us know deep in our heart how precious each day of our life here is and help us to use these days to live out bold faith.  Help us confront our fears with the assurance our lives are ultimately “hidden away with you.”  Amen.

 

Prayer Focus:  Pray for people worldwide who are facing violence and even death because they follow Jesus.

 

Song:  Live Out Loud - Steven Curtis Chapman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rWpsilHe7U

Matthew 10:16 - It's Not Easy Being Sheep

It’s Not Easy Being Sheep

 

Matthew 10:16, NIV -  “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

Mattthew 10:16, The Message - “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.

 

The summer after my first year of college, I got a job on the landscaping crew at a local country club golf course.  All during high school, I had my own landscaping business, so this job was really my first experience of being on a crew whom I didn’t know beforehand.  It was a eye-opening experience.  The guys on this crew were a rough bunch.  There was rarely a day when there wasn’t some sort of altercation between my co-workers.  One day, one of them even took a swing at our boss.  I knew from talking with my crewmates that most of them went drinking most nights and the stories they’d have the next day were usually quite colorful.  I’ll leave it at that.  I didn’t think I had led a sheltered life until that summer. 

Those guys found out that I was a “church boy” (their term) and that led to some serious ridicule.  It was really my first time feeling like a sheep among wolves.  I knew the poking was aimed at getting a rise out of me and hopefully provoking a fight.  Wanting to avoid that, I would mostly just take their jabs and try to change the subject.  Over time though, their behavior started to change towards me.  Instead of barbs, they would look for an opportunity to ask me questions when others were not around.  They would ask me about my church or about what I thought about certain issues.  In the two months I was there I felt like they had begun to see me as one of the crew.  And I like to think I planted some seeds. 

But all of that could have gone another way.  There was one time when their ridicule had almost had me ready to fight. Truth be told, there probably would have been a fight had the boss not shown up.  I also felt quite tempted to begin to talk the way they did and to come up with some colorful stories of my own.  When you’re among wolves, the temptation is to act like a wolf.  I will confess that during high school, I had indeed made that choice several times.  But when I think of those times now, I shudder.  Why?  Because I know that I am one of the sheep. 

It can be hard to be a sheep, especially when you’re among wolves.  It requires you to be on your toes and think carefully about every move.  Wolves are generally really easily provoked, especially on social media.  But if you are a follower of the Great Shepherd Jesus, then by definition, you also are a sheep.  Furthermore, we are sheep sent to be among wolves in the hopes that those wolves will one day become sheep. 

 

Question:  What “wolves” do you find yourself among these days?  Take a moment to name them for yourself.  Then pray for them.  Then pray for yourself that you will not adopt wolflike ways.  Be a sheep but be smart about it.

 

Prayer:  God, show us the wolves you’ve sent us to be among and give us your love for them so that we might be part of their sheep transformation.

 

Prayer Focus:  Pray for the “wolves” in your life.  If you don’t have any wolves, pray for God to send you out among them.

 

Songs:  I Just Want to Be a Sheep – Another song that will stay in your head all day. . .you’re welcome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8GLj2Z7M6o

Matthew 10:9-15 - What Do Disciples Really Need?

 

What Do Disciples Really Need?

 

Matthew 10:9-15, The Message - “Don’t think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don’t need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light.

“When you enter a town or village, don’t insist on staying in a luxury inn. Get a modest place with some modest people, and be content there until you leave.

“When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting. If they welcome you, be gentle in your conversation. If they don’t welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they’ll be mighty sorry—but it’s no concern of yours now.

 

In today’s passage, Jesus continues in his instructions to the twelve disciples as He sends them on their first mission without Him.  In yesterday’s reflection, we talked about the target audience (lost sheep of Israel), the message (the Kingdom of Heaven is here), and their strategy (miraculous works).  In the passage for today, Jesus covers resources and an even sharper focus on how to spend their time and energy.  Let’s talk about resources first. 

Too many churches and too many Christians feel like they don’t have the resources to be faithful.  They see thriving ministries and/or impactful Christians making a difference with seemingly endless resources and they get discouraged about the meager resources they have.  Many even resign themselves to not engaging because of a feeling that it won’t make a difference. Hearing Christ’s instructions to his first disciples should cure us if this is the case with us.  Basically, Jesus says to them, “just you are enough” to be faithful and effective servants.”  It’s almost as if Jesus knows that having resources might even get in the way.  If you hear nothing else today, hear this; you are enough for service to God.  That thing or skill or resource you think you need to take the next step…you don’t need it.  You are enough.

Now about the focus.  On this, Jesus is just practical.  Spend your time and energy on folks who are receptive to your work.  Be gracious to all but when that grace is refused, quietly move on.  It can be tempting to try and convince unreceptive folk of your good intentions, but Jesus simply guides us to use the same energy on folks who seem to be ready for grace.  There are more of them than those “tough nuts to crack.”  I guessing we all need to heed this guidance sometimes.

 

Questions:  Have you disqualified yourself or delayed a decision to serve in some way because you are waiting for something to happen?  Think about the people you are attempting to serve these days. Do they seem receptive to your efforts?

 

Prayer:  Jesus, thank you for the way in which you have gifted and equipped me to serve you and others.  Help me rely on You and You alone for all that I need to be faithful. Amen.

 

Prayer Focus:  Pray for God to show you a new opportunity today.

 

Song:  One of my favorite hymns from one of my favorite people.  My brother-in-law  Terry is in a group called Pinder and Snow.  Enjoy!

Be Thou My Vision – Pinder and Snow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST_m5DMTNo4&list=PLdssianaWLlcBvaQXe5NHVzq8JgS7DFcT&index=12