Friday, February 19, 2010 Reading - Matthew 13:1-43

In today's passage Jesus tells four different parables, the parable of the sower, the parable of the weeds, the parable of the mustard seed, and the parable of the yeast.  The first parable teaches about how the gospel is accepted (or not) by different types of people.  The last three parables refer to the kingdom of God.  Instead of writing my thoughts today, I'm interested in hearing yours.

What do you make of these parables?  What do you learn from these teachings about the Kingdom of heaven?

Thursday, February 18, 2010 Reading - Matthew 12:1-13; 22-45

Two stories involving Jesus - one where He and His disciples picked the heads off of grain as they walked through a field and the other where Jesus heals a man's hand - both take place on the Sabbath.  According to the rules the Pharisees had, this was a sin.  According to their legalism and focus on the law, this was not right.  It was hard for the Pharisees to understand, but Jesus was introducing a new freedom, based on a new way of being right with God -  through Christ.  Jesus was trying to help them see that the law was unable to justify them before a holy God, but this law was all they had known, so they held onto it.

Although we know the grace offered to us through Christ's sacrifice, we often hold onto the law as well.  The ironic thing is that when we focus on the law or when we see others focus on the law (such as the Pharisees in this story) it is typically when the offense was made by someone else - we  aren't so focused on the law for ourselves.  May God continue to help me extend His grace to others in light of my own great failures.

I apologize, but due to my need for sleep (as I type this Wed. night) and a desire to keep these blogs from being several pages long, I will refrain from blogging about Matthew 12:22-45 .  But if you have insight, questions, or comments on these verses please comment!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 Reading - Matthew 8:1-13; Luke 7:11-17; 7:36-50

In Matthew 8, we see a leper and a centurion who believe in Jesus' power and Jesus gladly gives the gift of healing. Then in Luke 7, Jesus comes across a widow whose only son has just died and "His heart went our to her" and He healed the boy.

Then in the latter passage of Luke 7 Jesus goes to the house of a Pharisee and a "sinful" woman wept at His feet and washed His feet with her tears and a jar of perfume that she brought. The Pharisee questioned in his mind why Jesus didn't understand the type of woman this was, but Jesus knew all too well. Jesus tells a story to the man to help him understand that those who have been forgiven much, love much, and those who have been forgiven little, love little. Then Jesus forgives her of her sin.

As we continue IN THE WORD we get a better picture of Jesus' heart. He wants to help, wants to heal, wants to forgive - He doesn't withhold these things. May we learn of Him and follow His ways. May we take time for people and see their hearts, not their mistakes or weaknesses.

God, please help me to see others through your eyes.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010 Reading - Lk. 6:17-46

Wow. When I read a passage like this it kind of jars me. It makes me wonder if we are truly following Jesus. His values are so opposite of our American culture, that I fear we often just dismiss Him. Not dismiss Him outright, just subtly think that He's exaggerating or something.

Blessed are the poor. (not me)

Blessed are those that hunger now. (not me)

Blessed are you when men hate you. (not me)

But woe to you who are rich. (In comparison to the rest of the world - me)

Woe to you who are well fed now. (me)

Woe to you when men speak well of you. (usually, me)

My guess is that you would fit these statements similar to me. Did anybody else notice that none of the blessing statements referred to me, but all of the woe statements did? This leaves me unsettled...

Then Jesus goes into teaching about loving our enemies. This once again convicts me. I typically consider myself to be very loving, but like Jesus said, everybody loves those who love them. How often do I show love to my "enemies?" How often am I merciful, as God is merciful?

Then Jesus moves into talking about not judging others, and teaching His disciples that as they judge others, they will be judged likewise. If the church were to live this one truth out, our efforts to reveal the goodness of God to those who don't know Him would be so much easier!

Finally, Jesus sums this bit of teaching up by comparing believers to fruit trees. If the "tree" bears good fruit, it's obviously a good tree, if it bears bad fruit, it's a bad tree. Jesus is talking about our actions, and if the tree analogy isn't clear, He makes sure we get the message in verse 46, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and not do what I say?"

May we be a church that truly follows Jesus. Not our ideals about Jesus, not our self-projections of Jesus, but the Jesus who was a "man of sorrows," the Jesus who was hated because He was so different and because His righteousness was intimidating to those who lived in darkness. May our lives reflect His light so much that the world takes note and seeks to figure out Who it is that we reflect.

Monday, February 15th Reading - Luke 5:1-11; Matthew 9:9-13

I love these two stories. In Luke chapter 5, I'm reminded of my relationship with God. As Jesus tells Peter (a professional fisherman) to put out into deep water and let down the nets, Peter faces a dilemma. Jesus is not a professional fisherman, Peter is. Peter has already been out fishing all night and didn't catch a thing. He's tired, he wants to go home and sleep, but Jesus (his mentor) tells him to do something. To Peter, Jesus' request doesn't make sense and he doesn't really want to do what Jesus says. But, since it's Jesus, he relents. Upon obeying Jesus, they catch so many fish that their nets are about to break and it takes two boats to haul the catch in. Amazed once again and reminded of who he is with, Peter bows and worships Jesus and embarrassingly confesses that he is sinful. Jesus simply tells Peter not to be afraid, and gives him a new assignment, fishing for men.

How many times have I not understood why I was in the situation I was in, yet feeling compelled or guided by God went on with things only to see Him do amazing things. It's embarrassing to have to learn this lesson over and over, but I guess we sometimes get comfortable with Jesus and forget just who He is.

In Matthew 9, Jesus meets a man named Matthew who is a tax collector - someone who was hated by Jewish people of that culture - a thief, a crook, a jerk. And Jesus tells this "sinner" to follow Him, and without having to twist his arm, he does. Matthew gets up, stops working, and is somehow compelled to follow this Jesus. Maybe because few people wanted to spend time with Matthew? Then it tells us that Jesus is sitting in Matthews house and a bunch of other tax collectors and "sinners" drop by to hang out. Jesus, holy, perfect, pure Jesus is hanging out with outcasts and it appears that He is perfectly comfortable. Perhaps just as amazing is that so are they. This doesn't mean that Jesus changed His style or His demeanor, it simply shows how wonderfully gracious Jesus always was. Unfortunately things were going well until the religious people show up. They just can't understand why Jesus is hanging out with sinners. So He reminds them, and in the process, reminds us, that this is why He came. "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." Then He continues by telling them to learn what this means - "I desire mercy, not sacrifice."

God isn't interested in our religious checklists, He is interested in our love for others, our extension of His grace which extends His great love into this desperate world. May we continue to be challenged and admonished by Jesus' example. May we finally get it and live as He tells us to.

God please help us, please help me, to love as you love.