Whatever it takes

Matthew 10:18 And you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to be witness before them and the Gentiles.

Somehow, in all the times I have read these words of Jesus to His disciples as He sent them out, I missed what I see today as a key element in this statement in v. 18.  I have always looked at the emphasis here as being in the fact that what persecution the disciples received from authorities was because of the message they were preaching.  Today as I read this verse the last phrase stood out to me.  The persecution that brings them before the rulers is “in order to” bear witness before those rulers.  As those in authority, governors and kings are usually unapproachable by any except a very few, so how would they hear the message of Jesus unless someone is brought to them to explain why they been arrested?  It is a “logical” way for the gospel to get to such people.  This has reminded me that God will do whatever is necessary to ensure that everyone (even “unapproachable” rulers) hears the gospel.

Do it afraid

Matthew 28:8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

How can a person be afraid and filled with joy at the same time?  How can you actually do something if you are fearful?  Those women at Jesus’ tomb did these things and I have often wondered at this seemingly impossible thing.  Then I think about two specific times in my life when I was fearful yet filled with joy and I realize this is not really an oxymoron at tall.  The day I boarded my first flight to Lebanon is vivid in my mind.  I felt “scared to death” at my first trip overseas, alone, to live in another country.  But I was filled with joy because I was fulfilling God’ will for me.  And the day I got married was similar … afraid but also excited and happy at the prospect of my marriage.  Both times I was ready to tell anyone who was listening about what I was doing, and that is how the women felt, I am sure.  The fear and joy did not deter them from running to their next responsibility, to tell the disciples, and it may have even motivated them.  So it can be for me as well.  My fear or my joy can both be my motivation to do whatever it is God is directing me to do.  Do it afraid, as they say!

Sharing

Matthew 26:18 Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, “The Teacher says, “My appointed time is near.  I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’”

My mind is filled with questions and responses to this event as I read it.  Who was that “certain man?”  One of the most well-known events leading up to the crucifixion took place in the home of a totally unknown person who obviously was a friend of Jesus.  But his name is not mentioned.  What is immortalized in this story is not who he was, but rather what he made available for Jesus’ use.  What a good lesson for me as I grow older as an “unknown” person wondering what I have to offer the Lord.  The older I get, the more I see myself getting caught in a cycle of routine and am finding it more and more difficult to let go of that in order to make the extra effort to share myself, my time, or my belongings.  I need to remember that this sharing is an important part of my ministry in Jesus’ name.  It is not important who I am but rather what I have made available of myself and/or my belongings that matters.  Another question I ask is: was this a pre-arranged use, arranged between Jesus and the “certain man” ahead of time, or was a “spur of the moment?”  Whichever the case, I see the bottom line as the same principle: that man opened his home.  I can do the same, even without previous planning.  God will use what I make available for His glory.

My inheritance

Matthew 25:34 … your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

I do not think I will ever (in this life) understand why or how God had our salvation and our eternal future all planned before man even existed.  But my faith tells me it is true even if I don not understand.  My inheritance as a child of God is the heavenly eternal kingdom of glory and bliss and majesty.  It has been mine since the creation of the world and it was settled for me when I gave my life to Jesus at the age of six.  It is mine now for the claiming and Christ is preparing my corner of the kingdom for my arrival.

Some will mourn

Matthew 24:30 … then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

I was struck by the description of how people will respond to Jesus’ second coming.  I always think of that event with great anticipation and had never considered it in any other way.  After all, this is the culmination of my faith and I look forward to the inexpressible joy it will bring as I see my Savior and Lord face-to-face.  But as I thought about this verse, I realized in a new way that for those who do not know Jesus as their loving Savior, this event will be bringing sadness and suffering.  They will mourn at His appearance.  For some, it will even represent a hug bite of humility as they are forced to acknowledge His power and glory that they have ignored in their lifetime.  As Philippians says, every knee will bow, it is just some will bow with joy and delight, while others will bow in mourning.  It is sobering to realize once again that not all of those I love and enjoy being with will have the same pleasure when Jesus appears.

Be quiet!

Matthew 20:31 the crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David have mercy on us!”

I am almost embarrassed to admit that I cannot remember a time when I felt so strongly about something that being told to “be quiet” did not at least tone down my actions or words.  Although I have strong feelings and opinions about certain things, it is not in my normal personality to respond the way these two blind men did to those trying to quiet them.  But these two knew without any doubt that their only hope for sight was Jesus, and they were willing to do whatever was necessary to get His attention and get help.  Jesus understood their desperation and He did not disappoint their faith.  In the Old Testament, I am reminded of Jacob, who did the same thing – not as noisily, but just as persistently when he would not stop wrestling until God blessed him.  It is that persistent quality that I do not want to miss out on and miss a blessing God intends for me to have.  God, help me to be persistent in my pursuit of godliness.

I am satisfied

Matthew 14:20 And they all ate and were satisfied.

As I was reading the accounts in Matthew, Mark and in Luke of the feeding of the thousands this morning, I was struck by the phrase appearing in all three accounts,” They all ate and were satisfied.”  When Jesus miraculously multiplied the food available for the crowds, they did not just get enough to tide them over until they could get their own food.  They had enough to be satisfied.  That gives me the impression there was no lingering need or desire for more than what they got.  It made me think of the many times I have found myself feeling so satisfied, so fulfilled by what God has provided for me spiritually.  My relationship to God through Jesus has given me fulfillment that I do not see in many around me who are struggling with life.  It is not that I have “arrived” to some kind of perfection, or have a life without its challenges.  No, it is the fact that I have found satisfaction in knowing God and living close to Him.   I want more, but not because of not having had enough of God.  I have eaten and am satisfied.  All who ate were satisfied.

The good stored up in me

Matthew 12:35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

This verse reminded me vividly of an important principle that is very obvious but somehow does not get noticed as often as it probably should.  What comes out of a person (whether good or bad words, or good or bad deeds), comes out of a heart filled with that.  If I have spent my time and energy filling my mind and life with God-based things, then that is what is stored up in me and that is what comes out.  But the opposite is also true, and that is why we see and hear of acts of violence or meanness, or immorality, that is what will come out if I fill my life and mind with such things.

My sphere of influence

Matthew 11:11 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.

I was struck by the reminder in this verse that for every great/famous/renowned person who serves God, there are many unknown faithful people as well, people like my parents and those who mentored them and me, particularly in the early years of our Christian walk.  These were people who loved the Lord and served Him faithfully in their small sphere of influence.  Each had an impact on the Kingdom of God, just not a big public venue as do those like John the Baptist’s.  Their reward is the same as the famous person if they have been faithful.  I need to stand guard against wanting anything other than the sphere of influence God has given me.  It is that sphere that I will find God’s work for me for which I will be held accountable to God.  It is there that I will find my greatness.

Shall I come?

Matthew 8:7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

I see two interesting implications I can learn from in this one simple question Jesus asked the centurion.  For one thing, when the centurion came to Jesus, he just said his servant was ill.  He did not say, “Please heal him.”  By asking this question, Jesus was asking the centurion if he thought Jesus could heal, so if the centurion said yes, he was declaring his faith in Jesus’ ability to heal an illness.  Secondly, in this question the centurion was declaring his acknowledgement of Jesus’ authority as more powerful, more important, than his own as a centurion.  Both implications were important to the centurion but also to everyone who witnessed this exchange and its outcome.  And that importance carries on to me, today, in the 21^st century.  Do I declare my faith in His ability to heal?  And more importantly, am I acknowledging His authority in my daily life?

Don't be like "them"

Matthew 6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

The previous verse tells us what “like them” means: babbling lots of words in prayer, and in earlier verses it is praying in a way so as to be noticed by others.  These two things constitute what I see as two basic principles in prayer: humility and simplicity.  Humility in recognizing that we have nothing except our humility to offer to God, and there is no other “public” to offer Him.  And Simplicity in recognizing that He already knows our needs and our praise but He just wants us to  express that to Him … more for our benefit than His!

Temptation

Matthew 4:1, 5a, 8a, 11 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness … Then the devil took him to the holy city … Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain … Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

I never before noticed how much the locations of Jesus’ temptations represent the full gamut of our life experience.  The wilderness of our spiritually dry times presents us with obvious-to-us opportunities for temptation to sin.  Then, even while involved in church or religious activity I find times when I am tempted to be or to do something other than godly-based things.  And in a sense I am most vulnerable to temptation when I am experiencing a powerful and meaningful spiritual high because I am not thinking about the temptation, not expecting it.  Our enemy knows us well enough to hit us with temptation when we are least expecting it as well as when we are most vulnerable so we must be on guard always,  But when we stand against it, he will leave us and God will minister to our weak or wounded spirit.