Matthew 15
These people made a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart wasn't in it (Matt 15:9). They acted like they were worshiping me, but they didn't mean it. They just used me...Take this to heart. It's from the heart that we vomit up evil arguments, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, lies, and cussing. What is stirring in my heart this moment, this circumstance of life?
Jesus ignored the Canaanite woman who pleaded for healing for her possessed daughter and kept right on begging for mercy (15:23). What did she think when Jesus ignored her and the disciples felt bothered by her? Saying He already had His hands full, Jesus replied (15:25): "It's not right to take bread out of children's mouths and throw it to dogs." Is He calling her a dog begging for bread? Her reply: "Beggar dogs do get scraps from the master's table." HIS reply: Your faith is something else! What you want is what you get (15:28). What is my faith in this circumstance of life? I have just learned some news in the past few hours that has jarred me. What I am being asked to do is disturbing for me. So, I'll go to this Jesus Who loves us so and beg for scraps from the Master's Table. Scripture interprets Scripture...HE will not leave us begging----Psalm 37:25 "I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
It's confusing to me...Jesus climbs a mountain along Lake Galilee (15:29) ready to receive the mute, the maimed, the blind and heal them all! Astonished! Then knew that God was blazingly alive among them. No one else can do this. 5 Loaves and 2 Fish. I keep thinking how Jesus left his beloved John in a dungeon to die. HIS Mercy is on us all---it's just not my definition of "good."
Matthew 16
Jesus was concerned about the teaching they believed, not whether they had bread or not. His Followers had no idea of how God works (16:23). It was necessary for Jesus to go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and raised on the 3rd day. But the disciples didn't want it that way, did they? "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead (16:24). 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 finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for? That's it!
Matthew 17
The disciples just didn't get "it," did they? (17:20) - 'You're not yet taking God seriously," said Jesus. "The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, you would tell this mountain, 'Move!' and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn't be able to tackle."
What circumstances riddle my soul this day? Will faith be found among us? The Kingdom is near! I can wrestle with a Good God just like these disciples wrestled to find faith. "I can live to give and not to grasp. I can bring a taste of heaven to earth." 66 LL.
Okay, I went way-too-long in my post today. I was at an off period at school and just kept on writing. I'm in the midst of some suffering right now and I so want to embrace it as God-ordained and God-planned. I don't wany syrupy words to come out of my mouth. I want want beg for God's mercy like the Canaanite woman. Fan the flame of our faith, O Merciful God! 2 Tim 1: 6-7
ReplyDeleteBev,
ReplyDeleteRrrrrejoice.
Saying that with a growl.
I always read that scripture about rejoicing during times of trials and just shake my head. How, Lord? How can I rejoice? And it feels so insensitive to say that to you, sweet Bev, rejoice...
I feel like I've done everything else BUT rejoice. Abiding in a hard situation is very tough. I am sitting right there with you, Bev. I don't know what you're suffering through right now but I know you are on the right road.
Father, I pray for all of us here to keep our eyes on You. As our minds drift back to Egypt, I pray that You would give us just a glimpse of the Promised Land. Father, help us to remain on the road You have brought us to so that we can be like John the beloved Baptist, sitting in the prison while You worked miracles for others...and just delight ourselves in announcing Your coming...calling out "Repent!" Whatever You are calling us to, let us rejoice in it and be faithful. Hold us tenderly, Your right arm coming around our shoulders and grasping our right hand. I rejoice in this day. I rejoice in our finding You in our stumbling through this empty world. I rejoice in Your Word. Let Your Kingdom come, let Your Will be done. In the holy name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Father, just like Jonah asked, don't let us miss Your grace. Amen.
ReplyDeleteOn September 10th post about Ezekiel, I wrote about the real question being: Are we on God's side NOT is God on our side. Deborah, you shared with us on the retreat a verse from 2 Chron about the officer responding to the question---whose side are you on?? I'm on God's side. Can you find that reference for me? I'd love to know it in light of the September 10th post that I've been thinking about. Thanks...just sometime when you can look it up. Just love how you all let these words sink in you --- Psalm 51:6 --- to personally deal with God as HE is---adoring, marveling, resting, alongside of being troubled and humbled by His Truth. My Love, Bev
ReplyDeleteHave prayed for you today Bev...may He reveal to you what it is that you need to know. You so show us Christ and your dedication and obedience to share what He shows you so blesses each one of us that reads it...Love you..Mary Lou
ReplyDeleteBut what comes out of the mouth gets its start in the heart. It's from the heart that we vomit up evil arguments, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, lies, and cussing. That's what pollutes.
ReplyDeleteAnd how about you? Who do you say I am?"
Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "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 finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself.
"Who do you say that I am?" stays with me this day. How do I tell others Who He is to me? My words are cheap. How well I love is my best testimony.
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ReplyDeleteJoshua 5:13-15
ReplyDelete13 And then this, while Joshua was there near Jericho: He looked up and saw right in front of him a man standing, holding his drawn sword. Joshua stepped up to him and said, "Whose side are you on—ours or our enemies'?"
14 He said, "Neither. I'm commander of God's army. I've just arrived." Joshua fell, face to the ground, and worshiped. He asked, "What orders does my Master have for his servant?"
15 God's army commander ordered Joshua, "Take your sandals off your feet. The place you are standing is holy."
Joshua did it.
That is the passage I will remember most from the Old Testament.
I love those verses from Joshua. A huge reminder is found in its words.
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ReplyDelete