When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee (4:12). This is so upside-down to what I think He would do. Why would he not go to see John and help him? Why does He not come to help me at times or so I think He doesn't? I know Jesus is writing a Larger Story than just my life, John's life. Instead of going to John, He stood at the bottom of the Mount of Beatitudes (His Voice carried up the mountain where thousands came to listen) and He opened His mouth and said you are blessed if you are down to your last dime. You are blessed when you are at the end of your rope. (5:3). You are blessed if you hunger and thirst for righteousness (5:6). You are the salt of the earth. He didn't say "honey," He said "salt."
...Your friend is still ruled by fear, not broken by failure.
He has not come to the end of his rope. When he does,
there will be less stubborn self-protection in his motives
and more room for the Spirit of My Son to take over.
My Son made that exact point in His first sermon:
'You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope.
With less of you there is more of God and His Rule.'
Matt 5:3 Msg
66 LL
Larry taught us from the bottom of the Mount of Beatitudes. Just like Jesus did. Paralytics and prostitutes and pharisees sat in the place where we sat listening to our LORD. One leper sat there, oh not so close, on this grassy gorgeous mountainside. He was drawn to the heart of God when Jesus spoke---the leper had no idea if Jesus would heal him or not. Drawn to the heart of God and he found Jesus after the sermon and was healed spiritually and physically. Am I drawn this day to the heart of God even if He won't do what I want Him to do?
ReplyDeleteToday's reading reminds me the physical demands my cousin endures as he routinely delivers the Gospel in a hostile nation which requires him sneaking across a border. I on the other hand walk or jump in my car and drive to church to worship. I can buy a Bible at almost any grocery story if I so choose, the people my cousin ministers to commit Scripture to memory because possessing a Bible leads to prison.
ReplyDeleteThough the physicality of church is different for our brothers and sisters in many regions, we are seeking the same thing - Jesus. We want to know Him more, to live holy lives, free from fear and free to love.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Today I lift up brothers and sisters around the world who are persecuted.)
The Beatitudes are so contra-indicative, so "God's ways are not our ways." Blessed when persecuted? Blessed when poor of spirit? Really? It's obviously not about circumstance deliverance. Can I accept this day that Jesus calls my troubled mess blessed? It's blessed because He sees and graces the impoverished.
ReplyDeleteA few months ago, two friends and I were sitting in a restaurant. The waiter, after we'd paid our tab, left us 3 $50 gift certificates, which he said were not from him but a generous friend. We scratched our heads and thought, why? We were not the ones who needed anything. There were so many others...why us? I later that night realized we WERE the needy, and God saw. Poverty of spirit counts to God. He sees. He blesses (in so many ways other than money-I hesitate to use that as my example) Blessed are we because He sees. He knows. We do count in His beautiful compassionate eyes. We need His Love more than anything else and He loves us so much.
We truly have it so easy (for now) n this country to worship as we please and openly discuss Him and His Word here and in public places. We truly need to desire to be salt and light to those around us, for many are perishing and dying for lack of knowledge of Him. Persecution does make The Church grow.
ReplyDeleteBev,your quote from the Msg struck a note in my heart..."your friend is still ruled by fear, not broken by failure. He has not come to the end of his rope....thru circumstances in my son's life I thought he should have been/was broken 11 years ago..I see God working on him today in his present hard circumstances. I do see him being broken even more and I see a slight turning to the Only One who can fill him up and take him to the next plain and I pray that for him and for all of those in our lives who have yet to totally surrender to Him. I pray that I can be salt and light to my son and continue to point Him to the Only one with all the answers, the only answer I have is Him.
"Blessed are they who thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Matthew 5:6
ReplyDeleteThis doesn't follow the string of comments today, but it grabbed so tightly to my heart, I had to share.
This year, 2011, I thirst for righteousness. I am ruthlessly throwing out all the garbage in my heart, starting anew, learning to love myself and others.
Thank you Annette H. for the thoughts drawing us to those persecuted. How inspiring to hear about your cousin's passion for truth. What sacrifice! My good friend, Cyd, who is in His Presence, was one of those persecuted who gave her life for Him. She and her Afghan driver were kidnapped and murdered in Afghanastain two years ago this January. They never found her body. The story has gone unsolved but never forgotten. She was single and beautiful and 49 impacting the Afghan women. Hebrews says: The world is not worthy of people like this
ReplyDeleteMary Lou, praying for your son as I think about my own children, offering them grace to cover their little messes. Dealing with the fray of my own heart, always.
ReplyDeletePlease pray for my daughter Blair who is having serious health issues with her thyroid. You may remember that half of it was removed last March. They cannot get it under control and she continues to gain weight even if she's dieting. Her body is retaining the caloric intake 90%. Appreciate your prayers! And Britt is still struggling with mono---yesterday he slept 16 hours. Dragging. Thanks for letting me ask for prayer. Anything we can pray for you all?
Click on 66 Love Letters link on side of the SOP blog and it will lead you to the New Way Ministries website where you can download 2 free study guides and view the study guides for purchase.
ReplyDeleteFather, Your Words today teach me so much about what pleases You. Empty myself of ME and fill every part of me with YOU. Each one here who hungers for You, who has bowed in meekness to You, who grieves when they hurt You, who takes more than anyone should have to take because they love You more than life...may Your Spirit come in and fill every dark place with Your Light. Lord, don't let us lose our ability to add salt to this world...salt that preserves lives through the gospel shared, salt that flavors a world that has become tasteless, salt that pours out tears of compassion in a world of has become cold and evil. Father, for each one that has a need that cannot be met by human hands...You, O Lord, know them all...I pray that You would come and let Your Power go out to meet that need. I pray especially for our children and the desire we have for You to come into their needs like a Mighty, Rushing Wind. Restore, heal, renew, transform, guide, convict, save, anoint, seek, soften hearts, give wisdom...let Thy Will be done in their lives beyond what we can even imagine. You love them more than we love them as their moms. You knew them before we knew they existed. Father, don't let even a little anger rule in our hearts. If You can forgive us, let us be willing to forgive as we have been forgiven. In Jesus name. Amen.
ReplyDeleteMatthew 5:15
"Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house."
Do you think the family of faith is under persecution here in America?
ReplyDeleteDeborah, what a beautiful prayer.
ReplyDeleteI just read it again and again.
It really meant something to me this silent night.
I answered your question---yes, I believe the family of faith is under persecution here. Wrote a paragraph or two or three then deleted the whole thing. Do you ever do that?
Bev, I do that a lot. I try to complete rather than delete. Sometimes I hit the keyboard a certain way and it deletes the whole comment.
ReplyDeleteI make goofy sentences sometimes because I just write without proofreading. I think if I dwell too much on what I'm writing, I might delete it.
It's always so personal and from my heart and that feels so vulnerable.
I really do feel like persecution is here. It's been here for a while. But it's not to the point where we have to hide ourselves as Jesus followers. I do feel like some Christians feel like they will face ridicule if they are bold for Christ.
I'm afraid, too, to put my thoughts on persecution in writing right now.
I remember crying over Cyd and the sadness I felt over her death. And I only knew her through you and her Good God placing that feeling of loss in my Spirit.
I'm with you Deborah. Love your heart! Love you!
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ReplyDeleteJust checked in to see your posts and comments. Bev, I will change how I receive posts here to receive comments as well. I only saw your trouble this morning.
ReplyDeleteDeborah, I love your vulnerable beautiful heart. You always write the deep things that stir my heart. I remember crying for Cyd, too, and knowing she was recorded as another martyr in the Book of Life, and if I have to answer your question about persecution in America with either a yes or no, I would say no. Our struggles seem less when we see someone like Cyd who gave all for the sake of the Gospel. I do think we are oppressed in many ways, but persecution, I'm not so sure. That's just a different level to me. However, individually, I do believe some of us are persecuted, just not corporately as Americans. Such good things to ponder and pray for this day. Such Grace that He gives to make it all doable.
It has been two years since Cyd turned up missing. Her funeral was interrupted by news that she may be alive but nothing turned up. Her father was Bob's pastor growing up. He unexpectedly passed away last year. Sometimes I wonder if she is still alive and what life is like for her.
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