A Wolf or a Lamb?

Today's reading is Luke 10:1-24.

It's a good thing this place forces me to comment and ask questions about each passage we encounter through our reading because, frankly, there are many that I'd just assume to skip over. Yet those are probably the ones I need to wrestle with the most... like today's passage.

Is anyone else bothered by the disconnect between our modern Christian lives and the commands and promises Jesus gives his disciples?

Let me interrupt this thought with another: Whenever there is scripture that confuses, bothers, or seems contrary to what I originally thought or believed about God, or any other spiritual aspect of life, the first examination that follows must be of my own perspective, not the character of God or his word. Even though the temptation is strong to put my own understanding of things at the center of each confusing experience I encounter, God is more Truth than I will ever be able to grasp. He must be at the center, not me. Hopefully that makes sense to you...

So... Jesus sends out 72 disciples to go ahead of him, to all the places and towns he will soon visit. He calls them lambs among wolves, and gives them strict instructions. And whether or not they are welcomed by the people they encounter, the message is to be the same: "The kingdom of God is near."

I don't know why I hadn't had this thought before (probably because I've been avoiding it), but Jesus is sending his disciples to prepare everyone for his own arrival into town. I had always seen it as their own little mission trips, not realizing they were just the opening act, in a way. Jesus was coming, and they just needed to prepare the people for the Main Act. And yet, the town's acceptance or rejection of this opening act determined whether or not they would experience God's healing and deliverance, and oh, please hear this... determined their ultimate acceptance or rejection of God himself. "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."

God has done this before, with his old testament prophets, and, most recently, with John the Baptist. There is such a strong parallel just a few chapters back: Luke 7:29-30. The lambs that God sends us must be listened to. We can't wait until God shows up to accept Him.

So I've changed my course a bit in this post, but obviously this is the message God wanted me to hear. There is more to learn, I'm sure, of how to be a lamb, if that is what I am called to. But today I must take the perspective of the wolf: Am I a person of peace? Then I will receive peace. Will I welcome God's messenger? Only then will I experience God's miracles and enter his kingdom.

At All Costs

Today's reading is Luke 9:57-62. Jesus confronts three men who are faced with the opportunity to follow Jesus. My question for you is, what does it mean to follow Jesus? What did it mean to these men? And what does it mean to us? Is it any different? Please honestly answer this question for yourself, whether or not you share it here...

Meanwhile, I'll share with you my own version of this story...

Before we moved back here, I had decided that one of my main goals would be to get involved in a community volunteer program, something that wasn't just through my church. I was pretty excited about all the possibilities and the opportunity to once again get out of my comfort zone. I even did some searches online and picked several options and discussed them with family and friends. I did a lot of talking... but have yet to act on any of them, simply because my list of excuses has been long and too important. And all of them could basically be summed up as "But first, let me get things settled, and then I'll be able to focus/have time to do it."

Beware of the necessity of "getting things settled." Of thinking you have all the time in the world to act, to obey. Thinking we have the time, and thus, the option of shuffling God's things to number 2 or 10 on our list should cause us to reconsider how obedient our hearts really are.

This isn't meant to be a guilt-trip. I'm honestly broken in this area, yet it can be an opportunity for me to confess to God how hopeless I am and how much I need him. That's all...

Opposition

Luke 9:51-56

There's a part of the passage that is in the footnotes of my Bible, since it only occurs in "some manuscripts." Some parts of the Bible have this kind of asterisk. One large one is the story of the woman about to be stoned for adultery, and Jesus makes the "He who is without sin, cast the first stone" statement. It's interesting that today's asterisked passage also has to do with certain people feeling more righteous than others and are ready to punish (kill!) the ones they see as unrighteous. Actually, the whole passage isn't asterisked, just the extension of Jesus' statement as he rebukes his disciples.

Here is his rebuke, as it reads in the NIV:

"And He said, 'You do not know what kind of spirit you are of, for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.'"

I was convicted as I read His words, because there is someone in my life whose behavior I seem to so readily judge. Too often my mind entertains all the chastisement I can give from my "righteous" perspective... in effect, my words would be like "calling down fire" on them. Why is it so easy to sit in judgment on our fellow believers in Christ?

When I behave that way, I don't know what kind of spirit I am of. God, help us to know and act in your spirit -- a spirit of Love, Power, and Self Discipline.

Humbleness

Luke 9:46-50

"An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts..."

Obviously we're seeing a lack of humility in the disciples here. Nothing new, really. It's a common thread that runs through humanity, and God has had to deal with us thinking too much of ourselves too many times. But instead of a typical "Don't be proud, be humble" chastisement from Jesus, he gives a tangible, attainable example for them to follow.

Do you see the ones among you whom you think aren't able or worth introducing to Jesus? (For the disciples, it was a child. Who would it be for us?)

Serve them. Welcome them in Jesus' name (which means treat them as Jesus would), and you are welcoming Jesus, and through him, welcoming God. I've heard it said that when you love someone unconditionally (by the power of the Holy Spirit), you are inviting God to come in... into your life, their life, your relationship with them, and everything that touches it. You are opening the door and welcoming God in... something is bound to happen if we welcome God into a place. He can't help but BE GOD, and we've seen what's possible with Him: everything and anything.

Please Help

I'm going to deviate slightly from the typical format here today...

Today's story has significant meaning for me because I know a child who is in similar circumstances, not always physically, but emotionally and mentally. Her parents have literally been at their wits end, and have gotten desperate many times over. This child needs Jesus' healing, and so many people have prayed for it to come. I can't stress her situation enough for you to understand.

We must believe Jesus can and will heal her. Spend time in God's Word. Read today's story in Luke, Matthew, and Mark and ask for guidance and wisdom as you pray. Believe with me and pray with me for her now. God is great, and He has the power to raise the dead to life and set the captive free! NOTHING is impossible with God.

Listen

I wasn't sure what to say about our passage today, Luke 9:28-36.

Then I realized it was right there in black and white: "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."

I almost did what Peter did... I felt like I had to say or do something to add to the experience, when really, all we need to do is Listen to Jesus.

Try keeping that command at the front of your mind today... then tell us what He says. I promise to share as well.

Shame On You

The other day, Ryan and I decided our marriage needed a mission statement. This may sound weird and nerdy, but actually, it can been a very good thing. Whenever we have big (or small) decisions to make, we can look at them in light of our mission statement, and it will help us to see the bigger picture and remind us of our goals in this life.

Anyway, as we discussed what our goals in this life were, I recalled something God had taught me after we first moved to Texas...

Our story about how we got to Texas was a great testimony of God's work, but I had two different versions I would tell: one was told to people I knew were believers, the other to those that weren't, or that I wasn't sure about. This way, I figured, I wouldn't "offend" people or make them uncomfortable talking about God's miracles and His provision in impossible situations. Basically, I filtered my speech when I wasn't around people that I knew loved God.

After realizing that I was filtering out the best parts of our story, the parts that would glorify God, I was convicted that I needed to tell just one version of the story: the whole story. So I told God, "Okay, next opportunity, I won't filter it." Soon, I was telling the story to someone I had only known for 5 minutes, and this time I left in the parts about God's work in us. Amazingly, she didn't react negatively, and I developed an awesome friendship that God used to grow both of us spiritually. It still remains as one of my strongest, most cherished friendships.

So as Ryan and I discussed what we wanted our focus and goals to be, I knew that part of our mission statement should be that we make the most of every opportunity to share God's love with anyone we meet, and not let any fear filter God out of our speech. After reading Jesus' mission statement for His followers, I am again reminded of this goal...

"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels."