Matt 18 - I am glad to see that the disciples were competitive asking, "Who gets the highest rank in God's Kingdom." Jesus's response is for them to become like a little child. The amplified bible adds that children are trusting, lowly, loving and forgiving in parentheses. If someone humbles themselves and becomes like a child will be greatest in Heaven. In reflecting on my childhood, it is kid of a blur, so I think about my children and how fast they are growing up and I wonder if one of the reason the world pushes us to grow up so quickly is to shorten that time of innocence when we can see the kingdom of God more clearly. I need to be more childlike and that is rather hard to understand. But one thing I do remember was thinking that my parents could do anything. I grew up without having everything I wanted, but my family had each other and I had faith in my family even before I knew what faith was. I need that again, Lord strengthen my faith!
Matt 19 - 26But Jesus looked at them and said, With men this is impossible, but all things are possible with God.
I know this fact but still I try to handle my own life and exclude God thinking I am helping Him but that is far from the case. God, help me to not only believe that fact that all things are possible to you but help me to live my life in that way.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Matt 16-17
Matt 16 - How many times have I asked for or maybe demanded a sign from God? I do not like it, but in those cases I am just like the Pharisees and Sadducees and that hurts, but does that stop me from doing it again? God Help me to not be like them...
Matt 17 - 20 [Jesus] He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” [21] [a] Faith that can move mountains... I want and need more Faith. Faith is a gift but what is it we can do to "exercise" it. Lord help me to exercise Faith and to live by the Spirit.
Matt 17 - 20 [Jesus] He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” [21] [a] Faith that can move mountains... I want and need more Faith. Faith is a gift but what is it we can do to "exercise" it. Lord help me to exercise Faith and to live by the Spirit.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Matthew 14-15
In Matthew 14 - Who am I in this story? If Jesus calls to me will I be one of the afraid people or will I be like Peter and be willing to step out of the boat. All the disciples knew Jesus, they have seen Him do miracles but they were worried about a Ghost... I want to focus on what I know of God and His Son and not on my imagination and speculation. Lord help me to be one to step out past my fear...
In Matthew 15 - The faith of the Canaanite Woman was interesting and I wonder how I would do asking a man whom I did not know, who had performed many miracles and had a following of disciples. She asked the first time and was ignored and Jesus's disciples told her to leave. Then Jesus himself tells her he won't help her and she has the bravery to confront him another time. When I am confronted with obstacles what do I normally do? I think I take it as a "Sign for God" that I need to redirect or change course. Lord help me to doggedly pursue the things of your heart without being distracted or mis-directed to other "good" things. I want to skip the good and focus on the God things like a pit bull with a steak. I love steak, i think i can take a pit bull right now...
In Matthew 15 - The faith of the Canaanite Woman was interesting and I wonder how I would do asking a man whom I did not know, who had performed many miracles and had a following of disciples. She asked the first time and was ignored and Jesus's disciples told her to leave. Then Jesus himself tells her he won't help her and she has the bravery to confront him another time. When I am confronted with obstacles what do I normally do? I think I take it as a "Sign for God" that I need to redirect or change course. Lord help me to doggedly pursue the things of your heart without being distracted or mis-directed to other "good" things. I want to skip the good and focus on the God things like a pit bull with a steak. I love steak, i think i can take a pit bull right now...
Monday, August 15, 2011
Matthew 13 and the Sabboth
The Sabbath - The Sabbath was something that was important enough to be part of the 10 commandments. I have reflected on setting aside a day of rest and looking back I have not ever paid much attention to it. The next thing that this brought up was setting aside something as holy... Time, Money, how do we battle our flesh to set aside our own desires to give to God. I will ponder this some more as I dive back into Matthew.
Back to Matthew 13 - I like how Jesus uses parables to teach people. The fact that the stories are simple yet still have the ability to cause deep thoughts. These parables are simple but still can be missed and I wonder how much of the Holy Spirit has to enlighten us to truly catch the full meaning. I need more understanding.
John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Back to Matthew 13 - I like how Jesus uses parables to teach people. The fact that the stories are simple yet still have the ability to cause deep thoughts. These parables are simple but still can be missed and I wonder how much of the Holy Spirit has to enlighten us to truly catch the full meaning. I need more understanding.
John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Matthew 11 - 12
I am still meditating on verse 10 but have read chapters 11 and 12 today and will post on them later today. Hope this helps Mandy, Love you!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Matt 10 - Slapped in the face...
For a chapter that I know I have read many times in the past, this chapter slapped me up side my head. The second half of the chapter was more difficult for me but I will start and work my way down the chapter by verses.
Jesus sends out his disciples after giving them authority to heal every kind of disease and cast out evil spirits. They had a specific mission to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Jesus then says in verse 8 that they are also to raise the dead while they are out spreading the news that "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." I have read that the 12 disciples is significant for the 12 tribes of Judah and that the good news had to be preached first to the Jew and then when rejected then to the gentile. A few questions that jump into my mind are how long has this core group of disciples been with Jesus prior to being sent out? How long were they out seeking the lost sheep? and What did Jesus do while they were gone. I think some of these questions will be answered in scripture but want to track my journey and thought processes. A statement in a commentary I read states the following:
Both Jesus' proclamation and practical acts of compassion go beyond what many Christians call ministry today. Our communities are ravaged by demonic forces, violence, injustice and all kinds of human pain, while the church often remains irrelevant except to the few who venture through our doors. To follow Jesus' model of ministry, more Christians must stop simply going to church and learn rather to become the church among our communities in evangelism and ministry to social needs.
After reading this, I wondered if this was referring to the 1st century church or today. I think both and am further shocked that Jesus warns the disciples of what to expect while going out in His name. Sheep among wolves and scourged are two things mentioned that denote pain or at least the possibility of great pain. Verse 21 starts me wondering. Fathers will betray their children and children will rise against parents and cause them to be put to death. Verse 22 says "You will be hated by all because of my name..." Are the fathers and children that are fighting Christians or non-Christians??? This is further complicated by verse 34-39
34 “(AZ)Do not think that I came to [ac]bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to (BA)SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; 36 and (BB)A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. 37 “(BC)He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And (BD)he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 (BE)He who has found his [ad]life will lose it, and he who has lost his [ae]life for My sake will find it.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Matthew 9
I apologize for not posting for a few days and am only doing 1 chapter today but in a weird way it is a God Speak. I have read the book of Matthew many times and I was trying to group together several chapter since I figured it would take that much for God to speak... Ya, I know, God can speak when and how ever he wants, but chapter 9 was full of stuff that I wanted to slow down and really try to meditiate on the life of Jesus. My goal is not quatity but quality and so with that said, below is my blog...
After reading Matt 9, the main thing I got was how busy Jesus was. Busy might not be the right word since it can be considered negative, but this is a basic run down. Jesus crosses over the sea and heals a paralyzed man and confronts the religious establishment (verses 1-7). He then finds Matthew the tax collector and has a meal with him and his disciples and confronts the religious establishment again (verses 9-13). Then the non traditional religious people ask about fasting (verses 14 - 17). (This is were I get tired) Verse 18, "While he was talking... "someone came and mention that their daughter just died. While on his way to the house, the lady touches the fridge of His cloak and is healed. When he gets to the house and declares that the girl is just sleeping, he is laughed at by the crowd. He heals/raises for the dead and then was sought out by 2 blind men whom Jesus restore their sight and then a demon possessed man was brought to Him to be healed (verses 18 - 34).
The Bible does not give an exact time frame, but as I read this I see how Jesus was pulled in many directions. I get frustrated when my plans change or someone interrupts me, but I see clearly that Jesus made time and helped those in His path. I love how Chapter 9 (verses 36-38) ends with "Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because there were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd." Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest."
After reading Matt 9, the main thing I got was how busy Jesus was. Busy might not be the right word since it can be considered negative, but this is a basic run down. Jesus crosses over the sea and heals a paralyzed man and confronts the religious establishment (verses 1-7). He then finds Matthew the tax collector and has a meal with him and his disciples and confronts the religious establishment again (verses 9-13). Then the non traditional religious people ask about fasting (verses 14 - 17). (This is were I get tired) Verse 18, "While he was talking... "someone came and mention that their daughter just died. While on his way to the house, the lady touches the fridge of His cloak and is healed. When he gets to the house and declares that the girl is just sleeping, he is laughed at by the crowd. He heals/raises for the dead and then was sought out by 2 blind men whom Jesus restore their sight and then a demon possessed man was brought to Him to be healed (verses 18 - 34).
The Bible does not give an exact time frame, but as I read this I see how Jesus was pulled in many directions. I get frustrated when my plans change or someone interrupts me, but I see clearly that Jesus made time and helped those in His path. I love how Chapter 9 (verses 36-38) ends with "Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because there were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd." Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest."
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