Wednesday, December 05, 2012

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Wednesday, December 05, 2012 I Told Simple Stories        

Page 111-112         Matthew 13:24-52; Mark 4:10a, 26-34

The parables in today’s reading all are built on Old Testament teachings about the establishment of God’s Kingdom. Jesus is teaching that God is moving, and though the beginning of Jesus’ ministry may seem small and inconsequential, nevertheless God is at work, and ultimately His Kingdom will provide shelter and comfort for the entire world.

Jesus was a master at revealing the contrasts within the Kingdom of God. One person is simply trying to make their way through life and stumbles upon the Kingdom. The discovery is so profound for them; they give the Kingdom top priority in their life. Another person is searching desperately for meaning in life and finds the Kingdom of God. It is just what they have been looking for, and everything else in their life pales in comparison to the love of God.

This love of God is so amazing. All people everywhere are invited to live under the care and love of God. Many respond, but not all for the right reasons. Some just follow the crowd; others are seeking only to find themselves, not God. Jesus’ stories may be simple, but they are also quite profound. God gives all people the freedom to choose. All choices have consequences. Choosing Jesus as your Messiah leads to life eternal. Denying Jesus as God’s Messiah leads to a Christ-less eternity.

Like any good story teller, Jesus uses humor and hyperbole to make his point. Remember, these parables follow Jesus encountering some significant opposition, so he is trying to lighten the mood of the disciples, as well as provide assurances that God will prevail over the forces of evil. The stories about seeds, wheat and weeds give that assurance, and the mustard seed story provides the comic relief, as well as gives an insight about the Kingdom of God.

The mustard seed isn’t the smallest seed nor does it grow into a huge tree with branches sufficient to house flocks of birds. This reference to such a tree comes from the Book of Daniel where a majestic tree is pictured as standing at the center of the earth with its branches reaching to heaven. I am sure the disciples were snickering at the image of a mustard bush being compared to Daniel’s mighty tree. (Daniel 4)

Jesus is saying that his followers might be few in number, but God is going to do a mighty work through them, using the most unlikely of means.

Jesus is teaching that just one person choosing not to laugh at a racist joke can make a difference. Jesus is teaching that just one person who exercises Christian integrity at the point of decision can make a difference. Jesus is teaching that his little band of followers, armed with the Good News, living for God in a fallen world, can change the course of history.

They did.

We can.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

What word or phrase in today’s reading attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are available by email. Contact me at Amkrom812@gmail.com to be added to the email list.

This BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Thursday, December 06, 2012     The Farmer, the Seed, and the Soil       

Page 112-114         Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-9, 10b-20; Luke 8:4-15

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Tuesday, December 04, 2012      They Wanted a Sign & My True Family  

Page 106-107   Matthew 12:38-46; Mark 3:31-32a, 4:21-25; Luke 8:16-19, 11:16, 24-32; 

Matthew 12:47-50; Mark 3:32b-35; Luke 8:20-21

At the end of today’s passage, Jesus makes clear that His family includes all of His followers, not just his mother and brothers. To some it may seem trite to refer to other members of the family of God as brothers and sisters. However, it is never trite to me when I remember our family relationships were made possible by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus.

Recently, my wife and I relocated from Florida to North Carolina. In the process of establishing our new home we visited several churches. We also have established relationships with health care providers, contractors, realtors and a host of other people. Over and over again, we have experienced “God Sightings,” those special times when it becomes clear God has brought someone across your path to meet your needs. These new brothers and sisters have been a great blessing in our transition. For me, having such an extended family is one of the best benefits of living in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus also makes clear that the benefits of Kingdom living don’t just happen. In an interesting story about the comings and goings of demons, Jesus shows that the Christian life is not just a vacant lot where sin used to reign. Rather, it is a new life filled with the new wine of God’s Kingdom: justice; mercy & peace. Jesus’ parable reminds me that as a follower of Jesus, I am called to proactively fill my life with the things of God. Becoming a Christian is not just a matter of stopping the inappropriate behaviors we call sin. Becoming a Christian is a call to fill the spaces formerly occupied by sinful actions with new acts of grace, mercy, love and justice. If I do not replace the bad habits with good habits, the bad habits will return in vengeance with even more strength.

As we proactively seek to fill our lives with the things of God, we find we have more than friends; we have family wherever we may go.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

What word or phrase in today’s reading attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are available by email. Contact me at Amkrom812@gmail.com to be added to the email list.

This BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Wednesday, December 05, 2012 I Told Simple Stories        

Page 111-112         Matthew 13:24-52; Mark 4:10a, 26-34

Monday, December 3, 2012

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Monday, December 3, 2012         I Denounced the Hypocrisy of the Pharisees

Page 105-106   Luke 11: 37-54

The life in Christ is a life of grace. Jesus’ comments to the Pharisees and experts in religious law summarized succinctly the differences between law and grace: “For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden” (Luke 11:46b). Law says do; grace says done. Law emphasizes what man does; grace emphasizes what God does. Law lives out of the flesh life (self-life); grace lives out of the Spirit (Christ-Life). Law's primary focus is ought to, should've, have to and must; grace's primary focus is on want to. Law declares do, in order to be; grace declares you are, therefore do. Law produces guilt and condemnation; grace produces acceptance and security. Law leads to defeat; grace leads to victory!

The perspective of legalism and a life in grace are polar opposites. In today’s passage Jesus is very confrontational with the political and religious leaders because their legalism was destroying Israel.  Jesus could see that all the years of national frustration were reaching a boiling point of rebellion against their oppressors. Their frustration was not limited to political matters. The people were also reaching a point of rebellion against their national identity as God’s Covenant people. Jesus was calling the people to repentance and to the ways of peace, lest in their frustration they would lose everything. The people did not heed Jesus’ call to a new way of living, and the Roman Empire destroyed Jerusalem approximately thirty years later.

If Jesus were walking through our times, with whom would he have this conversation? I can think of a long list of persons and groups who would feel the sting of his indictment. I believe the Democrats and Republicans would be included, so also the Tea Party, AARP, NRA, and assorted other special interest groups. All of these groups are so addicted to power, they do all in their might to stifle dialog.

The Pharisees and Religious Teachers (as well as the groups above) had an agenda and Jesus confronted them with the truth that their pursuit of their agenda was having a severe negative impact on the people.

What does Jesus have to say to the churches of our time as they pursue their agendas for living out what they believe? The communities around our churches know nothing of our scriptures or mission. All they know about us comes from their observations of how we interact with each other and the world around us. Do they see Pharisees and experts in religious law? Or do they see people who love their God of mercy and grace with all of their heart, mind, soul and strength? Do they see people who love their neighbors (remember the parable of the Good Samaritan) as they love themselves?  

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

What word or phrase in today’s reading attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are available by email. Contact me at Amkrom812@gmail.com to be added to the email list.

This BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Tuesday, December 04, 2012      They Wanted a Sign & My True Family  

Page 106-107   Matthew 12:38-46; Mark 3:31-32a, 4:21-25; Luke 8:16-19, 11:16, 24-32; Matthew 12:47-50; 

Mark 3:32b-35; Luke 8:20-21