Jesus picked his team. He would give time and attention to training these twelve disciples. Jesus would launch the Kingdom and these twelve would be charged with the responsibility of taking the Kingdom into all the world.
Jesus’ charge is quite simple: Four blessings followed by four warnings. The warnings make clear that there was then, as there is now, opposition to God’s Kingdom. Those with power and wealth are not particularly interested in loving their neighbor as they love themselves.
Jesus follows his charge with instructions for living as the children of God. The instructions are not complex; rather, they are quite simple, direct and easy to comprehend and remember. Even so, there was then, as there is now, a scarcity of disciples of Jesus who take seriously these instructions. G. K. Chesterton noted, "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried."
The enormity of God’s love for us is matched by His patience. God has very, very high expectations for his children and he will not rest until his children are transformed to be like Jesus.
Every Sunday as the followers of Jesus gather in their sanctuaries for worship the Holy Spirit moves through the pews and can be heard asking, ““Who will be a follower of Jesus? Who among you will live for Christ in this world?”
Who among us will respond, “Here I am. I will be his disciple.”
What word or phrase in these verses
attracts your attention?
Reflect on that word or phrase.
What insights come to you?
How does this passage touch your life today?
5-Jan-12 Luke 6:37-7:10
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