Friday, December 14, 2012

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

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

Friday, December 14, 2012          The Death of John the Baptist     

Page 125-126         Matthew 14:1-13a; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9

To accept Jesus as the Messiah, to give your allegiance to God’s Kingdom, could put you in harm’s way. Jesus reveals that danger by describing the martyrdom of John the Baptist.

If Jesus’ campaign to establish the Kingdom of God was handled by a PR firm, like those that manage today’s politicians, I don’t think they would include the warnings of persecution in their training manual for campaign operatives (apostles). Such warning would have a negative effect on recruitment. Nor would they include details about the assassination of their leading advance man (John the Baptist). Such information would negatively impact operative retention and volunteerism.

However, if the campaign managers truly shared the Messiah’s passion for the coming Kingdom, they would not fear being completely honest in their campaign materials. Such honesty defuses claims of manipulation. More importantly, such honesty reinforces the foundation of the campaign announced by John the Baptist: “A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me’ (John 1:30). Because of this truth, we can take encouragement from John’s death, even though it pointed to the coming crucifixion of the Messiah. In God’s Kingdom death doesn’t get the last word.  

Though he was God,

    he did not think of equality with God

    as something to cling to.

 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

    he took the humble position of a slave

    and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,

     he humbled himself in obedience to God

    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor

    and gave him the name above all other names,

 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:6-11

Sē’lah

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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?

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(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.)

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The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

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

Monday, December 17, 2012       The Miracles of the Loaves and Fishes  

Page 129-130         Matthew 14:13b-23; Mark 6:30-46; Luke 9:10-17;

John 4:6-17a