The Real Deal

Authenticity......     How compelling and beautiful it is in this tinsel world of appearances and show. Authentic is how I see Jesus in our reading. (Matthew 20: 20-34)

The reason is that He had just given a lesson on how the greatest in a crowd will be the one serving. And now it is time to set out from Jericho with the usual big crowd all around. But before they even get down the road, there is a commotion on the fringe. Two of those ever-present, unsightly beggars are yelling at Jesus, and the crowd is trying to shut them up. But they just get louder.

So Jesus stops. He calls to the beggars and asks, "What do you want me to do for you?" They tell Him that they want to see. And oh, how I love this next characteristic response. "Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him."

Don't you love how Jesus is the "real deal"? What He says (be a servant),  He does.

Lord, help us to be real - able to do what we say.

Generous Eyes

Oh my! God's generosity just does not always seem right. (Matthew 20:1-19) Would you believe that He is like the manager who decided to give workers on the short shift the same pay as those sweating it out all day? And those tired guys are mad.

How hard it is for us not to judge. For some reason we can't get it into our heads that rewards from God are gifts and not a result of our hard work. He can give to whomever and however He wants to. God's economy may look upside down to us, but we would do well to be grateful for the gifts we receive and leave the judging to Him.

Lord, please touch our jealous squinty eyes so that we begin to see others with generosity and mercy as You do.

"The Great Reversal"

Good morning all,

It is a wonderful summary description of the kingdom of heaven that we get in our reading today (Matthew 19:13-30). Right  at the end Matthew says "But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." In the Message this is called "The Great Reversal".

Many of the disciples did not understand it as they were hindering the children from coming to Jesus to be blessed. As Jesus said, "the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

The rich young man did not like it. He had asked Jesus what good thing should he do to get eternal life. Jesus finally told him it he wanted to be perfect, to go and give away his possessions in order to have wealth in heaven. This poor guy was holding on to his stuff too tight to jump at this chance.

But we can be more like Peter who understood "The Great Reversal". He sacrificed whatever was needed to follow Jesus. His Lord then told Him, "And not only you, but anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields—whatever—because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life." (The Message) 

Thank you Lord for teaching us the principles of "The Great Reversal". Help us to give all to You and enjoy the rewards.

Love,

Ouida

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My Impossible Debt

We hear a lot nowadays about our National Debt and how much money each person would have to cough up if it was time to pay. Today's reading (Matthew 18:21-19:12) gives us a clue about an even bigger debt we've owed. And if I let the word soak in, it is a story of amazing grace.

In Matthew 18, when the king said it was time to pay up, one slave owed him 10,000 talents. My notes say that a talent is 15 years of wages for a laborer. The man owed 150,000 years of income! Can you believe that this man said he would pay all, and begged for mercy (as opposed to having all he had including family sold)? Then the king actually forgave him the entire debt. 

But this debt is barely a drop in the bucket compared to what we owe God. We belonged to Him as His creation from the start. But when we crossed over into enemy territory through sin (and we all did), He bought us back with the death of His very own Son. No money in all world compares to that price. And as we turn from this life of sin back to Him, He forgives it all. 

How grateful we should be for amazing grace. Grateful enough to forgive all petty debts or even big sins that others commit against us. My Father truly forgave my impossible debt. 

Readings this week:

M- Matthew 18:-20

T- Matthew 18:21-19:12

W - Matthew 19:13-30

Th - Matthew 20:1-19

F - Matthew 20:20-34

Lesson of the Little Child

Woops. The disciples sure stuck their foot in their mouth this time (Matthew 18:1-20). Can you hear the prideful jockeying for position in their question to Jesus: "Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

He, of course, knew their perspective was all wrong and so replied with an object lesson to address the need. He called over a little child, whom He stood in the middle of the room,  and said, "Believe me, unless you change your whole outlook and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven." (Phillips)  Hmm...  And notice He said little children - maybe 1, 2, or 3 year olds who are described the the Amplified Bible as trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving. These certainly know they need help. 

Hopefully these disciples realized their error in taking for granted their presence in the kingdom as they focused on who would be top dog. How easily pride sneaks in. They did not know then the awful price Jesus would pay for them to enter this kingdom. 

Lord, teach us this beautiful lesson of the little child so we will remember to be grateful for Your opening the door for us. Protect us from pride and help us to even thank You for each humbling.

Does Jesus Have Fun?

We just had fresh trout. That so reminds me of the fun treasure hunt Jesus set up in Matthew 17:14-18:6.

Peter had been confronted about paying the temple tax. So Jesus asks him if kings have their children or subjects pay taxes. Since it is the subjects, we must conclude that the Son of God should not really be paying a temple tax.

But Jesus chooses not to offend the religious leaders unnecessarily. So He sends Peter on this little treasure hunt for the money. You have to admit that there must have been a million ways Jesus could have come up with a coin. But he sends this fisherman to catch one fish, and it is to have money in its mouth.  Wow!  I bet you Jesus was chuckling just thinking about Peter's adventure. And can you imagine Peter pulling out that fish, opening that its mouth, and there it is! He probably almost fell in the water laughing and then ran to tell others. 

Jesus is so much more fun that we give him credit for. Let's enjoy Him today.

Found Life?

I'm on a search for life. In fact "life" is my word for this year. It probably has something to do with most of the children leaving home after 42 years of lots of life.

So this verse in our reading (Matthew 16:24-17:13) jumped out: "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."  It's actually the second time Jesus has taught this truth. The first was in Matthew 10:38. It must be important.

What struck me was that you usually won't find something ( you won't even be on the look-out ) unless you have first lost or given up something. There has to be a void to fill. (The void of covetousness is another subject.)

But giving up our valuables shakes our very being! Who doesn't want to hang on to children or houses or routines or comforts or health or even that familiar bed? However, when we give to God the control of all valuables, we are free. And that is life.