Monthly Archives: March 2014

In, Not Of

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The Christian life should make us, them, and everyone a little uncomfortable.  How much should be away from nonbelievers, how much should we be walking with theme?  It is tough.  It is a challenge. What should we do?

There is a struggle in our lives, as Christians.  How present should we be in the world?

Should we only listen to K-LOVE or Christian podcasts and playlists?  Can we, should we listen to secular music.  What about the movie Noah? Should we see it or should we not?

How are we as Christians supposed to be different enough to make a difference, while not being just like the world. That’s a struggle we face today, and a struggle that the church faced in Paul’s day.  Listen to what Paul says today in 1 Corinthians 10: 31-:11:1 dealing with this:

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

NOTWLogo-200x200Paul says this today, whatever you do, do it to God’s glory and for His purpose and His plan.  Remember, we don’t live just for ourselves. We live for God, and for sake of the Gospel.  What does this mean? I think it means two things.

First, we need to have relationships beyond the church.  If we don’t know anyone other than Christians, how can we share the Good News with them.  We have to know them, talk with them, build relationships with them. We must. For us to impact the world with the Gospel, we must know folks that are not part of the church. We must reach beyond the walls.

But, we need to be different.  There must be something about must be something about us that is different. We have to have a different world view.  A different view of grace.  Mercy.  Forgiveness.  Grace.  We have to be different.

If we aren’t different, why would they want to be us.

So, today, may we be in the world, but not of the world. May we take the good news to the world, build relationships, and life for the sake of the Gospel.  May we take the light of Christ with us, in all places!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Don’t Let Grief Change Your Name

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Grief-To-Be-Classified-as-DepressionToday, I had the honor of doing the funeral for Luke Foster Nagel.  Luke passed from this life, into true life, after a little more than 40 hours of life.  Anytime there is a tragic death, our words often fail us, we are overwhelmed with grief, loss, and confusion.  Today, at the funeral, I shared the stories of two women in scripture that dealt with terrible loss and what we can learn from them.

First, Naomi.  We read Naomi’s story in the book of Ruth. She was a widow, and her three sons died as well.  She turns to her daughters in law, and tells them to return to their people, for she has nothing to offer them now. Two return, but Ruth stays with her.  As Naomi and Ruth return to to Naomi’s home, this is what happens in Ruth 1:19-21:

19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”

After this loss, she changed her name.  In the Bible, your name isn’t just what you are called, it’s who you are.  It deeply reflects who you are. Thus, quite often in scripture, when someone meets God, their name is changed (Abram to Abraham, Sari to Sarah, Saul to Paul, to name a few).

Here we see Naomi say, no longer call me Naomi. Call me Mara.  Mara is the word for bitter.  She is saying that all of her loss has changed her name.

Loss changes us. It shapes us.  It is something that is so impactful.  But don’t let it change your name.  Don’t let it change who are you are at the core of your being.  Don’t let it turn you.  Don’t let it harden you.  Don’t let it break you.

Yes, you will, you must, you should grieve.  Yes.  But don’t let it change your name.

Ok, how do we keep that happening?

The other story I think of is Mary in garden, on Easter morning.  She knew Jesus, she loved Jesus, Jesus healed and saved her. And now she believes, not only has He been killed, but they have taken His body. And she’s weeping, and she’s broken.  Listen to what happens in John 20: 11-17:

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary knew Jesus.  So, the question is, why didn’t she recognize Him?  Why didn’t she know that it was Jesus standing right there?

Scripture doesn’t say. But I’ve got a theory.  Perhaps she couldn’t see Jesus because of the tears in her eyes. Perhaps she shouldn’t see Him because the grief was too much, the pain was too great, and the tears had disrupted her vision.

She knew Him. But she couldn’t see Him.  It wasn’t until He called her name, that that she could see it was Him.

Don’t let the tears that you are crying hide the presence of the risen Jesus Christ from you. Today, He is here.  He is with us.  He has not left us, nor will He.

Listen for Him.  Listen for Him calling your name.  Listen for His voice in your grief.  You are not alone.  You will never be alone.  He will never leave you.  Listen.  Listen. When you can’t see Him through the tears, listen for His voice.

He honors our tears and our pain and our loss. But, do not let the tears we cry keep us from seeing that the risen Christ is with us.

Today, don’t let grief change your name.  And don’t let the tears you cry hide presence of the risen Christ in your midst, even now.

God’s Got a Plan

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One of the things I like most about Matthew’s Gospel is how many times things are fulfilled in prophecy.  So many times, Jesus will do something, or something will be said, or something will happen, and Matthew says, this was done to fulfill the prophet.

For instance, look at today’s text, Matthew 12: 15-18:

Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased, I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

gods-planMatthew is showing how each of Jesus’ actions, all that He was doing, from His birth, His teaching, His death, and His resurrection, were all part of God’s plan, not just for Jesus, for the world.

Why do I like this so much?  Why does this give me a sense of hope and peace?  Because God’s got a plan.  God knows what He is doing.

We have choice, we have decisions to make, we have things that we have to do, but God has a plan.  God has a plan for us, for our lives, for our families, for all that is going on.  You are not just floating randomly through life.  This is not happenstance. This is not all just random noise.

God has a plan.  He knows what He is doing.

And you can trust in that, today. Trust. God knows what He is up to, God know what He is doing.  And God will accomplish that plan in your life and through your life. Be obedient to His calling and His leading today.  Follow.

And let that leading guide you.  Follow Him.  Even when you don’t understand.  God has a plan.  You can trust.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

How to Be Forgiven

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Today in our passage, we are going to look at two people praying.  Let’s look at their prayers, and see what we can learn about our own walk with God.  

Luke 18: 10-14:

Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayer thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

How to GuideWe see two men pray. One was a Pharisee, one was a tax collector.  Just a little back ground, Pharisees would best be understood as sort of like preachers.  They were educated, they knew the law and the customs of the people and part of what they did was they taught the law to the people and made sure that it was kept. 

A Pharisee felt like his calling was to make sure that people correctly followed God and His law.  

A tax collector was someone that was Jewish and worked for the Roman government. They quite often would use the power of the government to extort money from their own people.  They were seen as traitors by other Jews, they were literally hated. 

So, here we see a religious man that should be looked up and respected by his peers, and someone that was literally hated.  

And yet, in this parable, who walks away forgiven?  The tax collector.  

Why?  Why was he forgiven?  

He asked for it.  He admitted his need, and asked forgiveness for it. And he received forgiveness for it. 

Why was the Pharisee not forgiven?  He didn’t ask.  

So, how are we forgiven?  First, we have to realize that we need forgiveness.  Don’t think we are perfect. Don’t think we’ve got it all figured out. Understand our need.  

And then, ask for forgiveness. And we will be forgiven.  

Today, no matter who you are, where you are, what has happened, you can be forgiven. Really.  Just ask.  It will happen. 

Today, live in the forgiveness. Live in new life.  You are forgiven. 

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Not Forgotten

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This morning, we’ll do a shorter reflection, and return to our full SOAP method throughout the rest of the week. Today, we are going to reflect upon Isaiah 41: 8-10.  Listen to what the Word tells us this morning in this text:

But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners,saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Ii-have-not-forgottenn this passage we see that God tells the people that He has chosen them.  He chose their ancestors Jacob and Abraham.  He even tells them that He called Abraham a friend, a pretty high compliment from God, to be called a friend.  That shows just how deep the relationship was between God and their ancestors.

Why is God telling them this?  They are going through a real time of trial. They are under attack. Jerusalem is being destroyed, the people are being hauled away in exile.  The people feel as through that God has forgotten them. They are forsaken. God has abandoned them. They are all alone, in this time of destruction.

And to that, God says this – no.  I choose your ancestors.  I choose the ones that have gone before you.  I have made promises to them.  And I will keep my word, for I am God.   And I will not leave you.  You are are mine.  No matter what happens, no matter how hard the road it, no matter what is going on, God has promised. 

He will not leave us.  He will not forsake us.  He will not forget us.

We are  not forgotten.  Remember that.  Hold onto that.  Cling to that.  No matter how rough the path may be, God is with you.

Remember.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Family (SOAP)

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Today, we are going to take a look at Mark 3: 31-35.

S – scripture

Welcome back to school!  And work!  And the routine of life.  It’s gonna be a long day/week/year, right?

Don’t worry about that.  Listen for God’s voice in this. Don’t worry about all those other things.  Focus on this.  Listen in this.  Slow down.  Breathe.  Listen.

Mark 3: 31-35:

And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

familyframesO – observation

Jesus had a human family

We see in this that Jesus’ family comes to Him.  His mother and His brothers.  Jesus was fully human, as well as being fully divine.  That’s a truth that we Christians have always held to be true.  I posted a comment on Facebook the other day that sort of chrysalises what this means.  Jesus is both fully God and fully human. One of my professors said when you read the early church, they struggled with the fact that Jesus was fully divine. They walked and talked with Him; they struggled to fully understand His divinity. We, on the other hand, fully understand His divinity, we struggle with His humanity. But, scripture teaches that He was fully God, and fully human. It’s the only way that He could be the perfect sacrifices for our sins

Jesus shows God’s family is not just biological

Jesus shows us though, that for Him, it is not just His “biological” family that He cares about, but His family of Faith. When we follow Him, when we believe in Him, when we make Him our Lord, God becomes our Father. And all of those that believe in God, share the same Father, thus making them brothers and sisters with each other.  Through Jesus Christ, we become family.  Real, true family.  That is how deep the relationship must be between us a believers. We are family. Really.  This relationship, this love among believers, it must be deep and for real. Because we are family.

Jesus shows how to be part of God’s family

Then He show us how to be part of His family. Who are those that are His brothers and sisters?  Those that do the will of His Father.  For faith produces obedience.  If we have faith in God, we will obey God. And if we do that, then God truly is a Father, and we are part of His family.  The “works” don’t make us part of the family, that happens by grace through faith. But, the works are the evidence of that faith.  Just like a living body will breathe, a living Christian will be faithful.  Not perfect, mind you, but faithful.  It’s just what happens.

A – application

Today, be thankful for  your families

Today, so many of us are blessed to have two loving families.  A biological family, a family that you were born into, or that you married into, or that you and your wife or husband have.  So many of us are blessed to have loving biological families.

But, not all of us. Here’s the good thing, through. Each of us, we can have that “spiritual” family.  If we believe, and follow Christ, than fellow believers, they are family. Be thankful for that.  Love each other.  Take care of each other.  Pray for each other.  Support each other.  We are a family.  Those of us that believe in Christ, no matter what differences we may have, we are a family.  Let’s be thankful for that.

And, your church family matters.  If you are part of a local congregation, be thankful, be faithful.  Even thought it is an imperfect body made of imperfect people, it’s also family.  Be thankful, in spite of the imperfections.

Today, be obedient to God’s grace in your life

Those that love God and do His will, those are Jesus’ brothers and sisters. Today, let’s be obedient to whatever it is that God is calling us to do.  Wherever His grace is leading, wherever He is calling, wherever God is leading us, let’s follow.  Because there is life there.  There is purpose there.  There is hope there.  There is peace there.

Today, follow God.  Follow His call.  Follow His grace.  Follow His leading.  And I promise you, that in that, you will find this amazing family. And you will find that life.

P – prayer

Loving God, thank you for our human family, and thank you for our spiritual family. Thank you for your body, the church. In this day, may we be faithful to your call in our life, and may we find the peace that comes through that.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Will We Miss It? (SOAP)

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Today in our reflection, we’ll look at Matthew 13:53-58.

S – scripture

Be sure to slow down.  Yeah, we’ve got a busy week this week. But, in this moment, don’t worry about that.  Let the worries and stress of this day/week/month/year/life fade away.  Listen for God’s voice in today.  Listen.

Matthew 13:53-58:

And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

home sweet homeO – observation

The people knew Jesus, and so weren’t listening to Him

This was Jesus home town.  They had known Him for years. They had seen Him grow. They knew His family, in fact His family was still in the synagogue, still part of the community, still part of the life of that town. And because they knew all these things, knew all this family, they knew, just knew, that there was no way that Jesus could do all these things and be who everyone says that He was.

The were familiar with Him.  They knew Him, or so they thought.  And so they knew that He couldn’t be all that.  They were so familiar with Him, they missed Him.   Because they weren’t paying attention.

It isn’t just that they didn’t listen, they were offended

It isn’t just that they missed Him, they were offended by Him.  Who is He, coming in here, telling them what to do. Who does He think that He is.  What right did this man that they helped raise, what right did He have, coming in here now!  I mean, the nerve!

Their pride got in the way. And because they were too proud, they missed what God was trying to do.

Their lack of faith stopped things from  happening

Because they didn’t believe, Jesus couldn’t do some of the thing that were possible.  For the spirit to move, for God to do certain things, He needs us to do our part.  Yes, we have a part to play in God’s plan.  We have a purpose.  We have a role. We have a part to play in the movement of God’s spirit.

We have to believe. We have to have faith.  We have to cling tight, and be obedient to what the spirit is leading.  That’s our job. That’s our roll.  And when we don’t do it, there is so much that God is not abel to do. Because we aren’t doing our part.

A- application

Who are we not listening to, that we should?

In our lives, there is someone that God may want to speak through, someone that God may want to challenge us through, convict us through, speak to us through. But, we haven’t been listening.  Maybe we’ve heard them speak too many times.  Or maybe we don’t know them.  Maybe we know them too well.  There could be a million different reasons. But, there is someone in all our lives, that God may wish to speak to us through, but just aren’t listening.

Today, will you listen?

Where is our pride getting in the way?

They took offense at Jesus because of their pride. Today, where in our lives, is there something that need to do, but we won’t because we are too proud?  Maybe we need to ask someone for forgiveness.  Maybe we need make a change.  Maybe we need to start something new. Maybe we need to move on.  I don’t know what it is, but for each of us, there is something we are missing, or something we are not doing, because we are too proud to admit it.

They were too proud to hear Jesus.  And they missed what He wanted to do.  May we not make the same mistake.

Where is our lack of faith stopping God?

Our faith is the spark that causes things to happen sometimes. Our faith moves mountains.  Our faith makes leaps.  Our faith does amazing, amazing things. When we truly believe, God can do something special.  But, we have to have faith. We have to trust.  We have to place ourselves in His hands. And jump.

Today, God wants to use you. Do great things.  Move mountains.  If we will just believe.  If we will just have faith.  He will do it.  Today, will will take His hand. And jump.  He will catch us.  He promised.

P – prayer

Great God, teach us to listen. Teach us to humble ourselves. Teach us to have faith.  Loving God, may we see you today, may we hear you today, and may we follow you today.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Glory (SOAP)

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Today, we’ll take a look at John 17:1-5.

S – scripture

Remember to ready slowly.  Pay attention to what you are doing.  Focus.  Listen.  Calm your soul.  In this moment, tune out the world, and listen for what God wants to say to you in His word.

John 17:1-5:

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

glory-sunshine-from-the-edge_1152x864_71915O – observation

Jesus’ desired to glorify the Father

Jesus desired to glorify the Father.  There were many reasons why Jesus came to earth.  To die for our sins. To defeat the power of the devil.  To show the depth of God’s love for us.  To show the church how we should care for the ones that are forgotten.  To show us that no one is unloved. Many, many reasons.

But, one of the main reasons, we see over and over again, is to give glory to God the Father.  The Son desires for the Father to be praised, to be loved, to be honored.  Jesus says this – in this moment that is beginning, may you receive glory. All things work for the glory of God, even the cross.  Jesus knew that. And He teaches us that.

Eternal life is knowing God

Jesus asks the Father that we many know eternal life, and that life is knowing the Father, and the Son that He sent.  Heaven will be many things, but above all, in heaven, we will know God fully, as He has fully known us (1 Corinthians 13).  Heaven isn’t just to come, but through knowing God, we can taste it right now, through His grace.  When we experience something powerful, something holy, something good, that’s a taste of heaven.

Jesus wants us to know that.  Jesus tells us, that is what eternal life is, at it’s most full, knowing God.  So, eternal life is not just a “future” thing, but it’s also a “right now” thing.  For those of us that know God, we don’t have have to wait to know things that are eternal, we can know them, right now, in this moment.

Jesus is God

It says in this text that Jesus will know the presence of God, as He knew before the world was created.  In the Bible, glory is the essence of who God is.  So, Jesus knew God’s essence, in John 1, it says that was with God, and was God.  Jesus Christ is God.  He is part of the glorious Trinity, the very being of who God is.  Jesus wasn’t just a good man.  He wasn’t just a good teacher.  He was God.  You must know this.  You must understand this.  He is God.

And He died and rose again to save us.  And life is found only through Him.

A – application

If Jesus desired to give glory to God in all things, do I?

Jesus Christ knew that part of His purpose on the earth was to give glory to the Father. That was part of what He was here to do.  What about us?  If that was part of what Jesus desired to do, what about me and you?

Do we desire to give God glory through our work?  Our families?  Our faith?  Our hobbies?  Our everything?  Jesus came, for many reasons, but giving God glory was one of the main ones.  Today, do we desire to honor God and give God glory through everything?

How can I see glimpses of eternity today?

If eternal life is knowing God, today, we have eternal life.  It’s not just something that we look forward to, but its something that we can know, right now.  So, today, are you looking for heaven?  Are we aware of all the places, and all the ways, that we can see eternity?  Every movement of the spirit, ever act of grace, every time that God moves in our life, that’s a glimpse of heaven.

Today, are you just living life, or are you looking for heaven in every moment?

Have I given Jesus my all in all?

Jesus Christ is God.  He is part of the glorious Trinity.  He was there before the world was created, and all things were created through Him and for Him.  He is God Himself.  I don’t fully understand the beauty of the Trinity, but I know that it is true.  Jesus Christ is God.

Have we given Him our all in all?  Does He have our everything?  Does He have every bit of our lives?  Because that’s where peace and hope and life will come. Through giving Him our all.  Jesus is God. Do you honor and worship Him as such?

Does He fully have you?

P – prayer

Today, Blessed Father, may we glorify you in all that we do.  May we look for glimpses of heaven, in all of life, and my we give you our all in all. Today God, may we seek to give you glory, in all things.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Ash Wednesday – Why?

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Today is Ash Wednesday.  It’s a day that many Christians honor, but we do we do it?  What is the deal with Ash Wednesday and this thing called Lent?

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season known as Lent.  It’s a time when we focus on our great need for Jesus, what He sacrificed for us, and His high calling in our lives to be faithful.

The thing that is powerful to me about this concept is the notion that is we forget sometimes what Jesus did for us. We talk so much about His love, His mercy, His grace, His compassion, all these things, that we forget what these things cost Him.

Just how much it cost Him to accept us.

We know that grace is free. But it is not cheap.  It cost Him more than we could ever imagine.

We don’t need to forget that.  It was for us He bled and died. It was for us He suffered.

It was for OUR sin.

It was for MY sin.

And so, when we “give up” something for Lent, we are remembering His suffering. And here is the thing. We aren’t giving things up to show that we are spiritual supermen or women, we doing it to be driven to prayer. Every time you miss whatever it is you are giving up, pray.

Every time you have a craving for whatever it is you are giving up, pray.

Every time you think about what Jesus has done for you, pray.

May we have a holy Lent.  May we reflect upon what He has done for us. And may we remember all that we have to be thankful for.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Like a Child (SOAP)

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Today, let’s reflect upon Matthew 18:1-6 together!

S – scripture

Matthew 18: 1-6:

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

O – observation

Jesus exalts a child as the example of faith

Jesus tells us that we should have a faith like a little child.  And that sounds nice and sweet to us, but in Jesus’ day, that wasn’t the case.  Children were not important.  They were little more than property in that day.  The number of kids you had would show the wealth that you possessed, but it was not a child friendly society like ours is.

So, Jesus takes a child, of little worth in the culture, and says, be like this.  Humble yourself.  Don’t be proud.  Be humble. And in that, you will find the kingdom.

Jesus tells us welcome little children

Jesus doesn’t just tell us to humble ourselves like a little child (which is bad enough!) but He tells us that we should welcome children.  In His day, that simply was not the case.  Children were to be seen (rarely) and never heard. They didn’t matter.  They didn’t have value in that day. They were simply not important.

First, He tells to be like someone not important. And now He tells us to welcome someone not important.

Jesus is challenging us to consider our values of who is important and who is not important.

millstoneJesus warns us to consider out actions

And finally, Jesus tells us that if we cause one of these little ones to fall, our fate would not be good.  A mill stone is HUGE stone.  Bigger than any stone that you have ever soon. There is  no way that you could tie it around your neck, it’s simply too big.  Jesus is making a point here.  It would be better for you to do something impossible than for your actions to hurt one of these.

He reminds us that our actions have consequences that we can never even see.

A – application

Who is not important to us, that is important to Jesus?

Jesus calls us to pay attention to those that don’t “count.”  That don’t “matter.”  That aren’t “important.”  Why?  Because they count, the matter, and they are important to Him. They matter to Him.  He loves them, wants us to love them, and they may have something to teach us about faith.  God may be wanting to use that one that you think doesn’t matter to point other to Him.  He may have a high and lofty purpose for them, that we’ll never understand.

But He does. And He wants us to respect, love, and care for them.

Today, who are we missing, that Jesus isn’t?  Today is not important to us, that is very important to Jesus?

How can I humble myself?

CS Lewis said “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”  We have to learn to humble ourselves, and take the focus off of us, and put it on Him.  But our vision, our plans, our lives on Him.  He calls us over, and over and over again to humility.

Every wondered why?

If we are focused only on us, we will never be able to see Him.  Today, may we take the focus off of us, and place it upon Him.

Have I considered the consequences of my actions?

My life, my decisions, my actions, they have have consequences.  They affect others.  I don’t live only for myself.  I live for God, and I live for His plan.  The choices I make today, they will affect others in ways that I can’t imagine. Today, in our lives, may we remember that the choices that we make, the have a great affect on others, than we realize.  May we live with that knowledge.

P – prayer

Dear Father, my I live today, keeping my eyes open for those that I normally miss because I am so busy.  May I seek to place the focus of my life upon you, and may I consider how my actions affect others.  Give me grace for this day.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

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