Being Relevant

Matthew 9:14-17

14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. 16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

There is a time and purpose for everything. We should be aware of our situations everythime we make a decision to do or say something.

A dear dear friend once pointed out that the Christians that minister the most to him are those that are relevant in their christianity. And that got me thinking, how erlevant I'm I? are there times when I am mourning at a wedding reception in the presence of the bridegroom, are there times that I patch up old wineskins with new ones or unshrunk cloth on an old garment?

How many times are our actions and words counteractive to the growth of the kingdom of God, How are we irrelevant in our Christianity that we fail to draw souls to Christ and instead push them away, How many times are we so busy doing things that we think are right and in essence preaching to the choir and not those that need to know Christ the most!?

Lord, Help me to be relevant in every situation you place me. 

Minding My Own Business

Matthew 9:9-13

9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

A group of friends and I were having an interesting conversation and right when the jazz got really juicy, as we swapped stories and laughed at each other and got a little shocked too.... we realized something of a trend.... the best stories always started with, "There I was minding my own business" And there and then we knew it was going to be a really juicy one.... and laughed about how the best stories always started with us minding our own business.

I read this and the first thing that came to my mind was.... there Matthew was......minding his own business..... and there and then.... I knew I was in for a juicy one... :)

I thought about all the things I go about doing in my own little world... minding my own business.... and Jesus walking up to me and asking me to follow him..... would I? Can I?
                                                           
I took comfort in the fact that Matthew was not perfect, neither he nor Jesus nor the people he interacted with him daily thought he was..... they did not even think he was worth Jesus' attention..... But Jesus did.


I took comfort in the fact that Jesus loves and cares about me in all my imperfection....even when I am too busy minding my own business..... An in that, I will derive my strength to get up and Follow Him!

And in that moment.....while I am busy minding my own business.... it will mark the beginning of a really juicy story..... and with the best companion ever!

Entertainment

Matthew 9:1-8

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man

1Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” 

4Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?5Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?6But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”7Then the man got up and went home. 8When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.

How wonderful that our sins are forgiven in Christ... I marvel daily at this because there would not be enough livestock on to atone my sins. I take comfort in the fact. I should not take it for granted and sin willfully... but take comfort in the fact that when I do... I can always come back to the cross.

Entertainment can be defined as 'The action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment.' We think these evil things... we enjoy the thoughts... we make a home for them in our hearts and look forward to them ....but we shouldn't! 

I love that Jesus has all hat authority... it is so cool....It makes me feel really safe and taken care of... 

Lord, Teach me to be intolerant of evil thoughts, that they may have no place in my heart and that I may forever dwell in your safety.

Go!

Matthew 8:28-34

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men

28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes,[a] two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 8:28 Some manuscripts Gergesenes; other manuscripts Gerasenes

I thought about this one and was wondering what I could learn about Jesus from it.... and all that came to mind was free will.... when we are set on doing something Jesus will nt tie us down and hold us back.... he will let us Go.... but just because he lets us 'go' does not mean that there will not be consequences.... so before we go shouting at God, letting him know what we want and 'blubbering' like the fools we usually are..... think.... let God have his way.... and let GO! :)

Fear vs Faith

Matthew 8:23-27

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Calms the Storm

23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

My fear is an indicator of my faith or lack of.....

The bible tells us numerous times not to be afraid!!!

When I think about it......really think about it.... I have absolutely nothing on this earth to fear because God has so gat this! He is in absolute control..... and yet.... still..... I fear and fret!!!

Father, guide me as I grow in faith and extinguish all fear!

Following

Matthew 8:18-22

New International Version (NIV)

The Cost of Following Jesus

18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Following Christ is all about denying self and the physical desires of this world. Christ does not demand this of us......he just needs us to be aware of it what we are getting ourselves into when we do. Many times we are quick with our decisions and promises without fully understanding the implications and what is truly involved... The 'son of man' was not here to establish a physical kingdom..... he did not need that kind of following.... he needed people that were willing to just up and follow.... no physical benefits!

The next bit made me think about this post. Not only are we not supposed to worry about our tomorrows, we need to learn to leave our pasts behind as well. What is done is done is done. We need to learn to live in today and make the most of it.

Lord, teach me to leave my yesterdays in the past, meet my tomorrows tomorrow and live my todays according to your will, making the most of each one.....

Paintings

Matthew 8:5-13

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Faith of a Centurion

5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant,[a]‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him,“Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel[b] have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 8:9 Greek bondservant
2. Matthew 8:10 Some manuscripts not even in Israel

He is not only willing, he is ready to go the extra mile for us! :) I took great comfort in that. Then the next bit challenged me, he does not have to go the extra mile...... made me think of painting a picture, are we limited by the size of the canvas or the image in our minds? How and where do we mark our boundaries and set our limitations? Do we understand the Lord's power and his authority? Are we painting too small on a large canvas or limiting the detail of our pictures to the size of the canvas? 

It is amazing the things we take for granted when we think we know it all or have it all or that it will always be there for us. ''He came to his own and his own did not accept him'' 

If you could paint a picture and have it happen exactly like you paint it, would you have any limitations? How would you determine them and what would they be?

Lord, teach me to believe and help me with my unbelief and disbelief. Help me see what I have before me, open my eyes, mind and heart that i may make the most it.