Matthew Chapter 9

We start wtih a short review of Jesus healing the paralytic. 
He and his followers were in Capernaum, which is where He was basicall living at this point in time.  Some men brought a paralized man in for healing but in this version of the story Matthew doesnt tel us that the man was lowered through the roof.  He does tell us that Jesus arrived there by boat and all three of the Gospels that tell this story repeat that Jesus saw THEIR faith. 
Its interesting as well to read that Jesus SAW thier faith;  how do you see faith?  James 2:18 tells us "by what I DO"  Their could include the paralized man, not just those who brought him.  Faith brought them to Jesus, he reconized that and what?  He healed teh man.  But not immediately.  Do you see that first, He forgave the man of his sins.  This really upset the Jewish leaders as only GOD can forgive sins.  So by what he waid, Jesus was showeing himself to be God.  OH and he could read thier thoughts too.  He THEN showed them that the mans sins were forgiven by healing him.  Apparantly in this case the mans sickness was the result of sin, and when it was forgiven he could be healed.  


The point here is that faith in Jesus should cause you to live differently.  If your life doesnt SHOW your faith then it isnt very strong.  Its that simple.  Live like you meant it.  Come to jesus when you ahve problems and need his help.  The very first thing you need to do when you come, however is ask to be forgiven of yoru sins.  He can read YORU thoughts and your heart as well.  After you have come to him, after hes forgiven you, Hell tell you something you shoudl do.  do it, just like the man got up and went home.  What do you think he DID when he got home? 

Matthew 9: 9-17  Matthews personal autobiography
Perhaps the most unlikely choice for one of Jesus' original disciples.  Matthew had a unique placein the Jewish society of the time.  He was  Jew by birth, who contraactdwith the Roman government to collect its exorbitant taxes from his won people.  He was, along with his fellow tax collectors, the most disliked and despised class of individuals in the nation.  The Jewish contempt for these individuals is evident byt he numerous associations made throughout Scripture to the "tax collectors and sinners"  To appreciate the decision Matthew makes to leave everthing he knew behind him and follow Jesus, you have to understand the kind of wealth, status and privilege he was giving up as a Roman Tax collector. 

The romans sold a "franchise" for an area to the highest bidder, and allowed that person to collect the area taxes.  The tax collector was told how much to pay the roman government but what ever else he could collect beyond that was his to keep.  His pay as it were.  They over taxed as much as they could getting rich off of thier "friends and neighbors"  Naturally they were not a popular group of people.  Matthew had undoubtedly heard of Jesus and probably had also heard what John the Baptist had said about him, so it was not new information when Jesus called out to him.  Notice how he reacted to Jesus' call.  Matthew got up and followed him.  He ALSO brought his associates and friends to meet Jesus. 
The Pharisees and other religious leaders were unhappy that Jesus was hagning out with sinners.  This again caused him to speak out to the leaders.  he responds that the sinnersneeded what he had to offer.  The Scripture he quoted reminds us again that God is concerned about our HEART attitude, not what we show to the outside world. 

Matthew then tells of a time when Johns  disciples questioned Jesus as to why his disciples didnt fast.  Fasting was done to bring oneself closer to God and Jesus points out that he is WITH them so at that point, they didnt need to fast.  His teachings are contrary to much of what was common for the time.  Many things Jesus did and taught went against the tradtion of the time.  He says, so he has to begin fresh wtih his disciples.  he cant jsut "add on to the jewish beliefs"  They need to truly understand WHY they do what he encourages them to do.  We cant just come to Christ, we have to leave old ways of thinking and doing things and even being, bhind us.  We must each come to christ like Matthew did, leave everything and recognize that we are sinners and need him.  Not that we are really ok and just oging to add a few new practices on.  and we can only do this with is help. 

Matthew 9: 18-26.  A Dead Girl and a Sick Woman
While he was still speaking to John's disciples he was interrupted.  One of the elders of the synagogue, (refered to here as ruler) came to ask for help for his daughter.  Again, we have parallel accounts in the gospels of this episode.  Mark and Luke tell us theat the daughter was dying.  Matthew may have meant that she was certain to die, but at a rate her father showed his faith by his comfidence in jesus even though he was going against everything his friends and family believed about this guy. 
Jesus went with the man to see the daughter. 

On the way, he passed a woman who had been sick for 12 years with a disease that made her ceremonially unclean.  (Look up Lev. 15:25-27)  It seems strange that she watned to touch his cloak but it was the tassels she touched (numbers 15:38-39)  We cn read the story in Mark and Luke to see that SHE KNEW she was healed even as Jesus felt that she had d drwan on his power.  He stopped to speak to speak to her and let her know that it was her faith that enabled her to be healed. 

Arriving now at the house of the ruler, they encountered croweds of hired mourners.  These people were hired and had no real connection to the family so Jesus put htem out. He then went to raise the girl up.  And the news once again spread. 

Again, jesus not only wants us to have faith in him, but he wants us to act on that faith  He wants us to come to him as confidently and reverently as teh synagogue ruller did.  He watns us to reach out to touch him with the same confidence the woman had.  We also hae to realize that the attitudes of those around us cna have an affect on us.  The hired mourners had laughted an t Jesus and he made them leave.  If the people you hang out with cause you to stuble in yoru walk with jesus or are a distraction to you in trying to walk beside him, you need to find new friends.  Is hat drastic?  Yes but its part of acting onyour faith.  Evaluating yourself and your surroundings and adjusting to see where God wants us to be.

We DONT have jesus standing here eating, drinking and walking with us so today, this week, we need to consider prayer and fasting to see where we are to be going in our walk with Him.

The Wide Road vs the Narrow Path

 

 

 

 

 

The Narrow and Wide Gates

Matthew

13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Another version uses constricted and spacious

I am really enjoying the Sunday School classs that I lead.  I  dont say teach because in this case I love the conversation and perspectives that come up.  One of my group is the first person I ever met who truly was a member of the Peace Corps.  As we were studying this passage she told us a story about when she was leaving for her 2 years in the Peace Corps.  Each young person going was allowed to take 50 lb of items with them for their 2 years, in a backpack.  She told us that many of the people involved thought that the literature they were given to prepare was just a recommendation, you know, because we are Americans and all.  But when they were not allowed to board the plane until their baggage met the weight and she watched others sitting and crying as they decided what they could throw away and live with out for that two years, it was heartwrenching.  This really gave us a picture of what Jesus was talking about in this passage.  He tells us to look for the narrow gate.. or in another translation, the gate that is constricted.  the wide gate and the broad road leads to destruction because you can carry all of your baggage with you down that road.  You can get through the gate with everything you are carrying with you; all of the things we as human beings tend to worship.  We can carry those people who are harmful to us along.  We can get through THAT gate with the whole wagon we are pulling along and we dont have to leave anything behind.  However, do you see where this is going?  the other road, that narrow one, the one with the small gate, we cant get through that gate with anything but ourselves.  Thats what Jesus wants us to bring along, nothing but ourselves. 
I have such a picture in my mind now of people sitting outside that gate, myself included, going through my backpack, showing each of the things in it to Him.  With each thing that comes out of my pack, I can see Him now, telling me, its OK, my child, leave that behind, I will give you all the things you could imagine on this side of the gate.  I see people who are reluctant to leave items behind.  Somtimes, it is very difficult to let go of pleasureable things in our lives.  Sometimes, it is even difficult to let go of items that we KNOW are not good for us.  And sometimes, we didnt even see how certain things were not in our best interest until we tried to fit through the gate with them. 

I am going to work much harder in the future to clean my backpack of all the things that just wont fit through the gate. 



I also want to share my favorite poem in literature as I have figured out that I live the image of looking down the road.  I like that image in photography, I like it in literature and I love this passage of scrpture.  The image in this Robert Frost poem is very much the same.  You can only travel on road, look carefully because you cant come back and expect to find the same beginning point.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

...Robert Frost

Parable of the Talents

 Tonight, we were at Bible Quiz practice and part of the chapter of Matthew we were reading was Matthew 25: 14-30 the Parable of the Talents.  For anyone who needs a reminder of the story, I add that now. 

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
¹⁵ And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

¹⁶ Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

¹⁷ And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

¹⁸ But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

¹⁹ After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

²⁰ And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

²¹ His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

²² He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

²³ His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

²⁴ Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

²⁵ And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

²⁶ His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

²⁷ Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

²⁸ Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

²⁹ For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

³⁰ And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

     As I looked out at the room of  6 teens who have been studying the book of Matthew  to one degree or another since August, I began to really think about this story.  I have said for many years that my biggest goal in life is to hear my Lord say to me "Well done, good and faithful servant".  I have thought over and over again what have I done that would garner those words at the point I am before Him. 
     I have always read this passage from the vantage point of making money to return to further Gods Kingdom. I have to admit that being the product of the ERA Generation, yet someone who never felt driven to have a high powered corporate job, I have never made much money.   I have never felt that what I had to return even really mattered in the scheme of things.  
     But tonight, I saw something in this passage,  from a different perspective.  The servant who was given 5 talents took his talents out in to the world and used those talents to bring in 5 more.. likewise the servant who was given the two talents.  For some reason, tonight, I saw those talents as my children and myself.  I saw that when I married my husband, he had been to church, he had studied some, but he will tell you that I was instrumental in leading him to a saving relationship with Christ. I personally, never thought I DID anything, I was just there when he asked questions and I have tried to live my life in a way that would make Jesus proud to know me.  But tonight?  Did I take the one talent my Lord gave me and multiply it?  Hummmm, Talent number 1 being multiplied into two talents? 
     I, also,  remember a student of mine when I was teaching, knew that I was a Christian and she came from a family who did not particularly attend church.  Her mother was willing to allow her to go, so she had been attending the same church I went to but because of the "laws" I had not really made any effort to actively share with her.  She, however saw the light of Christ shining through my cracks and told me in class one day that she wanted to "go forward" in church the next Sunday and commit her life to Jesus, but she was scared to do it alone, and asked if I would hold her hand and walk her down to the front of the church.  You bet I would.  I was also there when she was baptized.  However, as things happen in public school, we pretty much lost touch when she moved on to a higher level school so I really didn't see much of her anymore.  One day, I found out that she had been accidentally killed when a gun near by discharged.  That made a huge impact on me.  Lord?  Could that possibly be another talent that I was able to return to you?
     I have been there when each of my children and several nieces and nephews were brought in to the sheepfold.  I pray that by watching the way I try to live my life and love those who need it, I can be counted as gathering a few more talents for my Master, while He is away. 
I, then, thought about sending my two daughters out in the world.   I have always understood that my children were gifts from God.  They belong to Him, but he gave me the charge of raising them and training them for The Kingdom.  But, each of my daughters has gone out, and returned with a wonderful, Godly husband.  Lord, could that be another example of multiplying your talents? 
     Now, my oldest daughter is beginning the task of raising her own charges in life and my second daughter is finishing up her training this semester to become a teacher.  Each of them has a whole new mission field opening up before their eyes.  
      My two sons are just beginning their own voyages in life.  It is funny because my oldest son is a tough nut to crack on the idea of faith and reliance on God.  But from Sunday to Sunday, I am seen with not only the big red-head following me in to church to participate in my Bible Study for young adults class, but there is usually a pretty rag tag entourage following us.  I pray for this band of gypsies every time I think of them, which is pretty often.  They don't know that when I wake in the morning to find a carpet of young adults on my living room floor, that before I wake them, I say prayers for them.  Maybe at some point in time, they will also be talents I can return to my Master.      
     My youngest son,  he has a bright future in front of him as he finds out just exactly where and when God wants to set him on his journey, but I believe that there are many talents in his future for him to decide what to do with.  
     I wonder, almost on a daily basis, if the job I have done and continue to do as a wife and mother is barely adequate, much less good.  Tonight, though; maybe, just maybe, I can see  a part of my life through the eyes of my Master. 

Titus Day 1

Overview: 

Leadership in the church, right living in the church and right living in society. 
Themes:  a Good life, Character, Church relationships and relationships in the community( citizenship)
\

CHAPTER 1
1-3  Pauls introduction of the letter, defining who he is who wrote the letter so that all can understand his authority to be saying what he is about to say. 

Things to think about:  do you ever really think about how God appointed the plan of salvation from the beginning of time?  It wasnt something that just happened BECAUSE Adam and Eve made a mess of things.  God already had a plan for WHEN they messed up things. We not a body that contains a soul (spirit) we are SPIRIT... that for a time is contained with in a body.

4.  To Titus my true son in our common faith:  Grace mercy and peace from God the father and Christ Jesus our Savior. 

There is but one way of salvation, common both to the pastor and the flock. Common to parents and children.  As much as we want to think that if we raise our kids "right" they too ARE Christ followers... the reality is that until they take their parents "religion" from their head to their heart and make it their OWN belief system.....

 

Christmas Eve, December 24, 2012

As I sit here in the blissful half light of a Monday morning, enjoying the calm and quiet before the storm of my day breaks, I find myself pondering the meaning of Today and the year that has brought me here.
     I read a book years ago, when I was the mom of 7, that stuck with me.   The author was a Christian woman who talked about how she and her husband went away every year for the week between Christmas and New Years.  I have no idea how many children this woman had or if any or if this was something that didnt start until she was in the empty nest phase of life, (what ever that is).  But the purpose of that week away, for her at least, was prayer and reflection, and planning for the year ahead.  She talked of that week being a time that she spent HOURS and hours extra in the Word to find out what God's plan for her for the coming year was and to reflect on what had happened with the past years "plan"  She settled on a verse of scripture passage each year that became her focus for the year. 
     For me, that idea of going away to a "retreat" for a week, or even 24 hours was never achievable, and I wouldnt have given up my time with the kids out of school, even if I could have gone away,  I'm not that person somehow.  but, I DID spend time when they were asleep, or outside playing in the snow and the littler ones were down for a nap, searching.  During those years, I not only marked "my verse or passage" but I wrote it in the front of my Bible and added comments.  I have "SORT OF" done this in the intervening years between Then and Now.  You know that time frame right? 

     Anyway, this year, I have been presented with a new challenge.  Yesterday, it came in to my head during church, that I am going to read "the Minor Prophets,"  and all the Short Books of the New Testament, to study for this year. 

     So, as today is Christmas Eve, for me, it is also the Eve of a new Challenge.  The morning that I choose celebrate the birth of my Lord and Savior, I begin a quest to know Him deeper and more clearly, and there by, know myself deeper and more clearly.  If anyone wants to join me, it would certainly help hold me accountable and we could set up a "schedule" and find a forum to discuss what we are learing as well. 

     I hope each of you have a wonderful day today and stop to just think about what this day means to and for you. 

S