Joshua 1:8

"...[B]ut you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8).

"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me." (John 5:39).

"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13).

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Matthew 17

Jesus Transfigured on the Mount 

1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”
10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

A Boy Is Healed 

14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”
20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection 

22 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

Peter and His Master Pay Their Taxes 

24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”
25 He said, “Yes.”
And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”
26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”
Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.
27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

14 comments:

  1. Josh and Mary please read my comment from yesterday's post.

    Shad

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  2. Thanks for all of the input!

    So I can say that I do need to read more and learn more about what my/our life should look like. I came from a little different background (not much), but different nonetheless. We were baptized together, I have been reading significantly more, but I still haven't gone "all in". I have yet to leave it all on the field. I was hoping that baptism would kind of "ignite" something in me. It was a HUGE step in that it publicly displayed cleavage from the Catholic Church, and was a big deal in my family - especially my Grandma whom I adore. The problem I think more than anything is that I don't really know the fundamentals. Shad you mentioned that you like being challenged - not me, because my answer is a little too instinctive/based on feeling and not necessarily what is the biblical answer. Perhaps then I would feel a little (or a lot) less lost and frustrated.

    I don't know what the next "step" is, or what my/our life should be looking like. I know that our lives have been evolving, and that I (we) are impatient so perhaps we need to slow down and listen for direction rather than looking so hard for it. But at the same time, I think that's my cop out to avoid doing any more work... And what I'm realizing through the past few days of reading and our discussions is that what I'm looking for is to get to some state where I don't have to do any more work. It's almost like I've added another item to my checklist, and unfortunately relationships don't work like that. I suppose this would be the explanation for vagueness, because if everything were about the specifics, it would completely cater to the checklist approach...

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  3. Josh, this was the post from Joel that Shad is referring to:


    http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/december/do-american-christians-need-message-of-grace-or-call.html?paging=off

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  4. Shad,

    Thank you for your candidness. The question I asked has long been a question I've been struggling with. You're statement at the end of your post pretty much sums it up for me:

    The confusion for me is only my desires getting in the way of God's desires for my life.

    God has done amazing things in my life that I can look back on (and would take several pages to write out so I'll spare the details for now). The problem is not whether I've been saved or whether God's working in my life but where must I go from here. A couple of weeks ago Rick Warren stated that we're a new creation with the old tape playing in our heads (that's a paraphrase of course). Here-in lies my current frustration. I know that God led Moses into the dessert for 40 years because of this; I hate the idea that I may be in for much of the same. Why cross is to literally let my dreams/ambitions die and trust that God has not forgot me and has a plan for me. I believe my current command is to wait on the Lord. I must confess I don't like this...

    Furthermore, as I've claimed numerous times, I am not at all content with the notion to "go and make disciples". This is not at all something I'm comfortable with - actually I cower at the thought. I've never been one to share my faith...with anyone. This small group is a HUGE step for me. Your story about sitting in the car with Becky wondering whether or not you should go in resonated with me. This currently is where I feel God stretching me the most...

    Joel, I agree with your response but only partially. There are just as many "do" verses, if not more, as "believe" verses. In today's reading Jesus said, "the sons are free, nevertheless..." and He commanded Peter to "do". God tests us for a reason - to prove us. As the missionary said a couple weeks ago, it's for credibility; we speak through our scars. What an incredible way to look at it! I know for a fact that, while we are called to rest in Christ, God is not OK with us standing idle in Christ. I know this because it's exactly what God is convicting me of. As Mary said, and Shad built upon, we are too focused on the philosophical rather than the practical. We all obviously believe but perhaps it's time we stop talking about it and start living it out. This is my current struggle - it sounds like I'm not alone...

    "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak".

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  5. Thanks Josh. I don't equate resting in Christ with standing idle. Quite the contrary, actually. The fact that I CAN rest in Christ is what drives me to want OTHERS to rest in Christ. As far as how that looks? Or the "do's"? Maybe that's were the issue is. Shad sees the do as a mission trip. Absolutely awesome. And if anyone other of us are called to do so, I pray we are able by Christ's Power. But we can do the "do's" everyday here too! Loving our neighbor. Serving others in the community. When others are being crushed by life's crap, telling them about Jesus' love and life for them. Going the extra mile at work. Those are all do's! Small things become big things because we do them unto the Lord and He sees it and loves it! All because we belong to Him, bought with the Price of His Son.

    "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:12

    "Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." 1 Thessalonians 4



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  6. Let me get specific... Not to boast to show what God is doing in my life. Remember the thanksgiving meal? I've built a relationship with one of the people there and have to to support and help her in her relationship with God. Josh knows I do a bread run for a food bank every Saturday because I have compassion on those who don't have food. I've prayed with and check in on a family from a street corner. Karyn and I both support India missions. We have given more than we ever have at church. Scary??? Heck YES!! But God has provided. Finally, here's the humdinger....Karyn and I are going to host a small group on Tuesdays because there is a need in the church and Charlie asked that we do it. Me.... a small group leader. HA!!! Am I scared to death? ABSOLUTELY. Do I know this is on Jesus and I'm doing because I want others in our mega church to feel loved? YES.

    AGAIN.... not to boast. Just to get specific.

    God will lead you both!!!! Pray and rest in Him. Lean on Him. Just love your Heavenly Father and your Savior Jesus. :))

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  7. Joel,

    Well said. And I understand your points. Just be careful to avoid hostility toward a calling that may look different than yours...does that make sense?

    And what's the big deal? Trying to compete with our small group?!

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  8. The ONLY thing I get worked up about is what I perceive to be the idea in our group that we are just never doing enough for God. Why can't we just appreciate what He's done for us and quit this notion of almost a guilt trip in every meeting. Oh we don't read our bible enough, oh we don't give enough time to God, oh this... oh that.... it gets to be a drag sometimes. I say we start just living in God's Love and Grace for us, live there, meditate on that, thank Him, Praise Him, Love Him...then the rest will come about naturally out of gratitude to Him.

    No competition at all. Just not enough small groups and there is a need.

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  9. And I get worked up by the idea that God doesn't give us room for growth. I don't see it that way.

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  10. Shad can answer this...

    "Just as the missionary stated a couple weeks ago let there be no confusion about what our mission is in this life for it is written in the bible. We go through life using the excuse that we are trying to figure things out and we have our whole life to be transformed by God."

    No disagreement about the mission. I don't think people are using "excuses". I AM trying to figure things out. That's how we grow. We were justified by God the second we put our faith in him. But sanctification is a lifelong process that comes about through time and trial.

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  11. I think he was just stating a fact in his own walk; that he's using the process of growth itself as an excuse to avoid it altogether. That's what I understand his statement to mean. Perhaps Shad could clarify...?

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  12. For me it is completely an excuse. I have been a Christian for all my life and until a few years ago I was afraid to talk about my faith. I lived a double life with church on Sundays and rest of my life Monday through Saturday. This is not what God has called us for. Joel you are very correct in your last statement about loving God and the rest will come naturally. The problem is whether or not we really love God with all our heart, mind and soul!

    Shad

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  13. Shad it's awesome to hear this. That's exactly right. Love God with all our heart, mind and soul. :)

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