Read Matthew 4:18-22.
The call to discipleship is a costly one. Jesus can lead us to leave behind our livelihood, our family, our home. We may need to give up our favourite activities or cherished relationships. We may be expected to abandon that which gives us comfort, that which gives us identity and that which gives us security. And we are not given a perfect understanding of all that the call will entail.
It is beautiful that these four men leave everything behind to follow Jesus. Is there anything that Christ is presently calling me to cast off as I seek to follow Him? Anything that is sinful? Or, anything that, though good in and of itself, is a distraction to the plans He has for me?
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Faith in Focus on Mission - Sharing the Gospel
The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch is a beautiful one (Acts 8:26-40). There are two things that I would like to reflect on here.
First of all, the obedient heart of Philip is an incredible example. He is directed where to go and he goes. Then he is told which chariot to join and he runs to the chariot. He could have questioned the wisdom of these commands. He could have said that he had other things he would rather do. He could have said that he was not ready to serve God or he could have let fear prevent him from acting. But we hear of none of these things. Philip simply obeys the leading of God. With fantastic results.
God still speaks to us today. He speaks through the Bible. He whispers to our spirits. He guides through the wisdom of fellow believers. When God calls us to do something we must jump into action. Rather than make excuses for not acting, may we respond as Philip did, with the hope that God will do something incredible!
Secondly, Philip takes advantage of the situation before him. When he notices that the Ethiopian is reading from Isaiah he engages him in conversation and is allowed to share the message of Jesus. When we hear people read Scripture or speak about religious matters a door is opened for us. We can walk through that door if we are ready and willing, and can bless people with the truth of God. Or we can shy away and keep this great message to ourselves. May God give us the passion and the courage to speak the Good News!
May I provide all of us with a challenge for the coming week? It is simply this, to be ready to share the Gospel each day. To be ready in each conversation, in each interaction, to bring Christ into it if it seems that God is opening a door or if we feel a tug on our heart to do so. May we have wisdom, courage and power.
First of all, the obedient heart of Philip is an incredible example. He is directed where to go and he goes. Then he is told which chariot to join and he runs to the chariot. He could have questioned the wisdom of these commands. He could have said that he had other things he would rather do. He could have said that he was not ready to serve God or he could have let fear prevent him from acting. But we hear of none of these things. Philip simply obeys the leading of God. With fantastic results.
God still speaks to us today. He speaks through the Bible. He whispers to our spirits. He guides through the wisdom of fellow believers. When God calls us to do something we must jump into action. Rather than make excuses for not acting, may we respond as Philip did, with the hope that God will do something incredible!
Secondly, Philip takes advantage of the situation before him. When he notices that the Ethiopian is reading from Isaiah he engages him in conversation and is allowed to share the message of Jesus. When we hear people read Scripture or speak about religious matters a door is opened for us. We can walk through that door if we are ready and willing, and can bless people with the truth of God. Or we can shy away and keep this great message to ourselves. May God give us the passion and the courage to speak the Good News!
May I provide all of us with a challenge for the coming week? It is simply this, to be ready to share the Gospel each day. To be ready in each conversation, in each interaction, to bring Christ into it if it seems that God is opening a door or if we feel a tug on our heart to do so. May we have wisdom, courage and power.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Thoughts - Matthew 2:16-18
Read Matthew 2:16-18
The evils that a human being is capable of are tremendous. In an attempt to preserve his own throne, Herod wipes out all males two-and-under in-and-around Bethlehem. Understandably this leads to great mourning.
In our day another atrocity is committed in the name of self-service: abortion. It may be impossible to get an accurate reading of how many abortions are performed in Canada today (Ontario withholding 'sensitive' statistics), but it would seem that there are somewhere around 100,000 per year (perhaps a bit less?) (Right to Life statistics). Some of these children die after being born alive (Lack of accurate numbers).
What is perhaps most disturbing when it comes to the termination of pregnancies, is that while human beings are programmed to mourn the loss of a child when she dies in utero, with abortion these children are discarded with a sigh of relief. While the mothers of Bethlehem mourned their boys, our society (regularly) expects those who have undergone an abortion to continue life as if nothing significant has happened.
What evils do I justify doing in my own life for the sake of my own protection?
The evils that a human being is capable of are tremendous. In an attempt to preserve his own throne, Herod wipes out all males two-and-under in-and-around Bethlehem. Understandably this leads to great mourning.
In our day another atrocity is committed in the name of self-service: abortion. It may be impossible to get an accurate reading of how many abortions are performed in Canada today (Ontario withholding 'sensitive' statistics), but it would seem that there are somewhere around 100,000 per year (perhaps a bit less?) (Right to Life statistics). Some of these children die after being born alive (Lack of accurate numbers).
What is perhaps most disturbing when it comes to the termination of pregnancies, is that while human beings are programmed to mourn the loss of a child when she dies in utero, with abortion these children are discarded with a sigh of relief. While the mothers of Bethlehem mourned their boys, our society (regularly) expects those who have undergone an abortion to continue life as if nothing significant has happened.
What evils do I justify doing in my own life for the sake of my own protection?
Saturday, February 7, 2015
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