New Testament Reading- Day 1
Started to read the New Testament last night. Hope you are joining me and our Sanctuary Family as we do this daily for the next 90 Days. Let’s be Scripture Addicts together and get our daily “fix”!
We read Matthew 1-4 last night, and here are a few, simple observations:
1) John the Baptist- wow; is my message that simple? Is my language that challenging? Is my ministry that sincere? I’ve always found myself drawn to John the Baptist, but I saw him anew last night as I read. Its almost like Matthew doesn’t really know what to do with this locust-eating, camel hair-wearing guy from the desert. But Matthew’s record of his message is clear and I think its best summarized in this: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.” So much is wrapped up in that little sentence, but it is also very simple. Is my message that clear, that deep, that simple, or is it clouded by my lifestyle, conflicting words, competing goals
Leave a Reply
2 Responses to “New Testament Reading- Day 1”
Links
Bibles, Books and More!
Recent Messages
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- Oneida Higginbotham on Praise Reports
- Pat McCool on A Matter of Days!
- Carol Boriskie on Prayer
- Pat McCool on A Matter of Days!
- Pat McCool on Another Day Closer!
- JDS Senior on Concrete work
- Oneida Higginbotham on Prayer
- Pat McCool on Another pic!
- Pat McCool on More pics
- Keys on Sanctity of Human Life
So I’m sitting in my room reading (more like scanning over) yesterday’s scriptures as though there is nothing new to gain from Matthew – a book so often covered and scrutinized. Then my eyes hit the brakes and went into reverse once they hit 4:23 to re-read the two preceeding verses.
“4:21 Going on from there he [Jesus] saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a boat 32 with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. Then 33 he called them. 4:22 They 34 immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.”
What the heck? So, I don’t know much (anything) about Zebedee, but I’m thinking he might be thinking this is a pretty raw deal for him. I’m envisioning an older guy who’s out fishing with his sons – either as their business or for general food. Perhaps he’s expecting, as most fathers might at that time, that his sons will pick up the fishing as he gets older and is no longer able. Instead, here they meet this guy, Jesus, who says “follow me” and scripture says that they “immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.” Did Zebedee know who Christ as the Messiah and take joy in his sons going? Or, did he feel betrayed by his own sons?
Like I said, I don’t know much about Zebedee from the scripture there, but I can think of so many applications in life today where that scenario plays out. Sometimes, we may hold onto things longer than we should out of a sense that it’s the “responsible thing to do” rather than immediately leave to follow Christ. Perhaps we sometimes feel a sense of betrayal as people change directions in life on an instant to follow Christ and in contrast to our implicit expectations we have placed on them.
Great observation, Russ. Rise to the challenge of Scripture. Be careful about the expectations about the way that God is “supposed” to work and how his people are “supposed” to answer his call. That can lead to a lot of disappointment.