Matthew 10:40-42

Matthew 10:40-42 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Sometimes, things are more complicated than we make them out to be.  There are times when we create elaborate solutions to simple problems, and we look back in wonder that the solution was so easy. 
  Discipleship can be the same.  The Pharisees had made faithfulness so complex that they had lost the heart of it.  Jesus came to shine a light on how easy it can be at times -- when there is a need in front you, serve that person with love.  Do what is right, even when it is simple.  Don't always overthink things.  When you're with someone, think about how to serve them selflessly, with love, and then do that.  And then do the same for the next person, and the next person.  Do this, and selfless service will become a habit, and then a lifestyle, and you'll be imitating Jesus.
  Discipleship is challenging and complex, but it can also be incredibly simple at times.  When a thirsty child or hungry person is before you, feed them.  When someone needs a listening ear, listen.  Small actions shape lives and change the world.

Matthew 10:34-39

Matthew 10:34-39 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  It's always interesting to me when people talk about Jesus as a nice teacher who taught some moral things.  Jesus was certainly a great teacher, but listening to him was by no means easy!  He was divisive, and he challenged people about their true allegiances.  He clearly proclaimed the truth about an alternative Kingdom, and he recognized that his Lordship would cause trouble here on earth.  Over and over, he warns people not to follow him unless they have first considered the cost, because following him with integrity means pledging everything to him above all else.
  What's great is that rather than just asking for everything and offering nothing in reward, like some tyrannical leaders do, is that Jesus promises us that we'll get far more in reward than we can ever give up.  The Kingdom of God works like that -- we give ourselves and all that we are, and God, in return, gives us eternal life and peace and joy and hope and all the glory that is deserved by Jesus Christ, his perfect Son.  Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we receive more than we could even think to ask for. 
  But first, we bow the knee before the throne and pledge everything to Christ.  This may be troublesome and may cause divisions in your life.  It will cause conflict, because you will be pulled in one direction while the world pulls in other directions.  It won't be easy.  But it's worth your life!

Matthew 10:26-33

Matthew 10:26-33 
English Standard Version

   Fear is paralyzing.   When I was a kid, I used to be afraid of the dark corners of my bedroom, and I'd lay in bed afraid until I eventually fell asleep, exhausted.  Now that I'm an adult, I know there isn't anything lurking in the corners of my bedroom -- I spend my energy on much less concrete worries, fears that can't be dispelled by turning on the light.  And still, I lie in bed until I eventually fall asleep, exhausted. 
  Fear is exhausting and paralyzing, and it occupies our minds to the point that we can't think about anything else.  We're trapped by it - in a prison of our own making.
  Jesus comes to liberate us from this fear.  He has come to set us free by reminding us that God is bigger and stronger than anything we might fear, and God is for us!  God chooses to be on our side, defeating our biggest enemies, and promising us that we are safe in his righteous and victorious hands.  With God, we can rest, like a baby asleep on its mother's lap. 
  It's a lifetime of effort to learn how to trust God, but in God, we find our true rest.

Matthew 10:16-25

Matthew 10:16-25
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Endurance athletes are a special breed.  It's as much a mental battle as it is a physical one -- they have to will their bodies to keep moving, whether it's convincing their legs to continue to crank the bicycle pedals or their feet to keep moving forward or some other endurance event, often taking hours upon hours or days upon days to complete their chosen task.  It's hard, but when they reach the end, they can look back on the amazing feat they accomplished and appreciate all the work that went into it.
  Our life of discipleship is similar.  It's rarely easy -- it takes discipline and work to stay committed to discipleship.  We have to choose, day after day, to keep Christ at the center.  We have to resist temptation, choose selflessness, often without glamour or recognition.  It's a hard road to walk, but Christ has assured us that not only will he be with us along the way, but also that the end of the journey makes it all worth it, that the reward of eternal life in heaven is well worth the sacrifices we make along the way.

Matthew 10:5-15

Matthew 10:1-5
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Here, Jesus gives us a glimpse of what the Kingdom of God looks like.  The Apostles are called and then sent out, and they're empowered to take part in what Jesus is doing -- the sick shall be well, the dead will come to life, the possessed will be set free.  It's rooted in gratitude -- the disciples didn't earn this, and so they are to give freely, as they have received. 
  We are invited into this as well.  We have received grace freely -- when we go out, do we do so with an attitude to invite others into the Kingdom, to point to a greater hope, a greater power?  Are we eager to share the Gospel, to love freely and to serve selflessly? 
  Surely, the disciples had some fear and intimidation.  They must have been tempted to hold back, but they joined in what God was doing, aware that it was Jesus who would bring them through, not having to rely upon their own strength and wisdom.

Matthew 10:1-4

Matthew 10:1-4 
English Standard Version (ESV) 
  10 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.
  2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

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  When Jesus calls people, he calls them with a purpose.  The disciples were called to Jesus and then sent out with power and authority, charged with proclaiming the power of God and liberating people from diseases and afflictions. 
  It's easy to be discouraged when we read this.  We end up wondering what our purpose is, because we can't heal every disease and don't seem to have authority over unclean spirits.  Our lives are probably not as dramatic as those of the first disciples.
  But they were charged with turning hearts and minds to learn more about Jesus.  Their actions weren't a substitute for the presence of Jesus -- they led people in to learn more about Jesus.  Like the community in John 4, they heard a testimony and then went to learn more.  Their intrigue led to believe when they encountered Jesus.
  So maybe you don't have authority over unclean spirits.  But your life can testify to the power and love and presence of God.  In your words and actions, you can invite people to experience the love of God, to taste and see that the Lord is good.  Your responsibility is not to convert people -- you are charged to point to Christ and let the Holy Spirit work in the hearts and minds of those who have not yet heard and not yet believed in the beautiful name of Jesus Christ.

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Matthew 9:32-38

Matthew 9:32-38 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I have a laundry list of items that I'd love for God to address in my life.  It can get rather detailed, as I know well the trials and struggles that I find in life.  Some of these prayers are answered, while others go unanswered.  What I can often tend to forget in my prayers is the bigger picture.
  Here, Jesus sees the crowds and has compassion for them -- he knows that the world can be a chaotic place, and while the peace of God can be wonderfully calming to the soul caught up in the turbulent times, there are so many that have not heard the Good News of the Gospel:  that God loves them, that their lives matter on an eternal scale, that Jesus died for them, and that there is a hope for this life and beyond the defeated veil of death.
  I'm often too caught up, too concerned with what's going on in my life that I fail to see the world as God sees it, as a place filled with opportunities to proclaim the Gospel, to share the Good News.  I have tunnel vision to only see what's going on with me, and I miss what God is doing around me.  So my prayer is for God to open my eyes and my heart to truly see the needs of those around me, that I might be a laborer in the fields.

Matthew 9:27-31

Matthew 9:27-31 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  What do you believe that Jesus is able to do in your life?  And does your belief hinge upon whether or not he does it?
  There's an amazing proclamation in the book of Daniel, when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are about to be thrown into a furnace.  They tell the King that even if God does not choose to save them, they still believe that he is able, that he is stronger than death.  Their own circumstances do not lead them to doubt the power and providence of God.
  If we only base our belief on what we see God do in our lives, we will have an extremely small window and limited view of God.  There are reasons why God does not grant every miracle we ask for -- I can't always explain why, and it often pains me to watch prayers go unanswered, as I think I understand the best way to solve a problem or crisis.  God's view, however, is larger than mine, and his timeline is eternal, so I continue to trust in God, even though I don't always see exactly how the pieces fit together.
  Let's ensure that our faith is grounded in the God who cared the mountains from the sea and set the stars in the sky.  God can do anything, including ascending a cross to die so that humankind might be saved.  God is able to do all things, more than we can ask or imagine, and he is worthy of our trust and praise.

Matthew 9:18-26

Matthew 9:18-26 
English Standard Version (ESV) 

  Sometimes, amazing things happen when you're on the way to do something else.  If you're not paying attention to the journey, however, you might miss it.
  Jesus is on the way to resurrect a little girl, when this woman who has bled for twelve straight years reaches out to grab the hem of his garment as he passes by.  There, in the midst of his journey on his way to do something else, a miracle occurs and a woman is restored to the community from which she has been separated for over a decade.
  Think about this as you're on your way to something.  We often get in such a hurry, we're so focused on the end, that we don't pay attention to what's around us.  We don't pay attention to the people with whom we share the journey, and we ignore the ones whom we meet along the way, because we're focused on the end.  Slow down.  Take a breath.  Pay attention -- think about how God might use you as you wander along the way.  As someone said, we're all just walking each other home. 

Matthew 9:14-17

Matthew 9:14-17 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Everyone was struggling with how to deal with Jesus Christ.  They were so firmly rooted in their traditions, which were good, that they were unable to be flexible enough to deal with the new thing that God was doing.  What they had been waiting for, expecting, for hundreds of years had shown up, but God had done so in such a different and unexpected way that they weren't sure what to do.  They had been fasting and waiting, but now God was here, telling them not to fast, but to celebrate.
  So how do we live?  Our first reaction is to hold tightly to our own traditions, trusting them to anchor us in our identity.  And this is important, but we can't hold too tightly to anything, because it's easy to allow our traditions to prevent us from grasping on to the new.  We fill our hands with the old and are unable to let go and accept the new thing God is doing.
  Let us continue, then, to be a people in prayer, trusting that God will show us the way by the power of the Holy Spirit.  When we're uncertain of what tomorrow holds, let us trust that God will give us hints, clues, pointing the way forward.  The miracles that Jesus did, the healings and feedings -- were those hints, breadcrumbs to help the people see that God was on the move.  May our eyes and hearts be open to how God is leading us forward today, that we might be ever watchful for how God is on the move!

Matthew 9:9-13

Matthew 9:9-13 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  The Pharisees have always been an interesting group.  They claim to be religious, but they seem to have lost touch with the God who was at the heart of their religion.  In this instance, they are particularly focused on why Jesus shouldn't associate with Matthew, the tax collector.  Isn't it strange how they're more concerned with why Jesus shouldn't talk to Matthew, rather than celebrate the redemption of a man who was lost?
  It should lead us to examine what kind of people we are.  Do we celebrate those who are lost, when they come to find the grace and peace of Christ that has been swirling around and within them for their entire life?  There's an impulse inside of us that races to judge, that tightens the circle when those of questionable background approach, and we have to fight against that impulse, to follow the radically inclusive Gospel wherever the Spirit may lead.
  Because ultimately, the Gospels should lead us to examine what kind of God we worship.  Do we celebrate the God who seeks the redemption of every soul? Do we follow the Shepherd who leaves the 99 to find every lost sheep?  Do we celebrate the wild forgiveness of God, the reckless abundance of a God who will do anything, who will pay any price, to rescue the sinner from the prison of sin and shame and death?

Matthew 9:1-8

Matthew 9:1-8 
English Standard Version (ESV)

 Dictators can never rule the heart and mind -- they can only rule actions.  They'll tell people how to live, and they will receive obedience due to fear, but they cannot reach into the hearts and minds of people.  There will always be resistance there, even if there is outward loyalty.
  This passage is incredibly challenging -- it reminds us that Jesus isn't only interested in outward obedience.  Following Christ isn't only about doing right --- it's about being right, in the heart and the head.  If you outwardly follow the commandments, but your heart is far from God, we are still in need of a Savior.  It matters what we think, and Jesus knows what we think.
  So let us offer all we are to Christ.  Let us offer our heads and our hearts and pray for God to redeem and repair all of us.  We need redemption for our thoughts and our loves, so that all of us is repaired and mended and redeemed.  We need Christ -- we need his love and his salvation, so that all of us will be captive to God.

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Matthew 8:28-34

Matthew 8:28-34
English Standard Version (ESV)

  It's astounding how little Jesus says in some of the more famous stories in the Bible.  So much is happening around him, so much happens in response to him, that there are times when he as to say very little.  In this entire story, he says one word -- 'Go'. 
  He is surrounded by strong reactions.  His disciples fall before him in worship.  The crowds are often praising or cursing him.  The Pharisees despise him.  The demons fear him.
  What's your reaction to Jesus?  When you contemplate him, when you read his words, when you think about his love for you, how do you react?  It seems as though there is a great deal of indifference in today's world, which is astounding -- the most powerful person in the universe loves you unconditionally and will lay down his life for you. 
  May our reactions be gratitude mixed with awe, and may we hear his command to 'Go', and may we follow and tell the world.

Matthew 8:23-27

Matthew 8:23-27
English Standard Version (ESV)

  What sort of man is he?
  Rachel and I went to see a magic show last week and had a blast. It was fun to watch and be amazed at some of the stunts.  But we knew that it was all illusion and distraction -- we don't know how they managed to pull it off, but as the title of the show announced, it was all done through illusion.  These men got to where they are through hard work and practice -- they had no extraordinary powers, despite it seeming like they did.
  But to calm a thunderstorm?  To still the seas?  That would amaze, right?  That would be extraordinary, because that's not just an illusion.  That's something real, and you'd spend the rest of your life trying to figure out how a man could accomplish such a feat, especially if your life was in danger before he performed the miracle.  Your gratitude and wonder would drive you.
  We're in the same place -- in need of a Savior, perishing in the midst of the storm, when Jesus comes and rebukes the wind and the waves.  True safety is found only in him -- and he is capable of things we cannot even imagine.  His love and power give him true power to save, and he chooses to use that power for us.
  And so we are left to marvel -- what sort of man is he?  Do you trust him with your life?  Will you serve him?


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Here's  a video of one of the magicians we saw --

Matthew 8:18-22

Matthew 8:18-22 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Sometimes, we think that it would have been easier 'back when...'.  We think it would have been easier to raise kids before smart phones, or we think it would have been safer to drive before interstates, etc.  Some things were probably easier, but other challenges made it tougher.  It was different.
  Let's not think that discipleship would have been easier in Jesus' day.  While it would have been easier to see Jesus in front of you, Jesus had some challenging things to say.  There were times (John 6) when the entire crowd left.  On Good Friday, there were only a few disciples left who were faithful, despite three years of miracles and teachings by Jesus.  It couldn't have been that easy if so many of the crowd abandoned him.
  Following Jesus has always been challenging.  It's never easy, but he always promises that it is worth it -- that there is peace and unbreakable hope in the power of his name.  It's as hard today as it has ever been, and it's as worth it now as ever.

Matthew 8:14-17

Matthew 8:14-17 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  When Jesus heals us, he enables us to serve.  The healing is not the end -- it's something that enables us to return to the way we're supposed to live, as servants who reach out to one another in love.  The healing is a beautiful thing, a miracle, but what it provides beyond the actual event is the gift that Jesus offers, the invitation into a different way of life.  So when we pray, let us pray that God removes the obstacles so that we may live as we are created to live.

Psalm 18:6-12

Psalm 18:6-12 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  This is the message I pray people hear, that people understand, that people take deep into their hearts and souls.  That God loves you, that God cares for you, that God rushes to you when you cry for help.  God is never far from you, and God loves you so deeply that he will bow the heavens and come down.  The mountains will tremble with God's rebuke, so eager is he to rush to your love. It is my solemn prayer that you understand a glimpse of God's deep love and desire for you.  God loves you, God treasures you, God never gives up on you.

Matthew 8:5-13

Matthew 8:5-13 
English Standard Version (ESV) 

  Much ink has been spilled over the debate about how Americans get their news.  The gist of the debate is that we often only consume news from sources that confirm what we believe to be true.  We don't readily engage with outside sources that challenge our assumptions.  We stick to news from what is safe.
  Jesus spent time challenging the Pharisees' assumptions. They had allowed what they thought they knew about God to be concrete and inflexible.  They had stopped trying to learn about how God was at work, because they thought they understood everything about how God worked.  Jesus confronted their inflexibility, and they became very defensive as a result. 
  Our religion should challenge us to continue to go to God in prayer and depend on the Holy Spirit to lead us.  Our prayer life should be part of our continued growth, and we should be looking for how God is calling us forward.  We always read Scripture to see how God is speaking through the Word of God, and we listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit calling us to engage in the world around us here and now.  We may find God speaking in unlikely places, from unlikely voices.  But let us not be afraid to listen and learn, and then to gather in community to ensure and confirm what we are hearing from the Spirit.  We listen independently and collectively, and God stretches us to proclaim the Gospel in today's world.