Wednesday, November 21, 2012

DAY 226 - Cheap Loyalty, Hollow Friendships, Easy Betrayals! (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)


Today's Reading: Matthew 20: 17-28

**For a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf.
Please click this link to read Matthew 20: 17-28

Bible Study

     Yesterday's passage is a serious warning to all people that the issue of fairness causes lots of misunderstanding, anger and division. This passage continue the same theme on a deeper level.
     While Jesus wanted to teach them about the consequence of following him might not be what they thought of as being powerful. James and John's mother came asking Jesus for the best two positions when he got the throne! Then the other ten were angry at them. Why? Because they thought it was not fair!
     What do you want from Jesus? Do you know what Jesus wants from You?
He wants to teach you, challenge you and test you that one day you understand the real meaning of the Cross as he wanted his disciples to understand in today's passage. If you want to get something from Jesus and when other get those things you want to get you will say, "It's not fair!" But if you understand the real meaning of the Cross and you are willing to give even giving you own life to Jesus then you just don't care of those so called fairness.
     As N.T. Wright says:
     Young politicians try to guess who's going to be powerful.  They attach themselves to him or her, so that if they've guessed right they will be rewarded handsomely for their early allegiance.  People play games like that all the time.  It produces cheap 'loyalty' that's not worth a thing, hollow 'friendships' that don't go deeper than the outward smile, and easy betrayals when things go wrong.  That's the level the two brothers were working at.  When the other disciples are cross with them, it's probably not because they were all too pure-minded to have similar thoughts, but simply because James and John got in first. 

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"




Spiritual Journal


     What I heard from Jesus today is: Cheap loyalty, hollow friendships, easy betrayals!
     What I received from Jesus today is a reality all around us. I have seen much in the past 25 years of my ordained ministry. So many so called Christians are not serving Jesus extending his kingdom ministry but serving themselves extending their kingdom's boundary! How sad! And if they can't get those things they want to get but other people get it, they will say, "Not fair!"
     Is it fair that Jesus died for us like that? Is it fair that so many true servants of Christ gave up all they had in order that God's kingdom will be established?
     What I so long to see and experience is precious loyalty, real friendships and true faithfulness!


Dear Lord Jesus,
Help us to be faithful to you and to each others. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.



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