Today's Reading: Luke 8: 1-15
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Please click this link to read Luke 8: 1-15
Bible Study
Today's passage gives us a lot to think of. The parable of the sower leads people to understand how the kingdom of God should be in us. But today, before I read N.T. Wright's comment, I got the same message as Bishop Wright got. He says:
A group of women whom the other gospel-writers don't mention until much later - until, in fact, they turn up at the foot of the cross, lend a hand with the burial, and then are the first at the tomb. They have heard the word, and been healed by it. And they have done the unthinkable: they have left the well-defined social space of home and family, where they had a role and a duty, and have chosen to accompany Jesus and his followers on the road from place to place, looking after their needs and doing so, moreover, out of their own pockets...
Look out of the window at the people walking by. What sort of soil is the seed being sown in today? What can we do to plough up the rough ground, to remove the stones, to weed out the thorns? What can we do to sow the word more successfully? The answers will vary from place to place and time to time. But perhaps the first and most important answer is to ask ourselves how much mature growth, how much fruit, the word is producing in our own lives. If we have ears, we must learn to hear.
But, do we have ears? If we really have ears and listen to what Jesus says, then our whole lifestyle will be changed that we would follow those women's example to use our money, time, resources to support Jesus and his disciples? Where is Jesus and his disciples? If not your home church first, where?
A group of women whom the other gospel-writers don't mention until much later - until, in fact, they turn up at the foot of the cross, lend a hand with the burial, and then are the first at the tomb. They have heard the word, and been healed by it. And they have done the unthinkable: they have left the well-defined social space of home and family, where they had a role and a duty, and have chosen to accompany Jesus and his followers on the road from place to place, looking after their needs and doing so, moreover, out of their own pockets...
Look out of the window at the people walking by. What sort of soil is the seed being sown in today? What can we do to plough up the rough ground, to remove the stones, to weed out the thorns? What can we do to sow the word more successfully? The answers will vary from place to place and time to time. But perhaps the first and most important answer is to ask ourselves how much mature growth, how much fruit, the word is producing in our own lives. If we have ears, we must learn to hear.
But, do we have ears? If we really have ears and listen to what Jesus says, then our whole lifestyle will be changed that we would follow those women's example to use our money, time, resources to support Jesus and his disciples? Where is Jesus and his disciples? If not your home church first, where?
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: How do you support Jesus and his disciples?
What I received today from Jesus is a personal request from him to each one of us. The request is to follow those women's good examples to support Jesus and his disciples. Verse3 says:
They looked after the needs of Jesus and his companions out of their own pockets. (N.T. Wright's version)
Brothers and sisters from Richmond Emmanuel Church experienced a miracle in this aspect last year. We painfully passed a motion to allow a one hundred thousand dollars deficit for the year 2012. But, because of many of us are willing to change our lifestyles drastically we have a surplus of thirty thousand dollars. All of us are being encouraged by this miracle. Why I said it is a miracle? Because if we do not have more people to have ears and listen, we won't have that many brothers and sisters willing to "look after the needs of Jesus and his companions out of their own pockets."
And, what I got from Jesus today is a personal question. It's not to support "Jesus' ministries or the church", it's Jesus and his disciples. You supporting your church's ministry is actually a personal support, to Jesus and his disciples. Does it change your attitude of your tithing, your offerings and your lifestyle?
Jesus asks you now, "How do you support me and my disciples?"
They looked after the needs of Jesus and his companions out of their own pockets. (N.T. Wright's version)
Brothers and sisters from Richmond Emmanuel Church experienced a miracle in this aspect last year. We painfully passed a motion to allow a one hundred thousand dollars deficit for the year 2012. But, because of many of us are willing to change our lifestyles drastically we have a surplus of thirty thousand dollars. All of us are being encouraged by this miracle. Why I said it is a miracle? Because if we do not have more people to have ears and listen, we won't have that many brothers and sisters willing to "look after the needs of Jesus and his companions out of their own pockets."
And, what I got from Jesus today is a personal question. It's not to support "Jesus' ministries or the church", it's Jesus and his disciples. You supporting your church's ministry is actually a personal support, to Jesus and his disciples. Does it change your attitude of your tithing, your offerings and your lifestyle?
Jesus asks you now, "How do you support me and my disciples?"
Dear Lord Jesus,
Lead us to be willing to look after the needs of you and your disciples out of our own pockets. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
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