Day 2: Mat. 8-12 Opening Reflection

While listening to the prescribed text for today, there were a couple of reverberating themes that crossed my mind.  The one that really stuck with me, however, was that: Jesus’ work and ministry leaves you with a testimony!

While thinking about the latter thought I began to realize that there is no excuse not to follow Jesus.  We make up all kinds of reasons not to Follow Jesus; we make conditions for the Lord to meet in order for us to follow Him (if this…then I will….); We even asks Jesus questions not to find a true answer but more so to test and challenge Him; we even demand miraculous signs of the God to show that God is worthy to be followed, but just like I heard it in the text I can hear Jesus saying to us right now….BUT YOU OF LITTLE FAITH.

It is hard to have faith, however, when we understand that just like the disciples, God has no problem throwing or sending Jesus, the Disciples, You or I out into the pasture like a sheep among the wolves.  But while God is willing to allow us to go through, test, trials and tribulations he is not willing to allow us to go forth without Divine provision.

What does God have to do to get us to show faith?  God has sent men to warn us, God has given us signs, God even allowed Jesus to grace the earth, and God has enabled us to have Bible as a written record of his accomplishments.  
One day we are all going to have stand under the Ultimate Judgment – what does your spiritual resume entail – on this resume the only two sections are: how did you help develop God’s will and How did you hurt God’s will.  What does your resume look like?  I know mine might be lop-sided and skewed towards the things I have done to hurt God’s will but the only way to enhance this resume is to repent and work towards promoting God’s will.

The only way to help God is to know God’s vision – and so we continue to learn as we listen  - Don’t be of little Faith, listen to the Word of God with an expectancy that God will lead you!!!

 

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Day 1: Mat. 1 -7 Opening Reflection

While listening to day 1’s prescribed text, it was a challenge for me to just listen without crowding what I was hearing with what I already knew, had taught in Bible study and/or had even preached before.  In an attempt to just allow the text speak to me I started the CD over again and just listened openly and the one thing that really stood out to me was that – through it all God is speaking: whether through an angel, a prophet, a circumstance, a test, a dream, or through the text God was not only speaking to the entities of the biblical passages but also to me.  And while God was speaking, I realized that the cliché is true: When Jesus shows up things happen – Perceptions are changed, paradigm shifts take place, and worldly contradictions began to make sense.  In no way do I think I can be Jesus, but I began to realize through my listening that the only way we can really become righteous and really obtain our true blessings is to try our hardest to be like Jesus.  So just like Jesus we are going to have some trials and tribulations, but we have to understand those trials, tribulations, and temptations are simply a preparation mechanism for God to really use us.  So stop focusing on your current conditions and realize the possibilities you have when you come out of your current condition. 

While listening to the chapters it felt like I was on a treadmill; A treadmill keeps you on pace and if you stay on the treadmill you can reach your destiny – and so we must press on to complete our Christian Journey!

 

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