Parallels

 

Elisha did some amazing things – he was a disciple of Elijah. I am a disciple of Jesus and have not done anything even close to amazing. I have been learning how to allow the Holy Spirit, God living in me, to move more freely in my life. I am starting to meditate on the idea that there is no difference in capability between myself and Elisha.

When Naaman was cleansed, didn’t the little maid who had been taken captive into Syria steal your heart? She was a servant to Naaman’s household and she was the one who told him about the powerful testimonies to God’s power through Elisha. This may have been a simple task, but an example of how the Holy Spirit can call on us to give the message of redeeming grace in Christ.

In all that we do, there is a favour of God on us as if we were His treasured ones. He is the One who will protect even when others consult to destroy. If I do find myself in a place where I come into hardships, suffer at the hands of others, find myself in solitary grief or find myself with no one by my side – such can be the cost of following Jesus. I expect to see my calling then even more so – I hope to find myself treasured by God.

It is only then that the temptation to be a secret disciple can be overcome. And if I fear now, I pray like Nicodemus, when my journey demands me to step out, I will step out.

 

 

 

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Loving is not complicated

 

Loving God, Loving Each Other

 

Jesus did not ask a lot from me. His vision for me is not all that complicated. What He did ask of me is life-changing when I put them into practice.

Basically I am called to Love God, My Neighbour, and Others.

 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 22:37-40  ESV

I want to see God’s love become a reality in my life. I want to see that God loves me completely and unconditionally. I want to fall in love with God. I want God to love others through me.

 

 

 

 

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The struggle to understand

 

Tenth Avenue North – The Struggle

 

Jesus predicted His death four times. Those following Him and who heard each prediction reacted each time differently. Remember Peter rebuked Jesus for talking like that. Unfortunately for him, he was at the end of Jesus rebuke. The second time they were sad but then started to argue as to who was going to be the greatest in the Kingdom.  The third time, James and John are looking at sitting on Jesus’ right and left when they do enter the Kingdom. It is in Matthew 20 where Jesus predicts, for the third time, and where James and John make the audacious ask, and where Jesus lays on the table the difference between what the world is looking for and what He is offering. It ends up not only being a struggle for them but for me too. I am to be a servant.

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,[c]  and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,[d]  even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:25-28  ESV

 

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Come with me

 

Come Away

 

I can hear Jesus’ voice this morning – come away from all your busyness, crowded life and your overburdened thoughts and come away with Me. Leave the temptations and find rest in Me.

Come with me from Lebanon, my bride;
    come with me from Lebanon.
Depart[b] from the peak of Amana,
    from the peak of Senir and Hermon,
from the dens of lions,
    from the mountains of leopards. – Song of Solomon 4:8  ESV

In the midst of reading this morning, I found this quote from a missionary to China. It is a weave of story and it speaks to a disciple’s heart and where that heart receives its strength.

J. HUDSON TAYLOR (1832-1905): “‘Come with me.’ It is always
so. If our Savior says, ‘Go ye therefore and disciple all nations,’
he precedes it by, ‘All power is given unto me,’ and follows it by,
‘Lo, I am with you always.’ Or if, as here, he calls his bride to
come, it is still ‘with me,’ and it is in connection with this loving
invitation that for the first time he changes the word ‘my love,’
for the still more endearing one, ‘my bride.’ ‘Come with me…
from the lions’ dens.’ What are lions’ dens when the Lion of the
tribe of Judah is with us; or mountains of leopards, when He is
at our side! ‘I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.’ On the other
hand, it is while thus facing dangers, and toiling with him in
service, that he says—‘thou hast ravished my heart, my sister,
my bride.’ Is it not wonderful how the heart of our Beloved can
be thus ravished with the love of one who is prepared to accept
his invitation, and go forth with him seeking to rescue the perishing?”

My Catholic friends, the priests whom I admire so much for the dedication and commitment to serve have taken this call to come with such an extreme measure. They want to model a life wholly devoted to God, as a matter of lifelong calling. They want Jesus to be their sole master with no turning back in their ministry. They see themselves called to radical commitment involving even leaving possessions and their entire families.

Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have? – Matthew 19:27  ESV

It may not be such an extreme calling for most of us; however, I believe that Jesus promises to make us into who He wants us to be. Remember the rich young ruler…

 “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” – Matthew 19:21  ESV

  

 

 

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It is a song

 

4HIM – The Nature Of Love

 

Songs have the amazing ability to stir up things in my life and to some extent poetry too. It is also a great way for me to express my own thoughts – I am thinking of my quiet times with the Lord and my expressions of love to my wife.

When I think about joy in worshipping, I know God’s grace can fill me with a new song or a new melody. There is dignity in it.

When I started to read Song of Solomon, there is no doubt that this is not a song of fools, as some songs of love are. His wisdom comes through for me as he knows there is nothing better I can do than to celebrate the love of God and excite my own love to God with it.

Solomon took after his father who was a master at poetry and song. He honoured God and made worship a beautiful time. I missed seeing this in the New Testament. With all the busyness of being king, both men found heart and leisure for this and many other worship exercises. It reminds me that I cannot use work as an excuse not to keep up communion with God.

 

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