Monthly Archives: January 2012

RE Verse reading–Matthew 9:35-10:31 (day two)  “And Jesus summoned His twelve disciples. . .(and) sent  them out after instructing them”  (vs 1, 5)  Matthew 10:5-15 is a specific plan for a specific moment in time.  It is not a paragraph of timeless missionary principles.  At this moment, the disciples were to avoid contact with Gentiles.  This [...]

RE Verse reading–Matthew 9:35-10:31 (day one)  ”Ask the Lord of the Harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.” (vs 38)   Was this a trick?  Were the disciples instructed to ask God to “send workers” to soften them up for their own mission assignment?  No.  Unless we care for the whole harvest, [...]

RE Verse reading–Matthew 8:18-22 (day seven)  “Follow me.” (vs 22)  The value of this story to modern believers will largely depend on an early interpretive decision.  Is “following Christ” a metaphor for ministry or for salvation?  What did it mean to Jesus?  What did He think was at stake for those men that day in Capernaum?  For [...]

RE Verse reading–Matthew 8:18-22 (day six)  “The Son of Man has no place to lay His head” (vs 20)  We are reminded this week by the words of Christ  to the eager scribe.  Ministry is costly.  Changing the world (are we holding on to this dream?) will cost us our lives.  Those who are unwilling to pay [...]

RE Verse reading–Matthew 8:18-22 (day five)  “Follow me and let the dead bury their own dead” (vs 22)  It is something I forget about Jesus.  His calm urgency.  His awareness that spiritual opportunities pass quickly by and never return.  Ordinarily, family concerns were a high priority for Christ.  “Honor your father and mother” (Exodus 20:12)  [...]

RE Verse reading–Matthew 8:18-22 (day four)  “Lord, first let me go and bury my father” (vs 21) What is the first thing you do each day?  What is the first check you write (for those who still write checks)?  What is your first priority when you move into a new city?  Your first prayer when you [...]

RE Verse reading–Matthew 8:18-22 (day three)  “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (vs 20)  It is ironic.  Man (the highest creature) when he accepts his highest assignment (following Christ) often becomes lower than the animals.  They have homes.  Followers of [...]

RE Verse reading–Matthew 8:18-22 (day two)  “When Jesus saw the crowd around Him, He gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake” (vs 18)  It was a moment of transition.  Transitions are hard, inconvenient.  Jesus and the disciples needed to leave Capernaum. Were the crowds  becoming too volatile?  Perhaps the decision surprised or disappointed the disciples.  [...]

RE Verse reading–Matthew 8:18-22 (day one) “Lord , first let me go and bury my father” (vs 21)  It will not be the only time.  At several points in His ministry the Lord will make a statement that sounds unsympathetic to the needs of the family.  He will appear almost unconcerned.  He isn’t, but as He [...]

RE Verse reading–Matthew 7:1-27 (day seven)  ”And the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall” (vs 25)  I am more philosophical about problems these days.  Earlier in my life I was anxious and offended by every appearing crisis.  Now I know that storms come.  I know that God selected the [...]