It was a process, but I eventually came to believe that Jesus was who he said: the Son of God sent to our planet because we were in desperate trouble. Jesus came and not only revealed the Father to us; he took on our sin by dying on the cross. One day I gave my life to God through Jesus Christ, fully and unreservedly. Rebecca Manley Pippert
Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19 CEV https://bible.com/bible/392/mat.28.19.CEV
Scripture
“God blesses you when people mock you, and persecute you, and lie about you, and say all kinds of evil things about you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward waits for you in heaven.”
Observation
This scripture is the beginning of what is called The Sermon on the Mount. This section consists of a series of blessings or beatitudes.
Each of the Beatitudes starts with the words “blessed are…” In some versions the word for blessed is translated as “happy.” The New Living Translation uses the phrase “God blesses.”
Jesus says that various groups of people who may appear to be abandoned by God, or even cursed, are in fact blessed by God above others. The poor in spirit own God’s Kingdom; those who mourn will be comforted by the Lord; the humble will inherit the earth; those denied justice will receive it; the merciful will receive mercy; the pure in heart will see God; peacemakers will be called “children of God”; the persecuted will attain God’s kingdom.
So Jesus overturns our understanding of who is blessed by God.
Application
In the West, we are now entering dangerous territory for christians. We didn’t think this would be possible a few decades ago, but now followers of Jesus are mocked, lied about and defamed widely. What people would not say about other groups, they will say freely against christians.
How we react to such events will be critical. Jesus tells us to rejoice and be very glad. After all, it is not us they are hating, it is Him. If they hate us for following Jesus, then we must be doing a fair job of representing Jesus to the world.
That is the key of course. We must always be obedient to the Father and gracious to people, so that they really do see Jesus in us and react to Him, not us.
Prayer
Father, when people mock me for your sake, may I find grace to love them in Your name. Amen.
Just on a year ago, the nation was outraged when four young children were killed in an instant as they were riding their bikes to a local shop to buy ice creams. Antony, Angelina and Sienna Abdallah together with their cousin Veronique Sakr. were killed on February 1, 2020, when a drunk driver crashed into their bikes.
Outrage turned to amazement as the parents of these children, devout christians, expressed forgiveness to the driver in the midst of their devastating loss. The Abdallah family have consistently modelled a way of grieving without giving in to anger or bitterness.
“After the kids’ incident happened, and the media approached me and they mentioned the driver, I just mentioned that in my heart I forgive him but I want the court to be fair,” remembered Leila last week.
Jesus told a story about a servant who owed his master millions of dollars but could not repay it. When the boss threatened to sell him, his possessions and his family, he pleaded with his boss for mercy and more time to find the money. The boss relented and the debtor went away rejoicing. Then he came upon a man who owed him a few dollars and he demanded the man pay him there and then. The boss was outraged when heard of this, and threw the first man into prison.
Jesus said this is how it is with us. God has forgiven us so much, yet we can be prone to holding a grudge against others over little things.
The Abdallahs have started a national day called I4give Day to encourage all of us to forgive. To be celebrated on the anniversary of the children’s death, the day will encourage us all to let go of the offences that spoil our relationships.
Just imagine how our lives, our families, our communities, even our nation would be changed if we could learn to make forgiveness our first reflex when we are hurt.
You don’t have to wait until next year to start forgiving others or to receive forgiveness from God. Make a start today!
Evangelism is still easier than we think and harder than we imagine: it is both exciting and deadly serious. Rebecca Manley Pippert
I have died, but Christ lives in me. And I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me. Galatians 2:20 CEV https://bible.com/bible/392/gal.2.20.CEV
Scripture
From that time on, Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Observation
Jesus moves to Capernaum. He begins to preach the message of repentance, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
One day, as He is walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus calls two fishermen, Simon Peter and Andrew. He tells them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.”
Jesus travels through Galilee preaching the Good News and healing every sickness. Large crowds gather everywhere He goes as the news spreads across the region.
Application
The message of Jesus is “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
God is present reigning over His people wherever they submit to His reign.
We no longer need a hierarchy of priests and endless sacrifices, because the ultimate price for sin has been paid by God Himself.
The kingdom of God is here, and that means every person has to make a choice. Will I follow my own path or will I place my life in the hands of Jesus? Will I make my own meaning out of my life? Or will I let the God who created me bring meaning to me?
To repent means to change our thinking. It means to see that the things that I once thought were important are not at all valuable, while the things I once despised are the most valuable of all.
It is a complete change of direction- no longer me and my wants, but only serving the Lord.
Prayer
Help me Lord to cast off sin and every attachment that stops me from worshipping and obeying you. Amen.
The image below is symptomatic of why people are leaving Facebook.
Apparently Donald Trump was too violent for Facebook and Twitter but this is OK.
