The Ripple Effect

I am struck in today's passage how the emphasis is on Jesus telling the good news of God's Kingdom as well as healing. I suppose the healing is the visual sign of this good news. It is easy to focus on the healing as it is something we can relate to. It made such a physical impact on so many people's lives but really Jesus' focus was on the Kingdom, which brought healing.

I also love how Jesus was only working in one small area but the message and power he had was such that it touched people far and wide, both Jew and Gentile. So much so that they believed and were willing to bring those who needed help to meet him.

God I pray that my focus is on your Kingdom and in my life you create that ripple effect. Whether I know it or not, let the small things I do in my life have far reaching consequences for others and help to spread the good news of Your Kingdom.

Laura

God's heart

I love God’s heart reflected here in Jesus’ ministry:  turning no one away, He cares for all our burdens.  Seeing us in our helplessness and need, He intervenes!  That’s my God!  And following Him, Lord, make my heart to be like Yours!

 

Only, if I pray and he or she is not healed, it feels like to Your Name I’m bringing ill-repute!

 

Brian

The varied accounts of the disciples call

Yes we do have various glimpses of Jesus calling the same disciples...as in Jesus naming the 12 after a night of prayer, (which naturally included Simon), then Jesus calling Simon from his nets by the sea (as here), then (seemingly from John 1, Simon is one of the first to follow Jesus from Judea to Galilee. 

 

One might consider these three stories contradictory or happening on three separate occasions marking three significant events in Simon's discipleship.  A little background helps.  In Jesus' day, students or disciples followed their rabbi for long stretches at a time and then like our universities summer breaks, they went off home, only to return later for another "semester!"

 

Here's something we can ask Simon Peter when we see him face to face!

 

Brian

At Once

One thing that strikes me about Jesus is that He calls the disciples. He reaches out first.

Also, again the need for immediacy is highlighted as both sets of disciples go at once or immediately. They also give up a lot. Both their livelihoods and even their families. Would I have done that? Or should I say would I do that?

One question I have is why are there so many different versions of the disciple's calling within the Apostles? Are these different events or ...?

God help me to listen when you call and answer immediately, not in my time but yours. Let you be my number one.

Laura

Master call...

I’m struck here by the so many that followed Jesus from everywhere around.  People taught.  People healed.  And they just followed.  Yet some He particularly called.  He said “come!” and they followed and Jesus became their road…that’s the meaning of the word “followed!”

 

Lord Jesus, call…and by Your grace I will follow.

 

Brian

See Jesus...

Picking up the baton from John…Repent, the Kingdom is at hand…He wants us to leave everything if need be to enter in to the Kingdom.  I’m reminded of Matthew 11:12  “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.”  Whoh!  Can you see it!?

Wow I'm blessed!

I’m so blessed by what you guys are sharing.  I do comment but my comments still don’t manage to get published…don’t know why!  I want to start something of a conversation if you’re game!

 

Could Jesus have sinned?

 

What thoughts guys…better still, what scripture and what implications?

 

Brian

Majesty Worship His Majesty

I love looking at the words behind the words. Sometimes it just seems to give more meaning.

To preach - to say something publicly with authority which should be listened to and obeyed.

Repent - to change one's mind for the better.

Is at hand - to drawn near, join together.

Even in such a small verse we can see God and his plan for us. For us all to be changed for the better as he joins his holy Kingdom back with man's kingdom. Back to as it was at creation. To repair the rift.

And he does all this with authority and leadership. Another case where he shows us we need to obey - to prove that He is our God.

Laura

Matthew 4 verse 17

There's that word repent again. Look how the amplified Bible describes it: Repent (change your mind for the better, heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins).

I'm looking forward to what folks have to say about the Kingdom of Heaven.

Ian R
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

God and deserts!

There is definitely something going on about this desert thing!

 

 Would you really expect God after affirming Jesus at the Jordan then  filling Him full of the Holy Spirit to then LEAD him into the desert to be thrown to the merciless Arch enemy Satan? Nor me. I would at least expect the H.Spirit to have led him straight to make a grand entrance at the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem!

40 days and 40 nights; hunger; thirst; no refuge; desert; Satan; temptations on every level… pretty tough stuff, not the blessing I would have expected  being Full of the H Spirit…

Lord I really do trust you but I’m keeping my eye on you… you sure know how to surprise someone.

 

The desert thing (testing place) is very obviously the place to expect to be if you are preparing someone in ministry.

 

Jess ( alias Sandy)

Filled with the Holy Spirit

Something Jess said that caught my attention:  See Jesus here filled with the Holy Spirit and the first thing that happens is His being tempted…terribly tempted!  Mostly we think of being filled and experiencing nice things!

 

But see Jesus as Ian said, standing in our place:  leading the way for us into the baptism of repentance, then the Holy Spirit, then through that wilderness of temptation…all making a way through for me and you.

 

Thank You Jesus…call us to follow, like You told Peter to step out the boat and walk on the water!

 

Brian

Power of the Word

It is interesting that the spirit leads Jesus to this point. I suppose we all know that Jesus is not going to be tempted but it must have been important that he went through this. Proving by his actions as well as his word who he is.

It also reminds you of the garden of Eden - only Jesus can overcome temptation because he is God as well as man.

I also love the way Jesus answers everything by saying 'but scripture says...'. It just shows you the importance that Jesus and therefore God puts on the scriptures for us and our salvation. Also did you notice that all the passages Jesus quoted were centred on God?

I also felt it was important that the Devil used the bible to try and twist the truth. I suppose it is something we should be wary of.

So God as we do this project help us to read and understand more of the scriptures and through this learn more of you and what you want us to do. John 6:29

Laura

Loving Them into The Kingdom

Jesus didn't need to be baptised to repent of his sins because he was
sinless! Just as he went all the way to the cross and suffered and died, so here
we see him standing in our place identifying with the sinner and
confessing sin on behalf of the nation.

Here we see the trinity, God the Father (who spoke at Jesus baptism) Jesus,
(who was baptised) and God the Holy Spirit who descended upon Jesus like a
dove. God is one yet as three persons at the same time.

Lord, make me like Jesus that I may see others through your eyes and love
them into the Kingdom.

Ian R

Lord, keep my heart!

Lord, keep my heart!

 

Like a doorway, God has made a way for us…we see it here…it’s the way of righteousness – following Jesus’ footsteps as it were, through the baptism of repentance.  Lord, keep my heart saying YES!

Hey.. you wanna come to the desert?

Yesterday’s blog got sent to outta space and is hanging out there surfing the waves…. So in a nut shell:

 

 How awesome is Gods patience in sending yet another prophet to warn, call to repentance coz the judgment is going to really happen and those who are seeking God will head even into the desert place to hear Him..….

? Shouldn’t a prophet be found in the city giving that message and not way out in the desert…. Why was it important that he is preaching from there?

I’m in the desert Lord … speak LORD, I’m listening….you said you will baptize with the Holy Spirit AND with fire!!!!!!  Refine me in the fire in the desert if you must.

 

Jess

 

 

 

Matthew 3:13-17

I think Matthew 3:13-15 says a lot about discipleship: Jesus, the Son of God, asks John to baptise him.

Whatever else Jesus was saying here, I think he models the kind of humility we should be seeking to live out. That God would allow someone like me to serve Him is a massive, humbling thing and I don't want to lose sight of what a privilege it is. He doesn't just give me orders, He invites me in and entrusts me with something of His Kingdom.

Cieran

God's Way

Today I really felt that v15 stood out to me where Jesus asks John to release, I suppose, his idea of forbidding Jesus just because it didn't sit right with John's view of what was right. Jesus wanted him to do this because it was the right thing to do to follow God's way or plan, not just for his own whim.

He also asks John to stop forbidding him immediately. He didn't say I'll come back in a day or two or wait til Sunday. Sometimes we forget that following Jesus means changing immediately but if we do we can become one with God and part of his plan.

God help me to listen for you when you want me to follow a different path or stop doing something and help me to remember that your ways are not our ways!

Laura

Mon 6th input

Who me??
 
Were just amazed that God revealed so much to this guy living out in the wilderness and pave the way of Jesus' coming.   The fact that he didn't use the high priest, he used the poor skint guy that probably didn't have a house, looked in to his heart not his outer appearance.  God use's who's willing to be used and not necessarily who the world would expect Him to use. 
 
Fraser and Scott. 

What would I have done?

I’m just amazed how so many traveled down to the Jordan on foot, a long days travel…to be told to repent.  Knowing that, had I been there, would I have gone?  Brian

Ian's Journal

Something I see here about God: V2 Gods desire to reconcile man to Himself.

Something about me being a disciple: Johns example, he chose a basic lifestyle in order to do the will of God.

My response in prayer: thankyou Lord for your plan of salvation and that, by your grace, I am reconciled to you.

 

Ian R

Wheat and Chaff

Wow what a first reading to start this project. Strong words from a strong man.

I see that God is a just God but also he doesn't put up with deceit or pretense. If you want to follow him then you are going to have to live out what you say. If you are sorry then you are really going to have to change to show it and by changing we will begin to make a difference to us and others (bear fruit).

I'm really only left asking what I need to do in my life to clean up my act. Not just talk the talk but walk the walk. That is something I'll be thinking about today. So God show me where I have the pride of a Pharisee/religious person. Where I abuse God's grace rather than use it.

God bless you today.

Laura