PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 10:1-8
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“These are the names of the twelve apostles…” (Matthew 10:2)
How can a list of names be a message from God?
When the people on that list do not deserve to be there, and yet they are.
Matthew starts his good news account with a list of names (Matthew 1:1-16).
Many have observed the ‘unworthy’ women included in that list (1:3,5,6,16).
But what about the unworthy men: Abraham with his wife and concubine?
Jacob with two wives, two concubines; Judah, grandfather AND father of Perez and Zerah.
David with multiple wives and concubines; Solomon with 300 wives and 700 concubines.
If any of these were nominated for elder in your church, would they be allowed?
How about Matthew the tax collector, Simon the zealot, Judas the traitor?
And yet the Lord graciously chooses and uses these unworthy sinners (just like us).
They have freely been graced, and they are called to freely grace others.
Grace is what makes us worthy to belong, worthy to participate, worthy to serve.
The one qualification is our willingness to be graced, and to be gracious.
I am getting the sense that the church today does not understand God’s grace.
PRAYER
Lord, if I do not grace others, I do not know what grace is. Remind me AGAIN that I do not deserve to be on your list… and yet I am!
Reflecting on your reflection, Norm. I wonder if it would be helpful to explore how the ‘formal church’ got into the mode of cutting off people, of excommunication – is it a dictatorial role of applying the ‘keys of the kingdom” in a self serving power trip way? We are taught by Jesus that we can forgive others – that seems to be a positive ‘key’ – one that accepts the sinner, the errant person – but where does – throwing out heretics and burning them on the stakes come in? Where does church discipline fit in or does it? Are we following a tradition of extremism – when we should be gracious and forgiving. Martin Luther did not want to leave the church but he was kicked out. Maybe we need to understand what is mean by the keys of the kingdom and the believer’s role in this. I can’t help but think of the letters to the churches in Revelation – is that where it all came off the rails??
“As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near”. Often enough I’ve been among people groups where there is no Bible – no other Christian. The only Bible is “me”! Jesus says that because I am there – the kingdom of heaven is near. That is I bring Jesus to the places I go and the people I meet! I want to be a faithful ‘medium’ of God’s grace – for that is what I bring when the kingdom of heaven is near. Often I don’t think about it – I just merrily go my way – but when I do, I wonder – how? How do I bring grace? I realize it is sometimes in the small things that I can do for others- I hope and pray that I may touch others as they come near ‘God’s grace’ through me!
Jesus calls us.
What are the qualifications?
Just follow Him. He qualifies His followers. Just look at these disciples. They were His instruments of peace, doing His Word, ministers of the Gospel. It is only by His power, His sacrifice, that I too am His doing His will – a follower of the lamb. As the love I received from Him I need to share that love with one and all.
1 Jesus calls us o’er the tumult
of our life’s wild, restless sea;
day by day his voice invites me,
saying “Christian, follow me!”
2 As the first disciples heard it
by the Galilean lake,
turned from home and toil and kindred,
leaving all for his dear sake.
3 Jesus calls us from the worship
of the vain world’s golden store,
from each idol that would keep us,
saying “Christian, love me more.”
4 In our joys and in our sorrows,
days of toil and hours of ease,
still he calls, in cares and pleasures,
“Christian, love me more than these.”
5 Jesus calls us! In your mercy,
Savior, help us hear your call;
give our hearts to your obedience,
serve and love you best of all!