As I look out upon the day ahead, Father, I know that there are a multitude of possibilities as to what could happen and even more possibilities as to how I can respond. I pray that You will guide my choices and that Your Kingdom would be advanced because of my yieldedness to Your will. Amen.
Matthew 8:18-22 (<<click the green)
Lord, I continue to find it interesting that every time I read the Gospels that You are not one to beat around the bush – You tell it like it is. You are a straight shooter – one never has to guess what You are communicating. And, all who interacted with You found themselves on a level playing field – You catered to no one because of status or money or standing in the community, secular or religious.
It is no different today. We all have equal access to You. You have no favorites. Over the years I have been given reason to smile when it is stated that I have some kind of advantage with You because I am a pastor. Not in the least…absolutely no one has an inside advantage –no pastor, no church leader, not the Pope, not even great saints like the late Billy Graham, Mother Teresa or Martin Luther King, Jr. They would have been the first in line proclaiming so!
So when the teacher of the law said he would follow You wherever You went, You were quick to tell him that it was no prestigious following and that following You wouldn’t even guarantee a place to rest.
When the other disciple begged off wanting to bury his father, most commentators believed his father wasn’t dead or even dying; he just wanted to make sure he got his inheritance. You were quick to call him out for his true motive.
Lord, I would pray that you enable me to be true with you inside and out. May I also be discerning of others. As I interact with them may I be a straight shooter and may I do so with love and compassion but not be afraid to dispense tough love if need be, as well. May I be more and more like You each day. Amen.
Feb 26th, 2018, Mon, 6:47 am
