Burunche’s Blog

Matthew 12:15-21 Behold, My Servant
“But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. Yet He warned them not to make Him known, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
“Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen,
My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!
I will put My Spirit upon Him,
And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.
He will not quarrel nor cry out,
Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench,
Till He sends forth justice to victory;
And in His name Gentiles will trust.”
This is a direct quote from Isaiah 42:1-4, except that the last verses say” He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”

What does Jesus know that causes him to go somewhere else? Matthew 12:14 explains what happens after Jesus heals the man with the withered hand in the synagogue where everybody can witness the Pharisees’ loss of face. “Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.” Jesus knows that eventually he is to die for the sins of the world; however, he also knows that his time has not yet come.

An old hymn starts out “Gentle Jesus, meek and mild…” Unfortunately, that might lead us to think that Jesus is a wimp, and nothing can be more wrong. Only truly powerful people can choose to be gentle; Jesus is choosing to be gentle so that he can minister to as many people as possible without frightening them away. Jesus warns the multitudes not to speak about him because he is interested in ministry, not publicity. Jesus is working under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit works quietly much of the time.

In Isaiah 42, God describes the Messiah: “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen,
My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.” Jesus is ministering, knowing that his Heavenly Father is pleased with him. Even so, Jesus frequently resorts to long sessions of prayer to ensure that he is continuing to do the will of his Heavenly Father.

“He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench…” Throughout Jesus’ ministry, he avoids intimidating anyone who comes to him, even the Pharisees. The Pharisees are more than willing to attempt to intimidate; after all, they have been the religious experts for generations. The Pharisees flaunt their learning, their dedication to observing minute religious rules, their superior social status, and sometimes their wealth. Some of the Pharisees have such a narrow view of things that as someone has once said, “Their view is so narrow that they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”

How weak is a bruised reed? Reeds are supple and can bend readily as long as they have not been injured, but once a reed has been bruised, it can easily break completely. The slightest rough handling can easily break a bruised reed. In Jesus’ day, wicks for oil lamps are sometimes made of flax. Flax that is smoldering is about to go out completely, unless someone fans it back into flame. Here God is telling us that the Messiah will be so gentle that he will restore those who are bruised and those whose spirits are so damaged that they are ready to give up on everything.

While Jesus might be gentle, what about those of us who claim to be his followers? Several years ago, we were in a church with a man who claimed to be an apologist and a defender of the faith. We rapidly realized that his idea of defending the faith was to seek out arguments with anybody who did not happen to share his peculiar beliefs and then to verbally assault them with scriptures to validate those beliefs and win the arguments. By the time we encountered this man, he had already attended several churches and had always left when he found their doctrines did not agree with his prejudices. When this man wanted to engage us in theological discussions, we begged off and avoided prolonged contact with him in the future. When we met this man, we had already served two terms on difficult mission fields and were somewhat thick-skinned emotionally. But what if we had been unbelievers seeking to know more about Jesus?

Now there are times when a harsh approach yields results. Part of my husband Bob’s testimony concerns the pushy Christian in a factory where he was working who kept telling him, “Bob, either you get the Lord in your life, or you’re going to hell!” One morning, my husband found himself turning around and asking this man, “How can I get the Lord in my life?” That was the day my husband accepted Jesus as his Savior. My husband was a no-nonsense US Navy veteran for whom a soft approach would not have worked. But the next Sunday Bob attended a church where they welcomed him by saying, “Oh, you’re Tink’s brother! We’ve been praying for you!” and began showing him the love of Christ. The people in that church knew how to nurture bruised reeds and how to fan smoking flax into flame. While the harsh approach got Bob’s attention, it was gentleness that developed his faith.

During part of my surgical training, I was going through a very difficult time. Every Sunday, one lady at church would hug me and ask how I was doing. There were times when hugging me must have felt like hugging a wooden fence post, but this lady persisted. Eventually, I began healing enough to hug her back. The memory of this lady’s encouragement has remained with me for more than 40 years.

If we claim to be disciples, are we willing to copy Jesus, or do we have some personal agenda? Do we minister in gentleness as Jesus did, or do we behave like the Pharisees? Do we pray with people to help them, or are we hoping for some juicy tidbit about which we can gossip? Are we allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us or is some other spirit controlling us? WARNING: If any other spirit is working in us apart from the Holy Spirit, it is from Satan!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow you all the days of our lives and to minister under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, lifting up those who are bruised and broken and encouraging those who are losing hope. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

They’re selling my grandparents’ farm today. When my dad’s estate finally got settled, a relative from out of state wound up with the land my great grandfather, my grandfather, my dad and my brother had farmed for years. At one time or another, I have walked, ridden, or driven tractors over every bit of that land. Unlike the farm on which I grew up, this land is mostly flat, requiring few waterways.

Owning this farm was a dream come true for my Carlson Swedish immigrant great grandparents, both of whom began their lives in America as hired help, then as tenant farmers, and finally as land owners. In Sweden, it was generally the rich who owned land, leaving poorer people to work grueling hours under harsh conditions. Little wonder then, that land ownership in America became a sign that the family had achieved something wonderful, that they had truly made it.

I can remember the farmstead when it still had its full complement of buildings with a large cattle shed, a horse barn, a dairy barn, a hog shed, a chicken house, a corn crib, and a tool shed, as well as the house, the cob house, the coal house, and the summer kitchen. To the west of the house, there used to be a one-acre orchard, and my grandmother kept a large garden as well as many flower beds. Over the years, many of the buildings have been removed to reduce onerous taxes imposed by city residents who want those in the country to pay for everything. I also remember when the lanes to the various fields were bordered by hedge rows full of Osage orange, a tree so tough that fence posts made from the wood resisted attempts to nail staples into them when we were constructing fences.

Am I sad that the land is being sold out of the family? Not really, and here’s why. I firmly believe that love never dies and that land remembers those who have loved it and who have cared for it passionately. I have decided that there are people who truly love land wherever they are, and the land senses that and returns that love. On the other hand, there are those for whom land is merely a commodity; they are tone-deaf to the songs of the land.

Today I am praying that someone who loves the land will buy it and will care for it with the same degree of affection and passion as those who have gone before. For me, I have my memories and I can salute the land without owning it. And once more I remind myself that love never dies.   

They say everybody’s got to be from somewhere, and for me, the village of Altona, Illinois is my home town and Immanuel Lutheran Church is the first church I ever called a home church. Built by Swedish immigrants, Immanuel Lutheran Church truly is a very beautiful church and the sanctuary has such excellent acoustics that I have frequently sung solos there without a microphone.

We came back to Immanuel yesterday to present at Sunday School and the main service. “Oh, you’re Jean Young; you’ll be up in the parish hall,” a twelve year old boy told me as I checked out the basement meeting area. “Here’s how you get there.”

“Honey,” I said, “I was here before this part of the church was ever built!”

It’s true. Before there was a new addition with many Sunday School rooms, we all attended Sunday School in curtained-off side areas in the parish hall. When I go to the display of photos of confirmation classes, I can find photos of my grandfather and his siblings, my dad, and my confirmation class and those of my brothers.

When I walk through the church, I am comforted by ghosts. If I go to the kitchen, I remember ladies who were bearers of delicious cookies and sweet rolls for Vacation Bible School. When I walk through the north side on the way to the sanctuary, I remember when choir robes for junior and senior choirs hung there. I remember choir anthems. I remember my mom singing solos. I remember candlelight services on Christmas Eve. I remember those from three generations back who sat in those pews and exactly where they sat.

Yesterday, we sat close to where Carl and Amelia Swanson of my grandparents’ generation, sat for years, right up at the front on the pulpit side. We sang familiar hymns and liturgy, I read the Gospel, gave the Children’s Sermon, and then gave part of the message.

I could look up at the balcony where my brothers and I used to sit as long as we would behave ourselves. I could hear echoes of anthems and hymns, echoes of John Stainer’s cantata The Crucifixion. I have great photos of the church decorated for Christmas from that balcony.

Yesterday, I spoke words I felt God wanted me to say, but what I did not say is this: TREASURE THE PLACES YOU COME FROM! NEVER BE ASHAMED OF SMALL VILLAGES, OF LITTLE CHURCHES, OF HUMBLE BEGINNINGS! ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE MORE PRECIOUS THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE! NEVER TAKE THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU FOR GRANTED, FOR ONE DAY, THEY WON’T BE THERE ANY MORE! TAKE PLENTY OF PHOTOS BUT MAKE SURE ABOVE ALL ELSE THAT YOUR MEMORIES ARE ENGRAVED ON YOUR HEART, FOR THERE THEY CAN REMAIN FOREVER! LOVE NEVER DIES!

Matthew 12:1-14 Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

“At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”

But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Healing on the Sabbath

Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.

Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.”

The Pharisees are gloating! This time, this upstart carpenter from Nazareth has surely broken the Sabbath laws! The nerve of him, allowing his disciples to pluck heads of grain and eat on the Sabbath! Everyone knows that they should avoid all work on the Sabbath….or are there exceptions? And then to make matters even worse, Jesus proceeds to heal a man with a withered hand in the synagogue of all places! Scandalous!

The Pharisees are certain that this time, they have caught Jesus out and he cannot avoid their censure. But once again, Jesus speaks to those stony hearts. First, the Pharisees are furious because Jesus’ disciples are collecting small amounts of grain to feed themselves on the Sabbath. Jesus answers by citing Biblical precedents for such behavior. Those familiar with the Law of Moses should realize that mercy and kindness are two of the virtues God wants people to practice the most. Farmers are ordered to leave fallen grain and olives behind for the poor and strangers. Notice that none of the Pharisees is stepping forward to invite Jesus and his disciples for a Sabbath meal; all they can think of is catching people with infractions so they can criticize them. When Jesus reminds all the people of the examples of David and the priests, nobody can bring out a counter-argument.

Next, Jesus carries the confrontation right into the synagogue. There is a man in the outer court with a withered hand who cannot enter further because of his infirmity. Despite this problem, this man is still so passionate about God that he has come as far into the synagogue as Mosaic Law will allow. The Pharisees are sure that they really have Jesus at a disadvantage now! “And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.”

“Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.”

Jesus knows that if there is one thing the Pharisees really love in addition to being right all the time, it’s wealth. Nobody is about to leave an expensive sheep in a pit just because the poor sheep falls into a hole on the Sabbath. Of course, the owner will be out there, even if he has to get others to help him to save the sheep. But now comes the question: which is more valuable, a sheep or a man? What if one of the Pharisees falls into a pit on the Sabbath? Won’t he scream for help until others come to deliver him and care for any injuries? Jesus concludes that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.

Rules are good and laws are helpful; however, sometimes we can confuse rules with God’s heart of mercy, making human sacrifices in the process. In an earlier age, missionaries were sent out to China and other stations to stay for seven years before being allowed to return home for furlough. Those familiar with the story of Lottie Moon, the famous Baptist missionary to China, may remember that one of the missionary wives threw herself into the ocean rather than face that seven-year ordeal. Even up to as recently as three decades ago, some mission groups insisted that all missionary children had to go to boarding school, whether or not a child was a suitable candidate. Other groups demanded that children return to their countries of origin for school, separating them from their parents for several years at a time. (For a graphic description of the experiences of a missionary child who did not do well in boarding school, read Letters Never Sent by Ruth E. van Reken.)

Disciples who are workaholics can make human sacrifices of their families without even realizing it. One hard-working surgeon was about to leave on vacation with his family when the hospital called, demanding that he dictate all his back records before leaving. The family’s departure was delayed by a day while the surgeon caught up on his dictations. Those who are in helping professions such as counseling, health care, law enforcement, and others may find themselves working long amounts of overtime because they want to complete their tasks properly; yet, in so doing they are stinting their families, leaving those families actively resenting the profession that takes first place over them.

As a missionary surgeon who has spent years as the only doctor for more than 100,000 patients, I confess that there have been many times when I have had to disappoint my husband. Emergency C-sections, intestinal holes from typhoid, bleeding from ruptured ectopic pregnancies, and other catastrophes have kept me in the hospital for long hours. During an outbreak of Necrotizing Enterocolitis among newborns when I was in residency, I spent ten days straight living in the ICU at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. The only way my husband got to see me was by bringing me food so we could share meals in the ICU conference room.

My situation has been a unique one; yet, over the years, I have learned to try to limit over-work as much as possible. Over-work leads to burnout, and those who burn out will require five or more years before they can return to the work in which they burned out in the first place. Burnout damages families and individuals, sometimes irreparably.

We must remember that God has only approved one human sacrifice in all history, Jesus’ death on the cross at Calvary. When Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac, God stopped him, giving him a ram to sacrifice instead. Jesus tells us that God wants mercy and not sacrifice. Let’s be merciful to our families, our friends, and ourselves. And let’s allow God to enforce His moral laws, rather than setting ourselves up to judge.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to be merciful and not judgmental. Help us to be sensitive to those around us and to trust that You can make sure our work is done thoroughly and that it is not all up to us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 11:25-30 Jesus Gives True Rest

“At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Unless we look at the context in which Jesus is speaking, we might not realize the full impact of these statements. Jesus has just finished warning his disciples that they may face persecution or death, even from their own family members. In the light of these warnings, how can Jesus possibly give these assurances?

“I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” Jesus has been given authority by his Heavenly Father to teach about the Kingdom and to reveal Him to the world. Under that authority, Jesus has the divine right to make a startling offer.

  “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” If Jesus were an ordinary prophet, such a promise would be meaningless, for there would be no power behind the promise. But Jesus DOES have that power. In Matthew 28:18 Jesus tells his disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”  Jesus has received the Holy Spirit during his baptism by John the Baptist, giving him the power and authority to offer spiritual rest for people’s souls. (I am not concerned about arguments as to WHEN Jesus received the Holy Spirit; the point is that he is operating under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.)

  “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Anybody who thinks being a disciple is easy hasn’t been one for very long. The further you go in your walk with God, the more stringent the trials and temptations. Self-awareness is one of the major stumbling blocks. It’s very easy to begin to examine yourself to the point that you become self-absorbed rather than God-absorbed. While we are advised to examine ourselves, it is also well to ask God to give us HIS mind about us and to die to our own imaginations as to what God wants us to do or be.

There are always temptations to rebellion, but they become more subtle the longer we walk in the faith. God wants to train us so that we will always obey His still small voice without needing to be hit over the head with a large stick before we will listen. The most common response to a prodding from the Holy Spirit is, “Oh, it will be all right.” But it isn’t all right; you are trying to do your own thing while the Holy Spirit is trying to warn you that disaster is looming. Examine yourself for very long and you will realize as someone once said that “If I just could kick the person responsible for all my problems, I wouldn’t sit down for a week!”

How do we give God our burdens? Pray and tell God about your problems and then give them to Him for His solutions AND REFUSE TO TAKE BACK THOSE PROBLEMS! Some of us give God our problems and then retrieve them immediately if no instant answers are forthcoming. While God can work instantly, He frequently uses processes because He is trying to work on several parts of our characters simultaneously. Once you have given God a burden, remind yourself each time you begin to worry that the worry is now God’s problem and not yours. Thank God for the solutions He is bringing and carry on.   

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” When oxen are yoked together, they share the load  with the stronger of the two oxen working harder than the weaker. When we are yoked with Jesus, he does the heavy lifting.

Many of us are carrying very heavy burdens, things we cannot even share with others. But Jesus already knows our problems. Why not let Him bear the weight?

There’s an old hymn that sums up our need to trust Jesus with our problems.  

I Must Tell Jesus by Elisha Albright Hoffman

I must tell Jesus all of my trials; I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me; He ever loves and cares for His own.

Chorus: I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;

He is a kind, compassionate Friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver,

And in my griefs with me He will blend.

Tempted and tried I need a great Savior,

One who can help my burdens to bear;
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;
He all my cares and sorrows will share,

O how the world to evil allures me!
O how my heart is tempted to sin!
I must tell Jesus; He will enable
Over the world the vic’try to win.

Chorus: I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

Matthew 11:1-19 John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus

Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’

“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; We mourned to you, and you did not lament.’

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”

John is in prison, having offended Herod by telling him that it is illegal for him to marry his brother’s wife. Notice that Jesus begins to travel and work miracles on a large scale only after John is no longer ministering. It’s as if the ministry baton passes to Jesus. While John has baptized Jesus and has seen the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus, he remains worried. Has he suffered for nothing? John knows he is about to die. Jesus LOOKS like the Messiah but is he REALLY the Messiah?

“Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

Jesus gives John an answer straight out of Isaiah 35:5-6: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.”  

Now Jesus turns to the people who are busy scrutinizing and criticizing. Having spent time with the Essenes and having come from a priestly family, John has lived very moderately, on a vegetarian diet (locusts and honey), fasting frequently. (Incidentally, although locusts as insects are kosher, there are also trees belonging to the locust family bearing carob pods. The Israelis refer to carob as “St. John’s bread,” raising the question as to whether John was eating insects or carob. John was also a Levite so followers could have brought him show bread from the temple after it had been removed from display.)

Jesus is both amused and frustrated. “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; We mourned to you, and you did not lament.’

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”

The critics have accused John of having a demon because his diet is so restricted and he fasts frequently. Now the same people are accusing Jesus because he shares meals with society’s undesirables and only fasts as required by the Law of Moses. These guys can’t make up their minds!

John came as the prophetic forerunner to prepare the way for Jesus. John came preaching a message of repentance, and his ministry was mostly carried out in the wilderness. During John’s ministry, the people came to him. Jesus as the Messiah has been called to preach, teach, and heal, and he is going where the people are in the cities and towns. As the saying goes in the American South, “Same dog, different fleas.”  

You have to arm wrestle my husband Bob to get him into a fancy 3-piece suit. Bob swears that he went into the U.S. Navy because they tied their neckties loosely. Bob’s favorite fancy dress is a northern Ghanaian smock. Bob does NOT look like an evangelist. But as a former fire fighter, EMT, police officer and Navy veteran, Bob has a special ministry to anyone in uniform. We have lots of checkpoints on the Ghanaian roads, and Bob prays for the police and immigrations officers at these checkpoints. Bob also prays for janitors, store clerks, waiters, and waitresses, and just about anybody else he feels needs prayer. In an average day when we are traveling, Bob may pray for ten or fifteen people, and these people are always thrilled and blessed that someone has taken the time to notice them. Only in eternity will we know how many of these people Bob has prayed into the Kingdom.

If you roll out cookie dough, you can use a cookie cutter to cut the same shapes repeatedly. But God doesn’t make cookie cutter disciples. God has created each of us with unique abilities and callings. Nobody else is occupying exactly the same spot in creation as you are. May God help you to find your calling and to refuse to compare yourself with others!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to listen and wait so that You can reveal our calling to us. Help us to realize that no matter where we are, You have a ministry for us right there and then. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 10:34-42 Christ Brings Division

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

A Cup of Cold Water

“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Although many families today have become fragmented, there are still cultures in which the family is just as important as it was in the time of Jesus. In Jesus’ time, fathers had complete authority over their children, particularly their daughters, and a father’s word was law. Sons generally worked with their fathers and under their fathers’ authority, and it was fathers who arranged marriages with little or no consultation as to their children’s wishes. Sons who married would add rooms to their fathers’ households called bridal chambers where they and their wives would live. When the bridal chamber was complete, the father would select the day for the marriage and people would be notified by a trumpet call and a shout.

In Ghana, as in most other African countries, many families live together in compounds. Any friction between a mother and her daughter or a mother-in-law can make life difficult if not almost unbearable. The same thing can be said for friction between sons and fathers. Now Jesus is promising that those who follow him will find members of their own households to be their worst enemies. Why?

Conscientious parents are committed to maintaining family stability. Anytime a family member shows up with a new religion, particularly something that threatens the status quo, parents will immediately be questioning and probably rejecting these ideas. The longer the family member tries to share his/her new faith, the more resistance the other family members will exhibit, until a believer may find himself/herself completely rejected and disowned by  the family.

In many Muslim cultures, accepting Jesus results in death for the believer, and sometimes for the rest of the family. Recently in Afghanistan, a believer came to a small village and witnessed. When many people accepted Christ, the Taliban got wind of this and massacred all but one member of the community who somehow escaped. Now this believer is being trained to go on to witness to other village. (Information from Christian radio September 4, 2024.)

“He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”  The question is this: how many of us are willing to lay down our lives for our faith? And if we are not willing, how committed are we? When we allow Jesus to control our lives, we might encounter opposition, ridicule, or even death. But we will have gained eternal life, trading a few short years here on earth for eternity with the One who loves us most.

“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

What can be more refreshing than a cup of cold water on a hot day? Thirty years ago, we had only a small LP gas refrigerator in our village home because there was not electricity. Friends would come and beg for small cups of cold water. When the village got electricity and we returned to visit, everybody wanted to give us cold Coca Cola to show that they now had refrigerators. We must have drunk 10 bottles of Coke that first day!

The wonderful part of these promises is that even if our own families and friends disown us, there will always be people who will receive us, helping us, feeding us, giving us places to stay, refreshing us just as a cup of cold water refreshes on a hot dusty day.

Through the years, so many people have sheltered us, fed us, and transported us. Then there are those who have lent us vehicles or clothing, or who have allowed us to use their internet. These people have acted out of love; yet, Jesus assures us that all those who have helped any Christian at any time will receive a prophet’s reward.  

On of the fundamental laws of the Kingdom of God is “the measure you give out is the measure you will receive.” When we are willing to lay down our lives for our faith in Jesus Christ, he is free to use us in any way he chooses. Several years ago, when I was going through some difficulties, I wrote this song. The words are still relevant and this will be our prayer for today.

PRAYER: Don’t Let Me Crawl Off the Altar

Jesus, I’ve followed You so long,

By now I should look like You.

But when I examine my innermost thoughts,

There’s nothing to remind me of You.

So Lord, please come, let the fire fall

As I wait on the altar just now;

For Lord, if you do not help me,

I’ll shrink back and abandon my vow.

So don’t let me crawl off the altar.

Don’t take conviction away.

Don’t let me fail or falter,

But let Your Fire burn where it may!

Let Your Fire consume all my weakness,

All my passion and pride, all my dross,

And fill me with Your holy meekness

So that then I may take up my cross,

So that then I may take up my cross

So that then I may take up my cross,

So that then I may carry the cross.

Matthew 10: 27-33 Jesus Teaches the Fear of God

“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Confess Christ Before Men

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

Ever wonder why Jesus called so many fishermen to be his disciples? Fishermen were used to hard work, long hours, bad working conditions, and sudden storms. Fishermen understood that once you had launched out onto the Sea of Galilee, you were committed, whether or not you enjoyed the experience. As a tax collector, Matthew had had to thread his way through the Roman bureaucracy and the demands of local religious leaders who shunned him until they needed money. The other disciples were probably equally tough-minded.

In an earlier day, the Timex people used to boast about their watches that “They take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’!” The idea was that no matter how badly a Timex watch was abused, it would still work under the worst conditions. Here Jesus is telling us that if we want to be his disciples, we must be like Timex watches, taking abuse and continuing to work in spite of it.

“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.” When God gives you a message, you are bound to deliver it, no matter the circumstances. In Jesus’ day, housetops were flat, making it easy for someone to stand on the housetop and shout messages to all the neighbors. It’s possible that if someone had an announcement for the community, they would shout it from the housetops. If we are serious about the Gospel being good news, we too should be willing to broadcast it by any means possible. St. Francis of Assisi is quoted as having said, “Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” People believe our behavior far more than they do our words if our words fail to match our behavior.

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” For many of us, martyrdom is simply a concept; however, for many Christians in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Iraq, Iran, Northern Korea and other places, martyrdom is a constant possibility. These people gather to pray and worship, realizing that at any minute they might be shot or beheaded. These people fear God more than they do Satan or his emissaries.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”  You can imagine Jesus smiling as he says this, teasing the disciples. Many times we think God is sitting somewhere at a great distance, occasionally hurling thunderbolts at bad people. But God is as close to us as our heartbeats and knows us more completely than we know ourselves. Each of us is precious to God, so precious that He knows the number of hairs on our heads. We can trust the One who knows us!

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” One of the saddest scenes of the night before Jesus is crucified is the scene in which Peter is warming himself over a fire out in the high priest’s courtyard. Three times, onlookers question Peter to see if he is one of Jesus’ disciples and three times Peter denies it. Just as Peter denies Jesus for the last time, Jesus looks from the room where he is being interrogated, and his eyes meet Peter’s. Suddenly, Peter realizes what he has done and stumbles out, weeping bitterly.

Blessedly, for Peter this is not the end of his story. Later Peter fearlessly preaches about Jesus and eventually is crucified for his faith. Peter humbly requests that he be crucified upside down, believing that he is unworthy to die in the same fashion as Jesus.

Sooner or later, all disciples will deny Jesus at some point. No matter how we might protest, we are just as fallible as Peter was. But Peter changed, and so can we. May we trust God to change us so that we will be utterly faithful, utterly fearless, and utterly hopeful!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. Redeem us from our failures and mistakes and help us to be faithful, fearless, hopeful, and loving. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 10:16-26 Persecutions Are Coming

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.”

Ah, ministering the Gospel! Stand before a receptive crowd of people, tell them what Jesus has done for them, explain the Scriptures, and they will all receive you happily and tell all their friends……Sounds fine, until the first stone hits!  

Jesus has already warned his disciples that when he is sending them out, sometimes they will be received well and sometimes they may meet complete opposition. Now Jesus is going even farther to warn the disciples that they may be persecuted and even killed. Is Jesus advising his followers to be paranoid? No. Jesus is advising his followers to be wise, paying attention to what’s happening around them. But at the same time, they are to be harmless, even though they may be surrounded by those who might harm them.

“But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” Here Jesus is warning his followers that they WILL be delivered up to councils and scourged; however, they are to trust God for the words they should say. In case anyone has treasured misconceptions about how easy it will be to follow Jesus, these warnings should change their minds. And the warnings become even more stringent.

““Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” True disciples must be prepared to give up everything that makes life lovely, including relationships with parents and siblings as well as friends. There may be times when disciples will be hated by everyone, forcing them to flee from city to city, spreading the Gospel as they go. Disciples must single-mindedly tell others about Jesus by their words, their deeds, and their demeanor.

”A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.” Just as Jesus was persecuted, so his disciples should expect persecution and insults. But God knows the human heart and God knows the schemes of those pretending to be friends while they are plotting destruction.

At first, this passage is extremely depressing. Can Christians only expect persecution and hardship? NO! While persecution and hardship may come, the joy of serving Jesus far outweighs any suffering. Knowing the love of God and experiencing it is far more important than any amount of struggle.

May we know the joy of Jesus’ love and trust him, no matter what may come. Let’s pray.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, thinking about suffering frightens us. Help us to trust You and to lay down our lives, knowing that You are worth any amount of suffering. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

The Twelve Apostles

Matthew 10:1-15 “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

Sending Out the Twelve

These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

Sometimes we think of Jesus as being the only one who actively ministered during his lifetime; however, that is far from the truth. Here Jesus is empowering his twelve disciples and sending them out “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” A ministry focusing on only one individual dies the day the individual falters or dies. If God has called you to a ministry, you should be doing everything you can to pass on that calling and experience to others. The law of the Kingdom is multiplication, not subtraction. Jesus is already preparing his disciples for the time when he will leave them by sending them out now. If the disciples encounter problems or challenges, they can come back and get direct further instruction; later on, Jesus won’t be with them to physically guide them.

Look at the unusual instructions. “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.” Why is Jesus giving such orders? Jesus wants the disciples to know beyond all doubt that when they are doing God’s work, God will provide for them. Successful results will confirm that the disciples are doing God’s work. Jesus also wants those to whom the disciples are ministering to focus on the ministry and not on what the disciples are wearing. We must leave anything that detracts from the message of the kingdom behind.

How will the disciples know that they are in the right place? “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.” Sometimes people have an undeserved reputation for righteousness. Such people may appear loving and charitable in public; however, things are far different at home. Jesus knows that humans may prove privately to be imposters. As folks in Texas would say, some people are “all hat and no cattle.”

What if God sends you somewhere and the entire city rejects you? “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

How do we reconcile this advice with Jesus’ earlier teachings to “pray for those who despitefully use you”? We can always pray for people, no matter how badly they treat us. But unless God specifically call us to remain in a difficult situation, we are not bound to stay if people refuse to receive either us or our message. We are also not bound to risk our lives unless Jesus specifically orders us to do so.

Remember the Gadarene/Gennesaret mad man/mad men? When Jesus first comes and casts out the demons, the whole town begs him to leave. But the next time Jesus comes, the same people who refused to listen are now running to haul their sick and demon-possessed people to Jesus for healing and deliverance. “When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.” (Mark 6:53-56) Never underestimate what God can do in people’s hearts.

Pauline Smith and Adeline Wichman were Assemblies of God missionaries in Ghana for 50 years. Polly and Addie once told us that they never lost hope for evil people because they had seen some of the vilest people repent and change completely when God got hold of them.

Steve Jobs is quoted as having said, “If you want to be popular, sell ice cream.” Many times, we choose to settle for popularity in ministry rather than presenting the naked Gospel with its ability to convict sinful hearts. If we present anything less than the Gospel, we do people a fatal disservice, for only the Gospel can change stony hearts to hearts of flesh.

Recently, I saw a short video on Facebook in which a traveling evangelist described witnessing to a man in Alaska who had just learned that he had a medical condition that would kill him swiftly. The evangelist had a plane he needed to catch; instead, he dedicated himself to making certain that this man understood the way of salvation and was truly saved. The evangelist went through all the scriptures concerning salvation and asked the man, “Do you understand?” The man agreed that yes, he understood, but nothing was changing for him. The evangelist then had the man read the scriptures out loud for himself. As the man was reading John 3:16 for the third or fourth time, suddenly the truth of what he was reading dawned on him and he began to weep tears of joy. Instead of being a lovely theory, the good news of Jesus Christ and salvation was now real and this man KNEW that Jesus had died for him and that his sins were forgiven.

We can present the Gospel quickly. Years ago, my husband was working as an EMT and was taking a patient with lung cancer home to die. This man told my husband that he had been all over the world, and now his life was ending. My husband asked the man where he stood with the Lord; whereupon the man said, he wasn’t sure. My husband prayed a simple prayer with this man, and he turned his life over to Jesus. Three days later, the man’s obituary appeared in the paper. God can handle time if we will make ourselves available.

Go where Jesus sends you, stay where he keeps you, be ready to move when he tells you, but also be ready to speak when he gives you the opportunity. Don’t worry about your ability; after all, God once spoke through a donkey, so He can certainly speak through you if you will let Him.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, here we are. Use us and help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.