Tag Archives: The Twelve

Who’s Your Daddy?

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“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 18:3-4 ESV1

Read Matthew 18:1-14, Mark 9:33-50 & Luke 9:46-50

In my life, I have worn a variety of hats. My different responsibilities have put me in positions where I have observed many arguments. Some of these arguments have been laughable, others hurtful. Many were passionate discussions which worked out themselves; others become quite heated and needed intervention.

When working with people, it doesn’t take long to discover competition is part of the human make up. We instinctively want to be on top. We tend to assume we are right, and when there are conflicts, we feel others must be wrong. We humans continually evaluate where we fit in any given group. From the time we are children, we compare ourselves and consciously (or unconsciously) compete in attempts to be the best, the fastest, the smartest, the prettiest, the most talented, etc.

An argument common among young boys takes the competition past their own abilities and focuses on the attributes of their fathers. It is not unusual, from time to time, to hear a boy exclaim, “My daddy is stronger than your daddy!” The argument need not necessarily focus on strength; maybe a boy claims his father is smarter, or richer (or any other appropriate adjective) than the fathers of those around him. But the statement is always made with the child’s confident expectation that his assertion will put him on top and finalize the argument.

Once, when Jesus’ twelve closest disciples were arguing among themselves, Jesus extinguished the heated debate by drawing their attention to the greatness of His Father.

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A Little Change and Much Change

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Jesus said to [Peter], … “Go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to [the collectors of the two-drachma tax] for Me and for yourself.” Matthew 17:26b & 27b ESV1

Read Matthew 17:24-27

My favorite motion pictures are those which are based on true events. Because they deal with real people overcoming genuinely insurmountable challenges, these movies inspire me. They give me the confidence to believe that if these ordinary people with extraordinary character can prevail in such difficult circumstances, maybe I, too, can make a difference in the situations which I face.

Often these films conclude with photos of the actual people on whose lives these stories are based. Some directors are better than others at choosing actors who authentically represent the physical characteristics of those they are portraying. But what about films depicting the events surrounding Jesus’ earthly ministry? Almost every such movie I have ever seen characterizes Jesus’ twelve closest disciples as older men—some balding, others with salt and pepper hair and beards, and still others with ample waistlines. We don’t have any photographs to make comparisons, but I don’t believe The Twelve looked like that at all!

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He Provides

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“For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10:20 ESV1

Read Matthew 10:5-33, 40-42; Mark 6:7-12; & Luke 9:1-6, 10:1-12

If you are a Believer, you already know that God has plans for you, “plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11b). You believe you “are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that [you] would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). And you are confident that “if you don’t grow weary of doing good, … in due season [you] will reap, if [you] do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

At times, I am confident you are pretty excited about the call God has on your life. Other times, you are probably entirely overwhelmed. You are not alone in feeling overcome by the weight of the divine appointment on your life. You are not the only one who has ever considered quitting. When Jonah felt God was asking too much, he tried to run from the responsibility (see Jonah 1:1-3). When David got weary, he allowed himself to get temporarily distracted from his call (see 2 Samuel 11:1-9, 16-17 & 26-27). When Moses was insecure about his abilities, he pleaded with God to send someone else to do his job (see Genesis 3:10 & 4:1, 10-13). At times, even Jesus got overwhelmed with His God-given assignment. When that happened, what did Jesus do?

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Sure and Ready

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Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” Matthew 17:19 ESV1

Read Matthew 17:14-20, Mark 9:14-32 &            Luke 9:37-43

“And Jesus went on with His disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi” (Mark 8:27). “And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves” (Mark 9:2). Much of spiritual significance happened on the mountain near Caesarea Philippi, but our focus today will be on what happened in the valley.

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Crazy Times

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And He went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So, His fame spread. Matthew 4:23-24a ESV1

Read Matthew 4:23-25, Mark 3:7-21 & Luke 6:12-19

Do you feel overwhelmed with the craziness of your life? Are you inundated with responsibilities, deadlines, phone calls, emails, rough commutes, long lines, things that don’t work, needy people, messes, arguments, lost possessions, financial troubles, betrayal, unreconcilable situations, sickness, pain, or sleepless nights? Do you want to scream, “Slow down World, and let me off!” Jesus knows how you feel. He experienced similar feelings when His ministry here on Earth suddenly exploded.

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It’s Not About Me

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“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 ESV1

Read John 3:22-4:3

One day, “Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, and He remained there with them and was baptizing” (John 3:22) … Although Jesus Himself did not baptize, but only His disciples” (John 4:2). Jesus’ ministry was getting more and more visibility. Many of the people who heard Him speak and saw His miracles wanted to get right with God. To show their commitment to a changed life, they desired baptism. Jesus’ disciples were happy to help. But, without their realizing it, their actions began to cause an uproar.

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