Know What's Most Important
Aug 11, 2013
The Apostle Paul took the mission of God seriously. In his first letter to the church he planted in Thessalonica, Paul encourages them to continue to actively follow Jesus in faith, hope, and love in the midst of a culture that was, at best, unaware of Jesus, and, at worst, hostile to the Gospel. How do we continue to persevere in faith, hope, and love, as followers of Jesus in a hostile world?
After Jesus' resurrection, he appeared to his disciples and "spoke about the kingdom of God" through the power of the Holy Spirit. But the disciples continued to be confused about the nature of this kingdom and their role in proclaiming it. How do we live as ambassadors of God's Kingdom in a world that is constantly grasping for power? We wait for the Holy Spirit and we walk in the way of Jesus.
On Palm Sunday, different people see Jesus as they want to see him; as a hero, as a rebel, as a bad investment. Amid these views, one woman sees Jesus as he is, offers her extravagant praise and is criticized by everyone except Jesus. Seeing her love, Jesus is moved and honors her for her 'beautiful' gift. What do you see when you look at Jesus? How do you think he sees you?
In Mark 9 Jesus disrupts the disciples' conversation of which of them is greatest by placing a child in the center. They don't understand, but won't ask him to explain. Jesus' way of Godly wisdom can look like foolishness to the world, but only the king of a kingdom that sees and values those the world doesn't, can find and redeem sinners like us.
Do you and God have joint or separate bank accounts? Jesus, the generous king, poured out all he had for us so that we could pour out love for the sake of others
When the religious leaders ask Jesus a loaded question, he unloads the truth on them. You can either conform to the images of power that the world presents, or you can surrender to the one who made you in His image.
In both of these stories in Mark 10, Jesus asks the same question: "What do you want me to do for you?" To one request his answer is no, to the other, his answer is yes, and yet in both cases, his response is actually for their good. What do you want from Jesus today? Whether his answer is yes or no, you can trust him because he came not to be served, but to give his life to provide what we truly need, a gift bigger than any we could ask for.
What can you do to inherit eternal life? What can you pay to enter the Kingdom of God? Jesus provides an uncomfortable answer to these questions.
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