Day 15 Friday March 5 2010

Day 15 Friday March 5, 2010

TODAY’S INTRO
Friends, we are over 1/3 of the way through Luke now. After tommorow’s devotion, Jesus will be done with the ministry in Galilee and heading toward Jerusalem. He will head on a long extended “Journey” in which he will teach his followers a lot about God’s intended ways for human interaction on this planet. We’ll get there. For now, Jesus is sending twelve of them out one last time before the journey. He certainly calls them to “trust in his provision”. Can we do the same? Can we see that one of God’s great desires is providing for us?


TODAY’S TEXT- Luke 9:1-27
Then Jesusa called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread nor money--not even an extra tunic. 4Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. 5Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." 6They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.
Herod's Perplexity
7 Now Herod the rulerb heard about all that had taken place, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 8by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. 9Herod said, "John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?" And he tried to see him.
Feeding the Five Thousand
10 On their return the apostles told Jesusc all they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. 11When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured. 12 The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place." 13But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish--unless we are to go and buy food for all these people." 14For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, "Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each." 15They did so and made them all sit down. 16And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Peter's Declaration about Jesus
18 Once when Jesusd was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" 19They answered, "John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen." 20He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "The Messiahe of God."
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
21 He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, 22saying, "The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." 23 Then he said to them all, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. 25What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? 26Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."

TODAY’S STATUS UPDATES

How often do we say, “there is nothing I can do to help that person”? Maybe some situations are ‘over our head’ and we do not have the resources or the ability to handle it but. . consider today’s text as a text for the Christian community, as a group of people.

We see tangible need affecting a large group- specifically a food need. The twelve followers of Jesus, in a sense, say to Jesus, ‘there’s nothing we can do. Send them away’. But Jesus says, “you give them something”. In a sense, Jesus is saying, “friends, don’t think you don’t have anything to help them. You can do it!”

What Jesus showed in the story today is his desire to provide for those in need and to serve as a catalyst for those called to provide. As today’s text reminds us—“reach out boldly, reach out to the masses, reach out in tangible ways and he will find a way to provide!” Will we dare to believe in his provision or will we simply say, “we can’t help”?

God has a mission in this world and I believe he is ready to use us. Let’s dare to believe and act upon the belief that the Lord will continue to provide!

Jesus, help us always to trust in you as the provider for mission. We are your instruments. Help us to see that we have much to offer. Spark us to offer what we have for the sake of the world around us. Amen

FRIENDS ADDED

Indirect “friends” or “blessed people” through disciples ministry.


CONFUSED
Herod remains baffled by Jesus!


CAUSES
Trusting in the provision of the Lord


OTHER NOTES


Join me as we start a new Devotion Series in April and May called “The Ripple Effect” at http://www.ripplingout.blogspot.com/ (an exploration of Acts)