You Go And Proclaim The Kingdom

   As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
   Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
   He said to another man, “Follow me.”
   But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
   Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
   Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”
   Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

                                                                                    Luke 9:57-62 NIV

"Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go.." That sounds kind of harsh, doesn't it?  The reality is that if we are really going to follow Jesus and proclaim the Kingdom of God we will have to give up a few things in this world. 

As a minister to the people, Jesus moved around a lot. He had no home; other than his mother's home and the homes of friends. As he traveled from place to place his ministry; his preaching; his teaching, was not about clinging to things of this world. It was about proclaiming the kingdom of God. In order to follow Jesus there will be at least a few worldly things we may have to leave behind. Those things might be fancy homes or cars. Those things might not even be things; but, people. We may have to leave behind family and friends. That may because we are called to a different location than where they are at. It might also be because they turn away from those who would follow Jesus. We may suffer loss in this world as we proclaim the Kingdom of God. We will have to change our priorities as we set out to follow Jesus.

But, those losses; those sacrifices, which we might have to face have been faced by multitudes of Christians before us and who are with us now. How much time did Paul spend in prison? Prison was his home for a lot of his ministry. Jesus was a wandering preacher who gave his very life; his last breath as man, so that all who believe in him might live eternally in that Kingdom that we are called to proclaim. And, what about the Father? His Father, our Father, gave His only begotten Son to suffer and be executed on the cross as an atonement for ours sins that we might live eternally in His presence; in His Kingdom.

Following Jesus is an awesome gift; a great privilege. But, it is not about gaining things in this world. It is about the promise of eternal life in the presence of God Almighty, in His Kingdom, beginning today!

Follow in the footsteps of Jesus and live life in the presence of God! Live life most fully!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Children Belong In Our Father's House

  

Brothers and sisters of all ages together in our Father's House of Worship.

   After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

   “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:43-49 NIV)

Mary and Joseph left for home and didn't even realize that they had left Jesus behind in Jerusalem. Like most parents, they were probably pretty panicked when they realized He was not with them. They rushed back to find Him in the temple. Mary was probably relieved; but, still a bit a bit upset as any mother would be. "Why would you do something like this to us? Why would you make us worry like that? Jesus' reply was a question. He asked, "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"

Didn't you know? Didn't you know that the children belong in our Father's house so that they can be loved and nurtured and taught by the community of saints that gathers there? After all, shouldn't all of God children be in house where they can learn of and know and feel our Father's love for them?  Shouldn't they be there not just for special required festivals, but as often as they can? Our Father's house is a place where children can learn to be accepted and loved unconditionally (at least I am hoping everyone accepts all children unconditionally). It is a place where they should be able to learn to accept others and love them unconditionally, as well. Our Father's house is a place where they will learn that when they become adults, they will have a place, a family, to go to when they are all alone, no matter where in the world they might find themselves. May God grant that not only will children be welcomed into every Christian congregation, but that their parents would desire to join them in our Father's house.

May all of the children of God desire to spend much time with their brothers and sister in Christ as we gather together to worship and learn and sing songs of praise in our Father's house.

God's Peace - Pr. J