Matthew 11:20-24

I find it amusing the perception America has of Jesus.

We say He's a good moral teacher, and that He was generally a kind man. Someone who would never offend anyone. Jesus brought peace, we might say.

Yeah. America doesn't really know the Bible then, because the more I read in the book of Matthew, the more I come to realize Jesus was pretty stern, and straightforward. He said it like it was.

In the example I read today, Jesus condemned entire cities to Hell.

He has no pity on those people who had every opportunity to repent of their sins and chose not to do so. In the cities where His miracles were the greatest, they were not repentant. Jesus got upset at this.

It seems this Jesus isn't such the mild-mannered, peaceful hippie America wants to think He is.

Matthew 4:18-22

I'm finished with Genesis! Woo hoo! The way the story ended with the death of Israel (Jacob), it made me think the story is really about him. Or the beginning of his people or nation. Of course I knew that, because that's what I had been taught, but I wanted to look at it as if I didn't know anything about it. It was interesting when the story got pretty involved with Joseph to look back and see how it then tied it in with Jacob. Good stuff.

After a conversation with a friend, I have decided to look at what Jesus says about what it means to be a disciple. That's what I'm studying next. What does Jesus say it means to be a disciple? What did Jesus say someone had to do to be a disciple?

That led me to Matthew 4, Jesus' first encounter with his disciples. This passage isn't the first time Jesus' words are recorded. The first we see words in red is when John baptised Jesus. After that was Jesus being tempted by Satan, then a short account of the fact that Jesus began preaching after he visited Galilee.

Simon Peter and Andrew were the first people Jesus called. Here is the text:

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

The Sea of Galilee was a big place for fishing. Jesus was probably pretty familiar with the way of life for a fisherman. They worked long, hard hours in a trade that required great skill and persistence.

Evidently when Jesus called Simon and Andrew, they weren't far from shore. Or at least in ear-shot. Because as they were casting a net into the sea, Jesus called to them, and they heard.

Not sure what it was about what Jesus said that they responded to so quickly. Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

I find it interesting that Jesus' call to be a disciple is directly correlated with them making more disciples. First, he says for them to follow Him so that they could catch men instead of fish. He didn't just say "follow me." He said follow me so you can do this. Interesting.

James and John were next. They were mending their nets, a frequent practice among fishermen. We don't know the exact words that Jesus said when he called. That's OK. The point is that He did call, and James and John immediately left their boat AND their father to follow Jesus.

A few points of application.

Both calls are pretty emphatic about the fact they left what they had immediately.
Both calls say the people left what they had, including occupation, possession, and family.

Genesis

I'm almost done with the story of Genesis.

The whole Year Bible thing fell through.

I know. I'm a horrible person. Aren't we all.

Anyway, Jacob (the Bible one, not me) is having a few issues with some family members.

We've been pretty busy, but not incredibly busy.

After I turn in a paper for History of Christianity 1 class, I'll be through. Then it's on to Greek 1! I'm excited actually. Weirdo.

Later.

One Year Bible

N. Little Rock, AR
On my in-law's couch
9:22 am

Since Christmas is over, Lynsey and I are done reading the Christmas story. Shocking, I know. We decided to get the One Year Bible so that whenever we're done with a book we're not at a loss as for what comes next. So I'll be ordering one or two of those when I get back to work on Monday since we can get it with a big discount there. In the meantime, we'll be following along on the One Year Bible's website, which gives the listings of what you're supposed to read each day. I'm looking forward to it. I don't know that I've ever read the entire Bible in a year.

Yesterdays Readings
Genesis 1:1-2:25
Matthew 1:1-2:12
Psalm 1:1-6
Proverbs 1:1-6

Todays Readings
Genesis 3:1-4:26
Matthew 2:13-3:6
Psalm 2:1-12
Proverbs 1:7-9

A lot of stuff is in the works for this coming year. Lynsey and I will be buying our first house. At work we'll be launching an entire curriculum line for young adults, I'll be developing a conference for young adults at the National Convention for FWB, I might have more responsibility at my church, and who knows what else. God be with us.

Christmas Story Readings

Lyns and I have decided to read the different accounts of the Christmas story leading up to Christmas day. That includes the first few chapters of Matthew and Luke. We're also going to be reading some of the prophecies about the birth of Christ. I'm not quite sure how we'll narrow those down. But it should be good.

Lynsey and I got to spend some much-needed time together this weekend. It had been a while. The holiday's have been really crazy so far, especially while I'm trying to study every night for something or another. We decided to set aside two nights per week to spend at home, eating a meal, and not doing much besides just being together. I'm very glad we've committed to do this. I'm thankful for the blessing that is my wife, Lynsey.

Finished Romans

Yes, yes, tis true. We finished Romans and will begin Luke here shortly. We want to read the story of our Savior's birth in late December, so we'll see how we maneuver around that considering that account is in chapter 2 of the good Doctor Luke.

My daily schedule is pretty jam-packed. I am in the middle of History of Christianity I. I try to finish 2 lessons per week. I'll read about 100 pages per night for 2 days, then listen to lectures and take notes for one night, then repeat the process. I am enjoying it, but needless to say I don't have much free time except for the weekends. And when that happens, I have small group to study for and usually play some type of guitar at church.

And I have a few Christmas gifts to buy.

And The Brink is picking up because it's time to start mind-mapping for the first full issue of The Brink Magazine. Not to mention a possible website for the entire curriculum line. We'll see if some money gets approved for that project. I'm a pessimistic person, so I doubt it. However, that doesn't mean I don't think it should happen. Young adults use the internet for so many things. And any magazine that is worth anything has an online version. So I don't understand why we wouldn't go that route. We'll see though. We shall see!

I'm ready for a break. So is Lyns.

Romans 13:1-7

Romans 13:1-7

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Paul wrote a lot about submission. He said in this passage that how we obey authority figures is how we obey God. It is this way because authority and government figures are put there by God Himself. So the heart of the matter is that the same attitude I have towards them is the same attitude I have towards God. Why would I be unwilling to submit? Because I think I'm bigger and better than the system God has set in place? God forbid.

Lately I've been wondering if I have it too good for my own good. Though I'm not wealthy by the United States' standards, I have all the money I could need. I have a beautiful wife. I have enough power to make me feel important. A family who is there for me. A church that listens to my opinions.

It's just that in all of those blessings, I lose my need for God sometimes.

Maybe a little bit of poverty is what I need. Maybe that will give me a need for God again.

I don't want to be that way. I want to be dependent upon God. It's just that when everything is going right, it seems I have no need to be.

I pray much more often when there's something wrong than when everything is going well.

I think that's sinful. How dare I use God as my out. He's my lifeline. He's the red phone. He's the last resort. I'll do all I can do, and if all of that fails, then I will finally try God.

God forbid it.

Maybe I need to give something up, or maybe God needs to take something away.

God,
Do what you would. Don't give me so much that I forget from whence it came. Overwhelm me with your presence. Take something away if You would--so that I may better understand my dependence on You. Help me see where You are. I want to be a part of that.
Jacob