Sitting By

"And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by..." Luke 5:17 (KJV)

Sunday afternoon I had opportunity to chat with a very dear friend. Easily, four months had passed since our last conversation, yet after only a few brief minutes of 'catch up' regarding our families, conversation turned to the sharing of God's Word and to truths we were currently applying in our lives. With my Bible open on my lap, she and I traced God's goodness and promises. We talked of the 'new Word' he had spoken into our hearts. We shared doubts and fears. There was no idle chatter. Eternal matters were the topic. Our hearts were burning within us to do more than listen, for living is our lot.

In the verse above we see the posture of passivity. The Pharisees were "sitting by" while Jesus was teaching. Matthew Henry writes, "How many are there in the midst of our assemblies, where the gospel is preached, that do not sit under the Word, but sit by! It is to them as a tale that is told them, not as a message that is sent them; they are willing that we should preach before them, but not that we should preach to them."

Beth Moore questions: "Can you recall a time when you attended a Bible study or church service that profoundly affected a few of the people you were with, while others in attendance were completely unmoved? Like the Pharisees and teachers of the law, sometimes the unaffected can be the most 'religious' people in the room. Could the difference be that they were sitting by rather than sitting under God's Word?"

In Beth's book, "Jesus the One and Only", she encourages the reader to sit under God's mercy instead of sitting by with a critical eye. She writes, "If you will actively engage yourself in every message you hear or read, you will never hear or read another ineffective message."

Where are you positioning yourself? It's not so much a physical location, but a spirit's surrender. Think of the foyer conversation you indulge in at the close of Sunday's sermons. Do your words reflect the passion of one who has longingly sat 'under' the revelation of God's Word or impatiently sat 'by', checking your watch to see the time, oblivious to the miraculous? Words are falling around you, but not within you. Don't be satisfied with less when God wants to give you more. Sitting by makes you an observer. Sitting under makes you a participant.

What Word has He revealed to you that requires action today? Don't be caught 'sitting by'. Do something!

"Mrs. Peter"

“When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever.” Matthew 8:14

Peter’s mother-in-law.

Peter was married.

I wonder how “Mrs. Peter” felt about her husband being one of Jesus close companions. I wonder if she ever felt like her husband didn’t give her enough of his time. I wonder if she resented managing the household when he was gone travelling so much. I wonder if she was envious of the time her husband was blessed to spend with the Messiah. I wonder if she was lonely. I wonder if she felt like she lived in a shadow, without even a name. I wonder if she questioned or became angry as he walked away from his fishing business without even talking it over with her. I wonder if she struggled being married to a man in full time ministry. I wonder how she felt as she saw his weaknesses portrayed in his denial of Christ.

I think as wife’s we can go through seasons where it might feel like our husband’s are married to their job…or their sports team…or their tools…or their mother's...or their ministry position and we feel abandoned. I’m sure Peter’s wife was no different than you or I. I’m sure she often had to pray for understanding and patience.

Lord, I pray for those today whose wife or husband has been taken away for a season for whatever reason. Father, may Your presence be with them in a very real way. Grant them an extra measure of Your grace. Lord, where these spouses have been called by You into service, help family members to understand that their acceptance enables their loved one to respond in obedience to You. May we not make that following even more difficult by complaining and accusing. Father let these precious ones know how very much You love them, and that this is Your calling for them today.

Win/Win

“…everyone is going to him instead of coming to us.” John 3:26

Do you hear the envy and jealousy? My Pastor pointed out this exact same lesson yesterday morning using a different passage of scripture.

In Numbers 11:24-30 Joshua was struggling with the same issues as John’s disciples, when two men came forward and began prophesying in the camp. Joshua said to Moses, “Moses, my lord, restrain them.’ But Moses said to him, ‘Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!’”

This is crucial to learn. There is no place for petty in God’s Kingdom.

As my Pastor explained, in the secular world we are often promoted to positions of success because others have failed, but this is not so in God’s world. We are a body. When one of us wins, we all win. God is the only one who appoints and removes.

How do you feel when someone else is chosen in an area where you are over-looked? Can you truly rejoice with those who rejoice? It’s hard sometimes.

To put it in perspective a question needs asking. Do you view what you’re doing as your work or God’s work? Who get’s the glory? As my Pastor went on to say, there can be no ego, protection of position, competition or self-promotion. There is only One who should receive any accolades, and it isn’t you or me.

When God is our only real satisfaction, we can be successful whatever we do.

John’s response is so beautiful. “I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” John 3:29-30

Lord, I admit to sometimes being insecure about my place in the Kingdom. Father, I invite you to do a new work in my heart. Do not quickly release me from this lesson that You have now repeated two days in a row. May I find my rest in You.

Brimful

“Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’; so they filled them to the brim.” John 2:7 (NIV)

Brimful obedience always brings brimful blessings.

How full are your “jars”?

Eyes to the Skies

“We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2

The fact that the royal astrologers had to inquire about the little King’s location tells me something. Not everyone saw the star. How do I know this? Why, there would be a mob of people. The magi would not have needed to ask. They could have followed the crowd.

The messenger that hailed Christ’s birth, wasn’t a prophet, but a star. Not a new constellation or a meteor, but a glimmer of light. A star among millions of other stars. What made this star different from all the rest? How come the wise men saw it, but few others did?

In silence His birth announcement was given, written in the sky, yet only a handful of others took the time to read it. Only a few were looking for it. Only a few were expecting it.

The wise men saw His star as it rose. They didn't miss a moment of it's appearing. It hadn't been in the sky for days. They were diligently looking and intentionally seeking. Hearts prepared. Eyes wide open.

Father, forgive me for the times I miss seeing You. I confess that sometimes the eyes of my heart fail to see You, the bright and morning Star. My time in Your Word is only an academic assignment and my search for You is in reference books, concordances and dictionaries. Trying to find you in man’s written word, and not the Word. My eyes to the ground and not the sky.

Yet, other times, like the wise men, my heart seeks You earnestly. I look and I search deeply, not wanting even the slightest glimpse of You passing by to go unnoticed. Lord, I long to see You all around me and hear You speak. Let me see You rising in my life. I want to follow You to the manger. I want to kneel in Your presence. I desire to give You gifts fit for a King. Gold for Your deity. Frankincense to worship You. Myrrh for Your sacrificial death.

“Help me to understand that you reveal yourself not to those whose mind is a concordance but to those whose heart is a cathedral.” Ken Gire

Lord, is there a ‘star’ You will have appear before me today that You want me to follow? Father, I’m looking up.

Amazed

“Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him.” Luke 2:33

Last night we received a phone message. While participating in a “Meet the Teacher” event last evening, my sister and her family also attended a school assembly. During the meeting the Music Teacher came forward to share her curriculum for the year. Before she began to address the outline for her class, she excitedly announced that she is so pleased to have a “musical genius” working with her this year. You would have thought Beethoven himself was going to be her assistant the way she went on. The funny thing was, she was speaking about our son. He will be doing a Co-op placement with her beginning this Monday. As we listened to this phone message, we were amazed at the accolades being given our son. Yes, he has accomplished much musically, but we still were amazed at what was being said about him.

I’m sure our surprise paled in comparison to how Mary and Joseph felt as they listened to the words being spoken about their Son. Their admiration and awe was for a Messiah.

Luke 2:11 refers to Jesus as “the Savoir - yes, the Messiah, the Lord…”.

A Savoir to love. A Messiah to worship. A Lord to obey.

Father, I apologize for the many times I have failed to be rightly amazed at Your Son. May I join with those who stand in awe of You.

Possible

"'For nothing is impossible with God.'" Luke 1:37

Impossible. Not capable of occurring, or being dealt with, or accomplished. Totally unlikely. Something that cannot be done.

Possible. Capable of happening. Something that can be done.

God doesn't know the word "impossible".

Interesting to me that the difference in the spelling that stands in the way are two little letters. I M. I'm. I am the one who often doesn't believe. I am the one who often doesn't trust. I am the one who sees nothing but difficulties ahead. I am the one doubting the possible.

"Limitations are raw material for great expectations from God." (Pastor Rick Baker, December 15, 2002).