Surveying the neglected, unsettled crowd cut Jesus to the core. Do you react with similar compassion when you encounter God’s people, those who struggle, flock to the latest spiritual trend or guru, and have more questions than answers? Do you actively engage with these individuals, or is the prospect too exhausting for you?
Today Rebecca Lockhart reflects on walking the the walk not just talking the talk.
I love watching HGTV. I love seeing neglected houses, in sad states of disrepair, transformed into something new and beautiful. But do you ever notice how quick the transformation is? The renovation and that shiny, new farmhouse sink look good, but are they really good?
In Matthew 7:21, we’re told that doing good work in the Lord’s name is not enough for us enter the kingdom of heaven. We must do the will of the Father. Doing good work but without doing God’s will is like covering up old knob-and-tube wiring with pretty walls and not fixing what’s truly lacking. The result of good looking work is fleeting. In a few years, a new contractor will have to step in to fix the real issue.
I hate crowds. I don’t hate the people in them, but I really don’t like to be in the midst of a lot of people. Today’s Gospel account includes a really large group of people who have come out to see Jesus. And these crowds bring to Jesus a lot of people in need of healing, and Jesus cures them. The results of these miracles cause the crowds to be amazed, and who can blame them?
I'm excited to share with you Good Tidings, an Advent Devotional for 2020. You can read Good Tidings daily by downloading this FREE PDF, or you can subscribe to my blog and receive the devotion delivered to you each day of Advent.
