A Few Thoughts From a Few Passages
Matthew 4:17
From 2000+ years ago, Jesus was already preaching, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near". Was he saying that the kingdom was near, therefore we should repent? Or was He saying that our repentance will bring the kingdom nearer?
"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is on heaven" is brought as repentance is chosen.
Matthew 4:18-22
Jesus calls James and John to follow him and "immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him". We humans worry. We worry a lot. What if we do this, then what happens to that? What if we do that, then what happens to this? We feel the need to "bao-ge-liao" (take every single thing) sometimes. But seriously, who can?
This passage specifically mentions James and John leaving their father (who was with them at that time). There is no mention of whether their father was a believer or well or anything. That means that that was not the point. The point was that Jesus called, and they followed.
By default, we should place those closest to us, first. However there might be times when Jesus calls us to do something elsewhere. If we are sure it is Jesus, then we must trust that as He has taken care of us, He will also take care of our loved ones.
Luke 4
Jesus is in the desert when He gets tempted by the devil. The devil tempts him with food, authority and attention. Are these things we are easily tempted by?
Luke 5:15-16
Many came to Jesus to be healed but He often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. There will always be work to do, people to heal, questions to answer. But Jesus knew He had to get alone and pray.
Luke 5:20
A paralysed man was lowered through the roof for healing from Jesus. The first thing Jesus said was, "Friend, your sins are forgiven". The second thing he said was "Get up, take your mat and go home". Jesus' priority was to forgive the person's sins, before healing his body. Spirit/soul before body.
From 2000+ years ago, Jesus was already preaching, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near". Was he saying that the kingdom was near, therefore we should repent? Or was He saying that our repentance will bring the kingdom nearer?
"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is on heaven" is brought as repentance is chosen.
Matthew 4:18-22
Jesus calls James and John to follow him and "immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him". We humans worry. We worry a lot. What if we do this, then what happens to that? What if we do that, then what happens to this? We feel the need to "bao-ge-liao" (take every single thing) sometimes. But seriously, who can?
This passage specifically mentions James and John leaving their father (who was with them at that time). There is no mention of whether their father was a believer or well or anything. That means that that was not the point. The point was that Jesus called, and they followed.
By default, we should place those closest to us, first. However there might be times when Jesus calls us to do something elsewhere. If we are sure it is Jesus, then we must trust that as He has taken care of us, He will also take care of our loved ones.
Luke 4
Jesus is in the desert when He gets tempted by the devil. The devil tempts him with food, authority and attention. Are these things we are easily tempted by?
Luke 5:15-16
Many came to Jesus to be healed but He often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. There will always be work to do, people to heal, questions to answer. But Jesus knew He had to get alone and pray.
Luke 5:20
A paralysed man was lowered through the roof for healing from Jesus. The first thing Jesus said was, "Friend, your sins are forgiven". The second thing he said was "Get up, take your mat and go home". Jesus' priority was to forgive the person's sins, before healing his body. Spirit/soul before body.
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