.
Good day dear friends.
Good news from Billie Hardesty who underwent surgery yesterday.
Surgery was not as extensive as the surgeon had anticipated and all
went well. She was in Seton Hospital in Austin.
Carli also had great news. The minor procedure we anticipated was
not necessary. We praise God!
Here is our study guide:
Thursday: Matthew 19:16-22 tells the story of an invitation from
the Lord Jesus to someone who turns him down. Why? What would you
have done? What possession(s) are keeping you from being the
follower that Jesus wants from you? Pray that God help you rid all
obstacles from your life so that you can indeed be a disciple!
16 Then someone came to him and said, "Teacher, what good deed must
I do to have eternal life?" 17 And he said to him, "Why do you ask
me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to
enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to him, "Which
ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder; You shall not commit
adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness;
19 Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor
as yourself." 20 The young man said to him, "I have kept all
these; {Other ancient authorities add [from my youth]} what do I
still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go,
sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will
have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 22 When the young
man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many
possessions.
It's early morning and I've been getting ready to go to Weimer,
Texas where at Cathedral Oaks United Methodist camp where I will
teach a class on Team Ministry to our students at the Board of
Ordained Ministry's Licensing School. These students will get their
Local Pastor's License upon completion and be assigned as solo or
associate pastors somewhere in our conference. Some will be
available if needed to serve a church. I'm watching a so-called
evangelist on cable pushing his new book, "How to Be Rich and Have
Everything You've Always Wanted." Among the little blurbs on the
screen include such "gems" as "God wants to bless you and make you
rich!" These are backed up with assorted Scriptural passages. The
book is free and it'll provide him with your mailing address and you
will be hounded with requests for funding his ministry. This
same "pastor" was the one exposed by a prime time television news
magazine for having a ministry here in Texas solely for his own
benefit. He lived in California and would fly in on Sundays in his
private jet to preach, then fly home to San Diego. Hey, it's early
and there's not much on to keep me company while I write. Every
other channel has a horror movie.
The man mentioned in this passage, did not have to read this free
book. He had all he possibly could want. He drove the latest
donkey during the week and on the weekend he could drive the camel.
His home had the latest in straw roofing. He wore the finest
sandals and robes! What did he lack? The peace that Jesus was
offering. He knew that his life would one day come to an end and he
was not sure that his life, especially that of wealth, would
continue. He had heard of Jesus and wanted to know more of the
message that was changing so many lives. Jesus asked about his
religious-ness and he was religious, for he had kept the
commandments. Then Jesus asked about his spiritual life and that
was when the young man revealed that he was not well spiritually,
for his heart was burdened by his riches. Jesus was asking the
young man to put the trust he had in his riches in God. This the
young man could not do, for he was very rich. The invitation that
Jesus offers to him was rejected. Sadly, this version says the
young man went away "grieving."
What's causing your grief today? Is it because Jesus has called you
into some sort of ministry and your obstacle or misplaced trust is
keeping you from saying yes? How can you switch that trust from
things that will fail and fade away, to God who will never fail you?
It's our choice. We can trust God and say yes, or we can continue
on in our grief, trusting things instead of God.
PRAYER: God of life, speak to us now the truth about your love and
care for us. Let us say yes to You as You call us to faithfulness.
Speak to us honestly about the obstacles in our lives. Help us make
the choices that we need to be faithful disciples. We pray in
Jesus' name who still calls us today. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
I ask for your prayers as I travel today.
e.v.
