Good day dear friends. May our prayers today include prayers for Betty Newmann, wife of Pastor Martin Newmann, who is undergoing surgery in Austin for cancer treatment. Our continued prayers for Carol Price, as she recovers from surgery in San Antonio.
Our text for today comes from Mark 6: 1 He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 4 Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." 5 And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching. 7 He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9 but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10 He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11 If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." 12 So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13 They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. (NRSV)
In life, not all our days will be what we could call "highs" or "mountain peak" experiences. There will be some "low's" or what some call "valley" experiences. Such was the case on this day that Jesus returned to His hometown. Jesus experienced what some of us at one time or another experienced during times we have tried to do good for the Lord or started in ministry. Those who have known us the longest may remark that they cannot believe we are capable of whatever it is we are doing or worse, ask, "Who does she/he think they are?" Jesus, the Son of God, was no exception; He experienced both. He did in that town what good He could and then left. Those following Him were sent out in pairs of two, to do the work expected of them. They were sent with Jesus' full authority and with that they did things that even amazed themselves. In preparation, Jesus stressed that the primary reason for their going was to serve God and nothing else. The equipment they needed was minimal; the task the major motivation. Jesus' words in effect said, "Seek out to serve God among those that will receive you. God will provide for you; seek nothing more than the bare necessities; if you find a place where I or my message and ministry are not welcome, then move on, letting them know they have missed out on something good for their lives." The disciples went out and served God in faithful ways, doing and blessing themselves.
So should it be with us and where we are, either in terms of location and service. We should seek to be faithful to God among those who welcome us and after trying with those who do not, move on. The motivation for us should be the same as with the first disciples; we go because we believe and love Jesus. If Jesus has called us, we will be faithful where we can with whomever receives us. Our driving force should be the love we have received from God for our work and for God's people. If we are driven by love, we will be successful in love. Wesley took it even further when he said he believed that we can achieve perfection in love in our lifetime.
PRAYER: Loving God, we seek to serve You out of the love we have for You. May we be faithful among all people, and if rejected or scorned because of You, we still love as we move on. May we seek to experience anew each day, Your love that made us say yes to You in the first place. Bless our work that You might be exalted, but lead us to find what that work You have led us to. We pray in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Today's post on Wesley's Prayer can be found at this link: http://50daysprayer.blogspot.com/2012/07/wesleys-prayer-4.html
