Day 11 - Who's in charge?

Oh it's another late one. Silly Blogspot decided to error on me and not let me post. Then I've been out all night entertaining Craig so sorry for the delay! Blame him... Onto business then

Today’s readings:

Genesis 24:1-67

Matthew 9:14-38

Psalm 8:1-9


And so we're pretty much winding up Abraham's story here as he realises that he's getting on a bit and so sends out his servant to find Issac a wife. First things first, how comes my parents haven't found me a wife yet? Tsk... What I like about this passage initially is that Abraham makes sure that his son marries one of God's chosen people by putting his requirements in the oath. But what he also does is not put God on the spot. He FINALLY accepts that he doesn't know more than God and so while he'd like things to work out one way, he makes sure that the servant isn't tied to his rules, he's tied to God's will.

The servant then goes to Abraham's own people and is quick to pray that God gives him a clear sign of which is the right wife. What I think is fantastic about this is how even before the servant finishes his prayer, God has already sent out Rebekah and fulfilled the exact requirements of the servant's prayer before it leaves his lips. I think sometimes we forget that prayers aren't just requests that God needs to hear, they're a way of letting us notice when God actually works in our lives. So often it's hard to focus and notice his blessings and through praying and letting God and yourself know what you are thinking about then you will notice when those prayers are answered. But God already has his answers ready for when you pray.

The New Testament continues with more of Jesus' teaching and miracles. Jesus first of all teaches on fasting and addresses why his disciples aren't constantly tasking themselves physically. Now this to me is a dangerous one if people don't really understand it. Jesus here is saying that his disciples don't mope and fast because they're with Him and so they're enjoying being in His presence. Now how does that apply to us? Are we ok to just be happy all the time and never concerned? Should we never fast so that we can focus on God? I think that what Jesus is saying here is that we should not be afraid to just have times when we are full of excitement and joy and that when those times come we should just bask in God's love. I think at Soul Survivor those times were very easy to come by and they should be the goal as that's what Heaven will be. Now we should be looking for those times to happen regularly and I think the only way THAT can happen is if we do take our faith seriously and not just as a club we belong to. Be proud of your faith, be serious when you need to be, take steps to discipline your life so that you can have those amazing moments where you really connect with God and feel His presence with you.

Jesus then does two amazing things. He raises a girl from the dead showing that He has power over sin and can conquer Satan's influence. But to me the prior miracle is even more amazing. Jesus was surrounded by his disciples, getting jostled from all sides and yet felt his healing power being needed by just the slightest of touches. Now I've heard people describe this miracle as though Jesus had no say in the matter but I think Matthew here shows that Jesus hears and responds to even the weakest cry for help. You might feel like your faith is weak or you're undeserving of God's love, but if you have the faith to believe and the will to change for Jesus then He will do amazing things for you.

Jesus then heals two more men and the interesting point to me here is verse 34 when the Pharisees start to accuse Jesus of using Satan's authority to remove demons. This makes no sense to me at all. If Jesus were working for Satan, why did He defy Satan in the wilderness? And why would Satan be letting him torment his demons and drive them out of people?! Clearly the Pharisees saw Jesus power and as powerful and religious people themselves, they realised that He was something special. And we finish of with Jesus commanding us to pray. So that's your homework for today. Jesus tells us we need to pray for God to send workers into the fields so I'd like you to think of an area of the world where you think God needs his people to work in and pray over that. Big or small, at home or abroad, we're all God's children and deserve his love and justice.

Our Psalm today is another Davidic one (meaning David wrote it unsurprisingly ;o) ) and is a brilliant praise song. David has been banging on about how he is constantly threatened and reliant on God and this Psalm feels like a break from that where he just yells about how amazing God is. He sings of how God is in all things and that really echoes the call to prayer that Jesus gives us. So we have three passages today that tell us to pray for God's people to do his work, that God is at work in all things, and that God will answer your prayers; sometimes before you've even finished them. Now that to me is a lovely bit of linking. Hallelujah!

Short again! I would like to keep it this length unless there's something that really bothers me. Hope you've all had a great Saturday and see some of you tomorrow. Questions, criticisms and comments welcome as always.

Jon