The "also read' verse in Jesus Calling today says "I will instruct you and tech you in the way which you shall go: I will counsel you with my eyes upon you." Psalms 32:8 Without even reading the devotion today I think it fits perfectly with the idea of radical relationships and the direction today's devotion may take.
You know we are who we hang around with, who we associate with. That thought is two fold. We want to be a good person so that people who hang out with will also exude goodness (in all facets) and conversely we want to hang out with people that we want to be more like, or people who are faithful and compassionate, intelligent and sincere. Jesus hung out with the outcasts, the sinners - at some point in our lives we fit into both those categories. When he he chose the Twelve, the apostles, or apossibles, as Claire called them, he did so after he prayed all night (Luke 6) - do we pray or have we ever prayed for the right twelve in our lives? Who would our 12 be?
I'm typing these out b/c I need to learn them. The last supper picture hangs in my kitchen and therefore I need to be able to tell Claire who they are. Not specifically but at least memorize the names: Simon who he named Peter (b/c Peter would be confusing right?!??!!?) and his brother Andrew, James and John, Thomas, Bartholomew, Judas, Matthew, Phillip, the other James and Simon (the zealot) and Judas (the traitor). I added Paul and Timothy, seems like they belonged there. I came up with my twelve quickly, but to be honest I'd like to add a few more. You all know me, never to meet a stranger. If Jesus were alive today and went against social norms of society would your "12" be chosen by Jesus? Would you even be considered?
I'm going to plagiarize here b/c this is really good stuff: TWO LESSONS:
1. we all need a group of people to do life with (that's sort of what I was getting at above with our "12") - people who walk with us through the good and bad, who encourage and challenge us to be the-best-version-of-ourselves.
2. Jesus made it a habit to go out of his way to engage people of the fringe of society.
I think I do this because I make friends with anyone and everyone.
The Gospels are an invitation to explore life. What are the possibilities that might come about if we open ourselves to more fully embrace the Gospel? Maybe we can extend LENT and study those following. I'm sure the Bible app has a "plan" for that.
POINT TO PONDER:
Every person is as important and valuable as the person you consider most important and valuable.
VERSE TO LIVE: "Give Justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy." PSALM 82:3-4
QUESTION TO CONSIDER:
What is God saying to you through this teach today?
Who are your twelve?
PRAYER: Jesus open my eyes so I can see every person I encounter each day as you see them.
Which reminds me of this song:
I mentioned to Ms. Sandra Mistretta the other day on Facebook how verses often times have to be song b/c she's written songs with the exact words in them...so here you go. Thanks Brandon Heath.
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