(The Story of Jesus)
Have you ever worked hard at trying to be and do all that God wanted you to be and do…and it was accomplished, to the crowd’s delight, helping others, and to the glory of God, from your heart? Then, before the “applause of God” and others dies down, the critics run in to give you feed back on every level of the accomplishment while slaying you with unkind, nonconstructive words meant to discredit your very being as a person? Frustrating, isn’t it? Should it stop us? Nope. And we are in good company. It happened to Jesus, too! All the time, at every turn in his ministry!
“Right after that, as the blind men were leaving, a man who had been struck speechless by an evil spirit was brought to Jesus. As soon as Jesus threw the evil tormenting spirit out, the man talked away just as if he’d been talking all his life. The people were up on their feet applauding: ‘There’s never been anything like this in Israel!'”
Matthew 9, Msg
“The Pharisees were left sputtering, ‘Hocus pocus. It’s nothing but hocus pocus. He’s probably made a pact with the Devil.'”
Matthew 9, Msg
JESUS DOES NOT QUIT!
“Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked over the crowds, his heart broke.” Matthew 9, Msg
JESUS UNDERSTANDS EVERYTHING WE GO THROUGH…HE WENT THROUGH IT, TOO! REMEMBER THAT!
So, what keeps us focused? Praying for hearts that break over those things that break the heart of Jesus. From this centered point of being, we will love and serve Jesus well and in turn love and serve others with His leading and by His power flowing through us. We can’t quit! We won’t quit. We might change jobs, locations, circumstances, but we won’t quit believing or being a help to others find Him and serve Him, too.
Dear Heavenly Father, We live puny lives when we let others ramrod our thinking and behaving in ways that are not in your plan for us. Help us to listen to You, follow You, believe and see with our hearts, our broken hearts for lost people, even when our eyes do not see. Keep us focused on the bigger picture…your plan for our lives…that is so personal, a perfect fit and light enough to carry every day. Thank you, Lord for this lesson in Your Word! Thank you for this encouragement! That is enough “applause” for me, just knowing how much you love us. In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 