October 30: Jesus is Amazed!
Matthew 8:18-22
Amplified Bible (AMP)
18 Now Jesus, when He saw the great throngs around Him, gave orders to cross to the other side [of the lake].
19 And a scribe came up and said to Him, Master, I will accompany You wherever You go.
20 And Jesus replied to him, Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have lodging places, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.
21 Another of the disciples said to Him, Lord, let me first go and bury [care for till death] my father.
22 But Jesus said to him, Follow Me, and leave the dead [in sin] to bury their own dead.
Matthew 8:18-22
The Message (MSG)
Your Business Is Life, Not Death
18-19 When Jesus saw that a curious crowd was growing by the minute, he told his disciples to get him out of there to the other side of the lake. As they left, a religion scholar asked if he could go along. “I’ll go with you, wherever,” he said.
20 Jesus was curt: “Are you ready to rough it? We’re not staying in the best inns, you know.”
21 Another follower said, “Master, excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have my father’s funeral to take care of.”
22 Jesus refused. “First things first. Your business is life, not death. Follow me. Pursue life.”
I must stop making excuses! God has given me gifts, and they're not only to be used inside the church walls.What are your gifts? Are you using them to further the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are you sitting on a church pew holding tightly to your gifts? Maybe you are waiting until the magic time when everything in your life is all worked out to spring forth with your amazing gifts. What excuses are you using?
It's time. It's time for you to go forward into ministry! People are dying without Jesus while you wait for the perfect time to begin your ministry.
Start somewhere. Anywhere. Lose your pride. Stumble. fall. Make mistakes. It's okay. Everyone makes mistakes as they pursue their God given dreams. You will be incredibly blessed and fulfilled as you journey with Jesus!
Mark 6:1-6
Amplified Bible (AMP)
6 Jesus went away from there and came to His [own] country and hometown [Nazareth], and His disciples followed [with] Him.
2 And on the Sabbath He began to teach in the synagogue; and many who listened to Him were utterly astonished, saying, Where did this Man acquire all this? What is the wisdom [the broad and full intelligence which has been] given to Him? What mighty works and exhibitions of power are wrought by His hands!
3 Is not this the Carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not His sisters here among us? And they took offense at Him and were hurt [that is, they disapproved of Him, and it hindered them from acknowledging His authority] and they were caused to stumble and fall.
4 But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor (deference, reverence) except in his [own] country and among [his] relatives and in his [own] house.
5 And He was not able to do even one work of power there, except that He laid His hands on a few sickly people [and] cured them.
6 And He marveled because of their unbelief (their lack of faith in Him). And He went about among the surrounding villages and continued teaching.
Mark 6:1-6
The Message (MSG)
Just a Carpenter
6 1-2 He left there and returned to his hometown. His disciples came along. On the Sabbath, he gave a lecture in the meeting place. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. “We had no idea he was this good!” they said. “How did he get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?”
3 But in the next breath they were cutting him down: “He’s just a carpenter—Mary’s boy. We’ve known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?” They tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further.
4-6 Jesus told them, “A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child.” Jesus wasn’t able to do much of anything there—he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that’s all. He couldn’t get over their stubbornness. He left and made a circuit of the other villages, teaching.
Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith! So many times, I have left Jesus' presence still sick and still broken. Because of my unbelief. "Jesus, I come to You today with much on my mind. I woke up thinking about excuses. I'm frustrated. About excuses and unbelief. But I can't change others; only You have that power. Please give me strength in my own weakness. I have to stop making excuses as well. I have to believe! Forgive my unbelief. You love each one of us so much. You want the very best for us. You are so excited about us joining You and living with You forever in heaven! It hurts, God. To see so many who make excuses and dont believe. Help us all, O God! I worship You. I give You honor and glory. In Your precious name I pray, AMEN."
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