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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Saturday, August 16, 2003 "Leaners or Lifters" |
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Frontline Devotion for Saturday, August 16, 2003 by Brenda Kessler
Text for the day: Matthew 10:1-25
The text for today centers on Jesus sending out the twelve disciples. He gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. As you read the passage you will see that Jesus sent them out with specific and challenging instructions.
When I first read the passage I thought, “As a disciple of the Lord Jesus in the year 2003, how does this apply to my life?” I wanted to back away; I wanted to ask somebody else to take the devotion for today; I wanted to say, “I’m not up to the challenge.”
But – after meditating and reflecting, I found myself thinking, “The easy thing to do is walk away from the challenge. You have to start somewhere, Brenda.”
You have to start somewhere. WE have to start somewhere. As Jesus’ disciples we have to start somewhere. That’s what Jesus asks us to do in the year 2003. Meet the challenge and start somewhere to bring His message of love to His people.
Many years ago Ella Wheeler Wilcox wrote a poem entitled “Two Kinds of People.” Her words have helped me to get started. Perhaps they will help you to get started, too.
TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE
There are two kinds of people on earth today,
Just two kinds of people, no more, I say,
Not the good and the bad, for ‘tis well understood
The good are half bad and the bad are half good.
Not the happy and sad, for the swift flying years
Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears.
Not the rich and the poor, for to count a man’s wealth
You must first know the state of his conscience and health.
Not the humble and proud, for in life’s busy span
Who puts on vain airs is not counted a man.
No! The two kinds of people on earth I mean
Are the people who lift, and the people who lean.
Wherever you go you will find the world’s masses
Are ever divided in just these two classes.
And, strangely enough, you will find, too, I wean,
There is only one lifter to twenty who lean.
This one question I ask. Are you easing the load
Of overtaxed lifters who toil down the road?
Or are you a leaner who lets others bear
Your portion of worry and labor and care?
Let us get started as Jesus’ disciples in the year 2003! Let us be lifters! “Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore his sacred name!”
Prayer: Thank you, God, for calling us to be your disciples just as you called the twelve. Forgive us when we want to run away from the challenge. Help us to lift people up with Your message of hope, with Your message of joy, with Your message of grace, with Your message of love. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry. Pastor Dave welcomes and appreciates feedback. pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org.