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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion January 10, 2005 Get Some Help |
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FRONTLINE DEVOTION FOR Monday January 10, 2005 By Fritz
Foltz
Matthew
4:18-22
Most often when we read about Jesus calling his disciples we hear how they left
everything, their livelihood and family, to follow him. That is all well and
good. It serves as a great model for us who live such half-hearted Christian
lives.
At the same time, we should sometimes focus on other side. The first thing Jesus
did when he started his ministry was to get some people to help him. He realized
the task was more than one person could handle and that it extended beyond one
person’s lifetime. Getting help was essential.
Scholars tell us the way he did it was very significant. A rabbi in those days
waited for people to come and ask if they could be become his disciples. If the
rabbi approved, he would teach them what he knew until they were capable of
going out on their own, gathering their own followers. Until that time, the
disciples were expected provide for all the rabbi’s needs. That involved
begging for food and other necessities of life. The rabbi was truly the master,
and the disciples servants and even slaves. Many rabbis were known to keep their
disciples as long as possible, something like many PhD. mentors do with their
graduate assistants. People then and now do not like to release their slaves.
Jesus did it differently. He went out, found people, and asked them to follow
him. True, they often did not fully understand what he was about, but they did
help him during his ministry and carried on after he was killed.
And the Gospels make clear Jesus believed he, as master was to serve his
followers rather than the other way around. He says this clearly in the first
three gospels, and illustrates it brilliantly by washing their feet in the
fourth.
Jesus provides an important model for us. Christianity is not about each
individual given his or her own task. For sure that task is not getting myself
into heaven, whatever that means.
Christianity is about a task that is bigger than any of us and enduring
beyond any of our lifetimes. None of us can do it alone. We should all seek
help. We achieve the kingdom together, as a community. Paul describes the
division of labor that is necessary if the Church is to be the Body of Christ.
Any thought reveals this involves youth ministry, so that others can carry on
when we are gone.
So don’t hesitate to get help. It is a good practice in the Church, but also
everywhere else in society as well.
Let us pray: Father, give me the wisdom to seek help whenever I need it, and
especially when I work in the Church. Help to appreciate the work of each part
of the Body of Christ and especially fill me with love and understanding that
unity and co-operation become my goal. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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