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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion January 12, 2005 BLESSED |
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Frontline Devotion for Wednesday, January 12, 2005 By
Penny Risen
Matthew
9:35 – 10:16
As you’re sitting in church Sunday, look around you: There are abundant blessings to be thankful for! Perhaps your congregation is blessed with a sanctuary brilliant with colorful stained glass windows that depict inspiring Scriptural scenes. Maybe your pastor is a terrific preacher who brings you great thoughts that swirl in your brain as you listen. Or your choirs and church musicians praise and share God’s message in sweet and stirring phrases.
And just maybe, you’ll look down at your Sunday bulletin and give thanks for
the folks who took time from their week to fold it for you and all who worship.
Some blessings are loud while others are quiet --- and equally important.
Beginning His ministry on earth, Jesus was blessed with faithful servants, some
who He called by name as disciples in the Gospels and others whose names we’ll
never know. Quick: Name an important message Thaddaeus preached, or a miracle
Bartholomew performed. Their names don’t jump to mind like Peter or John but,
yup, Jesus selected them for a reason.
“Jesus called twelve of His followers and sent them into the
ripe fields. He gave them power to kick out the evil spirits and
to tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives. This is the list of
the twelve He sent: Simon (they called him Peter, or "Rock");
Andrew, his brother; James, Zebedee's son; John, his brother;
Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew, the tax collector;
James, son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon, the Canaanite;
Judas Iscariot (who later turned on him). Jesus sent His twelve harvest
hands out with this charge … Stay alert. This is hazardous work
I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through
a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as
a snake, inoffensive as a
dove.” Matthew 10, The Message Bible
Were they all special in that circle close to the Savior, and up to the job? Jesus thought so, putting His trust in them and blessing them as advocates, teachers and healers. His ministry needed and called many hands --- then and now.
But readers of the New Testament weren’t given much chance to get to know all of the twelve or be inspired by them. Over the centuries Bible scholars had to pick and choose what details made it into print, what stories were passed down. Was Thaddaeus especially good at sharing the Good News quietly with outcasts and the elderly? Would Bartholomew be one of the last disciples to shut his eyes at night as they traveled, making sure that his master, Jesus, was resting comfortably? Did Judas have some good qualities too? I like to think so.
Their blessings and many acts as servants of Our Lord are obscured by time, but
we still can relate to them. We also can thank them for being there for Jesus,
when He and the world of wounded souls needed them.
Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, I want to be a blessing to You and to my
spiritual family of believers. Help me to find my gift, whether it’s great or
small, powerful or quiet, to serve You. Your will be done. 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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