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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion January 23, 2005 He’s No Phony |
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Frontline Devotion for Sunday, January 23, 2005 By Brenda
Kessler
Matthew
4: 18-22
In today’s scripture reading Jesus is calling his first disciples. In
this reading I am struck yet again by the direct way Jesus calls those first
disciples. There are no “preliminaries.” He does not ask,
“How’s the family,” or, “How are you feeling,” or “Would you
consider a job change,” or even, “How’s the fishing?” He says
simply, “Come. Follow me.”
As I reflected on this passage I thought of a book we studied many years ago in
a women’s group at church. It was called “Games People Play.”
Basically it was a book about head (emotional) games people play to manipulate
other people to advance their own agendas or meet their own needs. I think of
people who play such head games as “phonies.”
Are you attracted to phonies? I am not. For me they are usually easy
to identify. Words come easily for them. They often beat around the bush
so much that I end up asking myself, “What did they really say?” They do not
get directly to the point as Jesus did.
I am much more attracted to the what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of person.
Jesus is a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of person. Jesus gets directly to
the point with us as he did with those first disciples.
Jesus started getting directly to the point with us when he called us to follow
him at the time of our baptisms. Many of us were baptized as infants.
When we were baptized Jesus did not say to our parents, “Bring this child to
the services of God’s house when it is convenient for you,” or “Teach
her/him the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments if you have the
time,” or “Place in her/his hands the Holy Scriptures if you like what you
read,” or “Provide for her/his instruction in the Christian faith if you
like the preachers or the teachers.” Jesus got directly to the point.
At the time of our baptisms He said, “…faithfully bring her/him to the
services of God’s house, and teach her/him the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and
the Ten Commandments.” He said, “Place in her/his hands the Holy
Scriptures and provide for her/his instruction in the Christian faith.”
Jesus gets directly to the point with us on a daily basis even today. He
does not say to us, “If you have the time, follow me,” or “After you’ve
made as much money as you want to make, follow me,” or “If you have nothing
else to do, follow me,” or “If you feel okay today, follow me.” He
simply says, “Come. Follow me.” Jesus is no phony!
Prayer: Thank you, God, for Jesus who knew what we needed when he called
his first followers and who knows what we need even today. Forgive us when
we get distracted and fail to recognize the command to follow Him. Help us
to live lives that will bear witness to all those we touch that it is a joy and
a blessing to follow Jesus. 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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