Back to Matthew...Mt. 20:17-28...The prideful Christians and the composed Christ


Sometimes the snow is just right to coat every needle of the pine tree.  This morning it was aided by the fog off the lakes frosting everything.  There was just enough snow while the kids and grands were here to sled, tube, snowshoe and ice skate.  This week more snow is coming so I hope to post some snowshoeing pictures soon.

Another year is upon us and a survey of last year via this blog shows that I posted 48 times.  My rate has been in the 40's for the last 5 years.  When I started it was much higher with some years topping over 300!  I think I have settled into this spot and will probably continue at this pace unless something new comes up.  I can't seem to get into the video or podcast lane.  I don't think I am talented enough in those areas so I will stick with the printed word to express what I am thinking and doing.  A short video or a static picture here or there will help at times with visualizing what I am actually seeing.

It was like coming home to visit an old friend this Sunday.  After my yearly vacation, walking through the season of Advent and a Sunday to introduce the new mission/purpose statement, we arrived back in the Gospel of Matthew to pick up where we left off.  Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem where He will suffer, be betrayed and condemned to death.  His death will be a killing by crucifixion.  Jesus always end this series of coming events that He will rise again on the 3rd day.  We picked back up in Matthew 20 and verse 17.  I was thankful that we had some new people to join us this Sunday and we could give away a few more Matthew scriptural journals.

After the 3rd time of telling His disciples the coming itinerary, Jesus is asked a question that seems out of place.  He will suffer greatly and be killed and then comes the question not about Him but others preferred place in the coming kingdom.  They seemed to be concerned about where "they" would sit than what Jesus had just said was going to happen to Him.  It was amazing to observe the composure of Christ in the face of the pride emerging from those who were following Him.

Pride (haughty eyes) is one of the seven sins that God hates and the first one listed in Proverbs 6:16.  We see it in full display in this passage and Jesus uses the moment to teach another lesson to His disciples.  Keeping composure is so important.  Composure sets the atmosphere for ears to hear, minds to understand and hands to act.  This is a great lesson of life.  The truth needs to be addressed and the composure of the sharer of it will determine how far it goes.

Jesus does what He has done before.  He puts the two systems side by side, the way the world does it and the way His disciples are to be.  Surrender is needed to do this.  Surrender is always a requirement to follow in Jesus' steps.  We need more surrender from the ranks of those who call themselves Christians.  We tend to side with the world even within the confines of the church body.  May Jesus' words and composure pierce through so that we only see His way of living for the glory of God.

Adam (link of sermon below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9grMv2mR1g&t=4191s 

A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 39th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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