Scripture Nugget 1.14.2017
Scripture Read – Matthew 3-4
Nugget 3:2, 8, 11, 17, 23 – 25
“‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ … ‘Bear fruit worthy of repentance.’ … ‘I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’ … And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ … Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.”
Devotional thought: Jesus! Life with Jesus is transforming! Jesus calls us to participate in this transformational life, not only for ourselves but also to be inviters, encouragers, teachers and healers. The Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Let us never forget, that Jesus is with us and has shown us what to do, how to live, how to be in ministry with him to others. I have developed a formula for ministry; it is, 25 + 2 + 1 = 28. Look up Matthew 25:35-46, Acts 2:41-47, Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus does in chapters 3 & 4 what he commands in these scriptures above. The result? Many, hundreds, thousands draw near, hear the good news of the kingdom of God , and are transformed. Simply the become disciples learning and sharing the Good News of the Kingdom of God. I recently had lunch with a dear friend, Brother in Christ, and servant of the Lord. He told me he knew the secret of doubling the size of any church in a short time. He said if every family would invite another family to church every week attendance would double and keep doubling on doubling if the invitations continued. Genius! If we, today, would not only invite our “cleaned up” friends but also all, our neighbors who are “sick, those who are afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics”; those not quite cleaned up yet; and introduced them to Jesus and they went and found their friends in the same condition that we are all in, if we are totally honest with ourselves. The result would be great crowds, following Jesus because of the transforming life that results in participating in life with Him.