“Your cleansed and grateful life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.” Verse 4
When something good happens, I want to tell the world. When Jesus works in my life I’m tempted to tell everyone. “See what he’s doing for me, in my life!” What would it be like to be still; be quiet? Would people notice? Do people notice? Is there anything different that people see in me today compared to 1 year ago?
Matthew 8 shows me that Jesus is getting to the heart of what’s going in in people. He sees what’s beneath each action.
· The Leper is asked to be still, allow his life to bear witness.
· The Centurion is open, what you see is what you get. “Jesus you give the order and it will be done!”
· Peter’s mother in law is sick, she’s healed and she serves. No more drama that that.
· A religion scholar wants to follow but Jesus cuts to the heart of what’s beneath; Are you ready to rough it?”
· Another guy wants to follow but Jesus digs to find out what his priorities are. “The dead or the living?”
· The disciples are in the boat, a storm comes up and they react in terror. Jesus challenges their fears. “Why are you such cowards and faint hearts?”
A good friend of mine sent me an email yesterday. He’d been doing some prayer and fasting and my name came to the top of his list. He passed on Isaiah 55:8 to me.
“For my thoughts(A) are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”(B)declares the Lord.
My friend encouraged me to make room for more of what Jesus wants me to carry and less of what I’m loaded down with. To allow Jesus to go beneath my fears and for me to be released into his perfect care.
Amen
Cal Funk
Cal who is married to Joan, is the Director of Cell Ministry at Seeds Church and a part of the Leadership Team.