Daily Bible Reading:

Luke 8: 16-18

"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefor consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him."

Luke 6:46-49

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

Mark 4:30-32

"What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet, when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds if the air can perch in its shade."

Matthew 13:44-46

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."

 

Jesus and 'No Win' Situations
David Chadwell

"But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon!' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds" (Matthew 11:16-19).

Often God is in a "no win" situation. We simply do not look at situations as does God. Compare John the baptizer's ministry [through which God worked] and Jesus' ministry [through which God also worked].

Without question God sent John for a specific ministry. He was born by God's special act (Luke 1:5-20). The Lord's hand was with him (Luke 1:66). As soon as he was old enough, he lived in the desert (Luke 1:80). He wore strange clothing and ate a strange diet (Mark 1:6). He did not go into the towns with his message. People came into the wilderness to hear him (Matthew 3:5,6).

Without question God sent Jesus for a specific ministry. He, too, was born by God's special act (Matthew 1:18-25). The Lord's hand also was with him (Luke 2:40). However, Jesus dressed as common people dressed. He lived in towns. His diet was common people's diet. He took his message to the people.

Most of the religious leadership refused to take John or his message seriously. He was weird! He was a recluse! God would not work through a weird man like John!

Most of the religious leadership refused to take Jesus or his message seriously. He was common! He lacked proper academic credentials! He associated with the wrong kind of people! Obviously God would not work through someone who ate instead of fasting and drank like Jesus drank! Besides, Jesus associated with the wrong kind of people!

Jesus' observation: "You people are incredibly fickle! No matter what God did to inform you, you say He was wrong! Though God sent both John and me to achieve the same purpose, you say we are from the devil--John because he is weird; me because I am common. The time will come when God's wisdom is recognized in both of us! The time will come when you will recognize people are the fickle ones--not God!"

The irony: people supposedly belonging to God could not see God at work in John or Jesus. God's ways are not our ways. His values are not our values. His purposes are not our purposes. His priorities are not our priorities.

Our goal: (1) never force God to conform to our expectations [that is idolatry]; (2) always let God form our expectations [that is revelation in Jesus].

Questions: Do your expectations keep you from seeing God at work? Are God's ways, values, purposes, and priorities obvious in your daily life because it is dedicated to reflecting who God is and what God is about? Do you declare God's work a work of the devil because your expectations are more important than God's priorities?

Source: Chadwell, David. 'Jesus and No Win Situations. http://www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/chadwell/2004/b040404.htm

 

 

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