Pageviews past week

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Hearing God's Word

Prayer Practice 

Spoken Prayer – Out loud, pray for God to speak to you through your reading. Praise God for giving us His word. Ask the Spirit to help you read with faith, and to live out what you hear from God through the passage.

DAILY READING

Luke 8:1-21

REFLECTION

People Who Need People

by Judy Webb

The Twelve were with him...Don't you love those words?  For three years, The Twelve were with him.  The Twelve...such an important number, for Jesus and for us.  And for us too.

Luke 8:1 (NIV) 
"After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him," 

Jesus traveled with His own small group. He taught them, He cared for them, and He loved them. They shared meals, hardships, laughter, and tears. There were times of conflict and pain and even deception resulting in heartbreak (Peter's denial, Judas' betrayal).

The Twelve walked some difficult roads with Jesus. They stumbled at times, turned their backs when the going got too rough, but always recognized Jesus as someone special. It took a long time for them to see Him for the man He really was, but if not for The Twelve, the Good News might not still be spreading.

There is an African Proverb, “it takes a village,” which confirms the importance of having others involved in our lives. Jesus appointed and then did life with these men. They grew together, loved, and served together as they surrounded Jesus. Why did Jesus search out these men? Did he really need them? Some might say probably not, but because he was human, just maybe he did need them at his side. Jesus taught and trained them and then sent the Holy Spirit to help them after He was gone. If not for this band of men, would we be in fellowship with Jesus? Would we read Scripture and enjoy the benefit of the Good News?

Jesus’ tribe witnessed the miracles he performed. They heard the parables he taught, and they kept these lessons close to their hearts and in their minds. Later, some of them recorded the things Jesus said and did and provided testimony to the salvation Jesus offers for all.

Jesus, help us to see the value of having a group of people to share our lives with. Show us how important, especially now, it is to have a band of special folks we can talk to and pray for and learn from. Do you have a small group, a special contingent of individuals who care for you? 


2 comments:

Robin Lorms said...

Judy
I am a big fan of women in leadership roles both in Ministry
and in the marketplace. His choice of selecting his “Bankers” were women who were filled with evil spirits and disease. There were several of them. One from Herod’s household of servants. Isn’t it amazing who God selects to come to faith? So often it is those who are not self sufficient, of lower status. Thank God for including me in HIS Kingdom.
Robin Lorms

Judy Webb said...

Robin,
Your comments are always appreciated and your insight valuable as well. Thanks for being a reader and a faithful fellow follower of Jesus. --Judy