MARCH 12 SCRIPTURE - THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS GENTLENESS
Matthew 12:15-21
Kevin Bonesteel will be preaching on 3/12/16. As Kevin is not always able to make posts to the blog, you are encouraged to comment below with insights / reflections on this passage.
As we have worked our way through the various fruit of the Spirit, it may have occurred to you that not only are they something we are given by God's grace, they are also a list of God's attributes. God is loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful and gentle. We are reminded of that in Kevin's preaching text this week from Matthew 12:15-21. As the Spirit produces His fruit in us, we are conformed to the image of God so that we might bear fruit for the Kingdom.
ReplyDeleteHow do you react when your good deeds are seen as bad deeds - or when the people you're trying to help spit on your efforts? Over the next few days we will look more closely at how Matthew 12:15-21 reveals Jesus' reaction in this type of situation -- but in the meantime, think about the question: how do you react?
ReplyDeleteAs was mentioned yesterday, this week's Scripture will show us Christ's example of how to react when dealing with difficult individuals. Matthew 12:15 actually places us right in the middle of an interaction that Jesus had with the Pharisees. Let's explore what He was reacting to:
ReplyDeleteJesus and His disciples had just been accused of breaking the Sabbath because they were picking heads of grain in the fields. Jesus quickly corrected the Pharisees and reminded them (once again) that God desires mercy, not sacrifice. He then went into the synagogue to worship, where He met a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees again tried to ensnare Jesus by asking Him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" In typical Jesus fashion, He answered their question with a question ("Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.") The Pharisees' response? Crickets. Jesus proceeded to heal the man, and the Pharisees went away to meet and discuss how they might destroy Him.
Yesterday we reviewed the background of Matthew 12:15-21. Today, we revert to our initial question: How do you react when your good deeds are seen as bad deeds - or when the people you're trying to help spit on your efforts? Asked another way: How would you feel if you were in Jesus' shoes (sandals) after the above-noted encounters with the Pharisees? How would you feel if you had to defend yourself (twice) against the religious leaders' attacks (and not for the first time, either)? What would your reaction be if you were trying to show God's love while teaching His will, and people responded by plotting against you?
ReplyDeleteI can tell you, I would be very frustrated and tired - I might even lose it a little bit and put the Pharisees in their place (it isn't like Jesus didn't have the authority or power to do so). But Matthew 12:15-21 shows me how I should respond - just as Jesus did - with gentleness.
Good Sabbath! As we gather together for worship today I'm praying that God speaks to each of us in a still, small voice, gently leading us to know Him more. See you at church!
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