It is Time to Get Up!

Patterns in scripture are important. Here is one that I came across in Matthew 9.

The chapter begins with Jesus healing a paralyzed man. During this event, the phrase “get up” is used twice (verses 5 and 6) and the story ends by stating, “The man got up and went home” (verse 7).

Next, Jesus sees Matthew the tax collector and says, “Follow me”. We are told that “Matthew got up and followed him” (verse 9).

Later, a man comes to Jesus because his little girl is sick. Immediately, “Jesus got up and went with him” (verse 19). By the time Jesus arrived at the man’s house, the little girl was dead, but Jesus went in, took the girl by the hand and “she got up” (verse 25).

I do not think that it is a coincidence that the phrase “get up” or “got up” is six times in twenty-five verses. I believe this pattern is there to remind us that faith is not just about what you believe or think, it is about what you do. Faith is an action.

The chapter concludes with Jesus saying, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (verse 38). In other words, the problem is not the field. The field is ready. The problem is the lack of harvesters. Jesus’ point is that someone needs to get up and go. The next chapter starts with Jesus sending his disciples out to share the good news (Matthew 10:1-42).

It is easy to feel like we have done something because we have talked about it, but that is only half of the story. We must go! We must live and share the good news. We must get up!

“Go 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 I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19).

Comments

The Art of Noticing.... Seeing what we need to see and what we miss when we don't

What we focus on in life matters. Here are some scriptural reminders that will help us see correctly. https://youtu.be/Rn76tV0ZH8s

Consider This.... Which Way Are You Leaning?

When Ben Patterson agreed to join three friends climbing Mount Lyell, the highest point in Yosemite National Park, he did not realize what he was signing up for. Early in the day, it became clear that he was completely unprepared for the task. In an effort to keep up with his more experienced friends, Ben took a shortcut. It did not occur to him that there might be a reason the others had not selected this route, but he soon found out why. Ben became stuck on the glacier. He could not move up, down or sideways and one wrong move would send him sliding down a forty-five-degree slope to the valley floor miles below. That is when one of his friends came to the rescue. His buddy leaned over the edge and carved some footholds in the ice. He told Ben to step to the first foothold and immediately swing his other foot to the second, then his buddy would pull him to safety. Lastly, his friend gave him one more piece of advice....

Consider This: The Biggest Problem Is Not Out There!

In a time when everyone has a vocal opinion on everything and judgment is everywhere, maybe we need to reconsider the words of Jesus. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:3-5). Here are two observations to consider. First, when we look for what others are doing wrong, we are starting in the wrong place. “Take the log out of your eye” is the first move. Start with yourself! It is easy to judge others and make excuses for ourselves. Yet, that is completely backwards! If we are honest, we never get past making ourselves better. There is always more to do. This, then, leaves very little time to point out...

Consider this

Subscribe

Get new posts by email:

Search This Blog