Today’s scripture: Matthew 13:47-53 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Robert Ferguson):
I often find myself wrapped up in these ridiculous theological debates with a particular Facebook friend. I try and I try to ignore his mean-spirited posts about organized religion. I suppose at the end of the day I could “unfriend” him. But there is something inside of me that refuses to let him go. I recognize that he is troubled about a great many things in his life, and his lashing out at religion and even at Christ seems, to me at least, to be a cry for help. So I engage him in hope that our very public back and forth might encourage someone who may be watching from a distance. However at some point in our heated discussion, I always find myself thinking whether my friend disagrees with the Lord of scripture or agrees with the Lord of warm fuzziness. He can claim intellectual atheism and plead agnosticism, but in the end the Lord will decide all of our fates and destinies.
It isn’t for me to judge where people are along their spiritual journeys. My only concern in life should be my own location on my spiritual journey. And I must continue to tell the world about this Christ.
Our reading for today reminds me of the last few days of my father’s life. He and I had never been much for deep spiritual conversations. To be honest, for much of my life we hadn’t talked deeply about anything. The love was there, but we never had much in common, especially religion. My father never cared much for church folks; and if he had a faith, he sure wasn’t fond of talking about such an emotional issue. However, as he lay in that hospital bed during what would be the last week of his life, I had to ask him . . . . Let me change that: I was compelled to ask him, “Dad, are you saved?” Even there on his death bed he was uncomfortable talking about such things. He hemmed and hawed around and made his usual excuses. “I’ve never been comfortable in church like you, son,” he said to me. At that point I tried to minister to him. I can’t say that the conversation was anything more than awkward. But by God’s grace we were able to talk about his faith and the very beginnings of his spiritual journey. A few days later my father transitioned, and my aunt relayed to me that before he died she had heard him call out for Jesus. Mission impossible, completed by God’s grace!
Are you surprised? There is nothing to be surprised about. It’s all in a day’s work for our Lord and Savior.
“Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Children, have you caught anything to eat?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ So he said to them, ‘Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something’ . . . . they dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish” (John 21:6).
That’s a lot of fish! There are a lot of people to catch!
Thought for the day: God has given us the best net ever: Christ. Now, all we have to do is cast him, set him free, and let the Lord be who he is: the Lord of heaven and earth!
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.