a METHOD, a MESSAGE and a case of ANXIETY.

I have class from 8:00 until 5:00 pm on Tuesdays. That's a long and intense day. But this morning, I was awoken at 5:32 am, wide awake and feeling prompted by the Father to start my quiet time. 


(side note: last night before going to bed, I felt like I was supposed to start my quiet time at 5:30 instead of 6:00 this morning, but set my alarm for 5:45. I was awoken at 5:30. LISTEN to the spirit leading you when He does. He won't relent.)


This morning my devotional brought me to Matthew 13, where the disciples inquire as to why Jesus speaks in "parables". I can understand why the disciples were wondering about this, because frankly, some of the parables (ok so MANY of the parables) are seriously confusing. 


The disciples were concerning about the METHOD, Jesus however, was concerned about the MESSAGE. Jesus made himself aware of the climate of the people, "  For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them" (verse 15)


He realized that because of what the people had been through, and the culture they had been living in (of religious, stuck up Pharisees)  that these people were unable to hear or see the truth of freedom being presented to them. Even their hearts were too hardened and calloused to feel. 


Jesus desired that the freedom He had been called to bring, be available & accessible to everyone. NOT just those who could understand it in the way the disciples could. " The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them." (verse 11)


"He replied, "You've been given insight into God's kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn't been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That's why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they're blue in the face and not get it." 
(13:11-15. THE MESSAGE version)


I challenge you to consider the following: 
are you more concerned with the method or the message ?


Do you get sweaty palms and anxiety when your church attempts a new approach?
Do changes in worship style and a lack-of-a-3-piece-suit on your pastor cause raised blood pressure and anger?


Do the words "different" or "change" cause the hairs on the back of your neck to raise?


If you've answered yes to any or all of  these, then you could be missing out on being apart of a precious aspect of the heart of the Lord. He desires that ALL could be set free. But in order that all can know the freedom that is found in Christ, we have to be willing to meet people where they are. JUST as Christ did. 


What works for some, doesn't work for all.
What worked in 1987, does not work today.
What works in Southern California, doesn't necessarily work in Wisconsin. 


As the world evolves, so should our  way that we reach & love the world. 




I challenge you today to examine your own heart and life to answer the question: am I more focused on the method or the message?


I challenge you to ask the Lord to help you be in tune to the climate and the-state-of-heart-and-mind that those around you are in.


I challenge you to ask the Lord to reveal to you innovative (which doesn't necessarily mean complicated) ways to share His love & freedom to those around you.


I challenge you to pray that the ministy you are involved in, would always be in tune to the climate of the times, and focused on the freedom that has come for all people. 






"otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and i would heal them" 
(matthew 13:15)




"I am God. I have called you to live right and well.
   I have taken responsibility for you, kept you safe.
I have set you among my people to bind them to me,
   and provided you as a lighthouse to the nations,
To make a start at bringing people into the open, into light:
   opening blind eyes,
   releasing prisoners from dungeons,
   emptying the dark prisons."
[Isaiah 42:6]


How will you love
 and wash the feet of those around you today?