I Tell You ...
Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:13-16
As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved … let the message of Christ dwell among you richly.
Colossians 3:12-16
Many voices clamor for our attention. The voices of our parents or other family members, our friends, our own desires, TV personalities, sports heroes, politicians—we might hear all of these in a typical day.
How often in a day do we also listen to Jesus?
Jesus has a lot to say to us: “You are the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” He also says, “I have not come to abolish [the Law] but to fulfill [it]” (Matt. 5:17). And “anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment” (5:22); “anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (5:28); “love your enemies” (5:44); “you cannot serve both God and Money” (Matthew 6:24); “do not worry … but seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness” (6:31-33); “love one another” (John 13:34)—and so much more.
Jesus promised to be with us always, to the end of this age (Matthew 28:20). That surely means he is with us now at work, at school, at home, at our favorite restaurant—wherever we are! What would he say about the evening news we’re watching, about the mess at the office, about what your group of friends wants to do this Friday?
Carry on a continual conversation with Jesus today. Listen for all the things he wants to say.
Jesus, I’d like to have a conversation with you today. Tell me how you see things, what you would do here, what you would say there. Help me to be a listening disciple. Amen.
About the author — Harvey Stob
Rev. Harvey Stob and his wife, Audrey, served as missionaries in Argentina for eleven years. They then served churches in Cincinnati, Ohio; Ridgewood, New Jersey; and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Harvey retired from full-time pastoral work in 2009. He and Audrey have three children and seven grandchildren.
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