Matthew

All posts tagged Matthew

When, Not If

Posted by Jim Thornber on January 10, 2011
Posted in: Christian Spirituality, Religion. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 8 Comments

Running from the Father

After I got out of Bible College, I rented a room in a large house in Westlake Village, CA.  One of the men who lived in the house was Pat. Pat was one of those people who seemed to be forever on the search for a significant life but never found what he wanted. He moved from one place to another, one job to another, one set of friends to another, but never settled on anything. One day Pat, who knew I was a minister, was telling me he was searching for the Father. He went on and on about this search, telling me he was reading some of the Chinese mystics, hoping they would give him the wisdom he needed to find the Father, or whatever he thought the Father should be. After listening to him for a while, I finally said, “Pat, I don’t really think you’re looking for the Father.”

“Yes, I am,” he replied.

“No, you’re not,” I said.

“Yes, I really am,” Pat said.

“No, you’re really not,” I said. “And I’ll prove it.”

“How?” he asked.

I said, “The Father has instructed me to tell you I can lead you to Him.”

“No He didn’t,” Pat said in a hurry, and then he stopped short. It seemed I caught Pat in his own lie. You see, Pat didn’t really want to find the Father, because when he did it would mean he’d have to make different decisions. It would mean Pat would have to change his lifestyle and live for the honor of the Father he claimed he was searching for. Continue Reading

Compelled to Board the Boat

Posted by Jim Thornber on January 5, 2010
Posted in: Christian Spirituality, Religion, Writing. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side” — Matthew 14:22

This is a passage that many people have trouble with, because it tells us that God sometimes instigates hard times in our lives. It is important for us to be reconciled with this concept; because if we do not, we may find ourselves forever kicking against the goads (Acts 26:14).

Just after Jesus feeds the five thousand, the gospels of Matthew, Mark and John tell us that Jesus “made” the disciples get into the boat and go to the western shore of Galilee. This word “made” may also be translated “compel,” “necessitate” or even “force.”  It is a very strong word that leaves little doubt the disciples did not have a choice in the matter.

What we see in these passages is Jesus compelling the disciples into a boat He knew would take them into a storm, find them “straining at the oars” (Mark 6:48) and ultimately blown off their intended course. The disciples, intending to take a short boat ride across the northern tip of a lake that is merely four miles wide, soon find they were still in the middle of the lake (Mark 6:47) after rowing three or three and a half miles. They were in a storm and going nowhere fast. Fortunately, Jesus rescues them by walking across the lake.

At first, this sounds like a heartless thing for Jesus to do. Why would God send us to a place where He knows we will fight, strain and struggle, only to wind up further from our destination than when we started? Continue Reading

Scriptures That Bother Me — Matthew 25:14-30

Posted by Jim Thornber on March 27, 2009
Posted in: Christian Spirituality, Publishing, Spiritual Gifts, Writing. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 9 Comments

“Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.” — Mark Twain

On Being Afraid Of Not Trying

The Parable of the Talents — Matthew 25:14-30

Since I’m now of middle age and questionable wisdom, I’ve been spending some time wondering what I want to be when I grow up. I know that teaching Scripture is my true passion and my main gift from God. “What about writing?” you may ask. Writing has always been an avenue for me to teach Scripture, either verbally or through the printed or electronic media.

However, neither of those has ever been my primary source of financial income. I’ve always wanted to be on staff in a church where I could spend most of my time teaching. On the other hand, I’d also like travel to different churches and conferences and share my thoughts about God and His Word. Instead, with the exception of a brief six-month stint on a church staff, I’ve spent most of my working career in the building trades in one form or another. This brings me to the Parable of the Talents.

Continue Reading

Scriptures That Bother Me — Matthew 14:28-30

Posted by Jim Thornber on March 4, 2009
Posted in: Christian Spirituality, Religion. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 4 Comments

Laughing at Peter

“‘Lord, if it is you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said . . . But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!'” – Matthew 14:28-30

Last night a friend invited me to a men’s study at his church. I usually don’t go to men’s groups, but this man attends my Friday night group and I wanted to support him.

In the course of the evening, we began to talk about Peter. Someone labeled this preeminent Apostle of Christ “Peter the Water Walker,” and every time someone said it, it generated a laugh. The conversation then recounted all Peter’s failures: sinking in the waves; the desire to build shelters for Moses, Elijah and Jesus; denying Jesus during His trial; separating from the Gentiles and hanging out with the Jews. The consensus was unanimous – we don’t want to be like Peter.

The tone of this conversation began to bother me, for it is contemplating Peter’s failures that give me such comfort in my own walk with Christ. Yes, Peter did sink, but he also had the temerity to step out of the boat when his peers were too afraid to do so. True, Peter didn’t know what he was talking about when he suggested building shelters on the Mount of Transfiguration, but he was one of only three men invited to the event. Peter, like Judas, denied his Savior. But he also chose to hang out and take his lumps, only to find out that Jesus hadn’t given up on him. Yes, Peter made a mistake by separating from the Gentiles, but he listened to Paul and changed his ways.

Finally, at the end of his life, Peter’s dedication to Christ led to his own crucifixion by Emperor Nero. Before they crucified Peter, tradition tells us the Romans forced him to watch his wife crucified before him. His only words to his wife were, “Remember the Lord.” Peter’s last request was to be crucified upside down, feeling he was not worth to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord.

Knowing this about Peter gives me comfort because, in many ways, I’m like Peter. I, too, am prone to leap before I think, only to sink when I take my eyes off Jesus. I’m quite capable of getting my mouth in gear before my brain is engaged; of denying my Lord in so many ways by choosing my will over His; of making major social blunders. Jim, just like Peter, is still in the process of growing in the character of Christ. In the end, Peter finished his life well, and for all his initial mistakes, he lived in a manner that gave glory to God.

That’s why Peter gives me hope. For all my mistakes, blunders, stupid conversations, denials and social mishaps, I’m still capable of living and dying well. I told the men’s group that anyone who can delight in laughing at Peter simply has no comprehension of their own sin.

Nobody thought that was funny, but a number of men nodded in agreement.

I stopped pointing fingers at Peter long ago, for I realized that every time I pointed out Peter’s mistakes, I’m really pointing out my own. In the end, my hope is to be like Peter. I want to live my life in such a way that my enemies can convict me for following Jesus.

Scriptures That Bother Me — Matt. 14:13-21; 15:32-38

Posted by Jim Thornber on February 19, 2009
Posted in: Christian Spirituality. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 6 Comments

Jesus Feeds 9,000

“‘We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,’ they answered. Jesus replied, ‘Bring them here to me.'” Matthew 14:13-21; 15:32-38

Up until recently, I never had a need or an opportunity to apply these verses to my life. However, since I have been unemployed for a while, I am starting to read Scripture differently, because I am starting to doubt my own resources.

As I search, seek, and ask God about my next assignment, I cannot help but wonder about my skills and talents and why so many churches and businesses have no interest in employing me. I do not have an answer at this time, but it has driven me to look at Scripture in a different light lately.

Because my primary spiritual gift is teaching, I have spent years reading the Bible mostly for those things I could teach from the pulpit or in the Sunday school class. However, since those two forums have recently (and, I pray, temporarily) dried up, I have resorted to reading Scripture not so much for how I can apply it to your life, but for how I can apply it to mine! Yes, I should have been doing this all along, but I am a little slow on the uptake. Just like the disciples in these two passages. Perhaps this is why these stories bothered me as I read them this morning; they hit too close to home.

In the first passage, the disciples show their concern for the crowd, but in a selfish way. They know they need to eat, but the disciples do not want to take responsibility for this task and ask Jesus to send them away. Not missing a beat, Jesus says, “That isn’t necessary – you feed them” (14:16 NLT).

However, the disciples reply by saying they do not have adequate resources. “But we only have five loaves of bread and two fish!” they tell Jesus.

“Bring them here,” Jesus says.

At that point, I stopped reading.

I am feeling a bit like the disciples. I know I have some resources, but they seem so meager and inadequate for the task. It is all too overwhelming for me. People need to be fed and taught and discipled and trained to do the work of ministry, and all I have is a little Bible training and a passion to teach.

“Bring them here,” Jesus tells me.

And I know what will happen when I do. He will take the little I have and bless it and make it adequate for the job He has assigned for me. Feeling better about myself –  if not a tad rebuked –  I continued reading.

Now I come to the second story, the feeding of the 4,000 (5,000 plus 4,000 equals 9,000, hence the title, if you were wondering).

In the second passage, Jesus has to tell the disciples of His compassion for the hungry people and guides the disciples into an understanding of the people’s need to eat. The disciples respond by wondering where they could find enough food to feed everybody. Jesus takes them a step further and asks them what they have on hand. “Seven loaves, and a few small fish,” they reply.

Once again, Jesus asks for their limited resources, blesses it, returns it to the disciples and has them distribute it to the people. Much to their amazement, the disciples discover that not only were 4,000 men fed, but like before, there were baskets full of leftovers.

I stopped reading again. This one not only hit home, but also destroyed it.

I have often prided myself on my ability to read Scripture, understand enough of it to apply it in a situation, and find a way to teach it. But this second story, coming so quickly after the first, reminds me how often I have to learn the same lesson numerous times. I used to shout at the disciples, “Why are you so dense? Didn’t you get it the first time?” Now I leave the disciples alone and ask myself the same questions.

So what are the lessons for me? (I don’t know about you. Go get your own lessons.).

1.      Jesus knows my limited resources.

2.      Jesus asks me to bring my resources to Him.

3.      Jesus blesses my resources beyond my comprehension.

4.      I may have to learn this lesson more than once.

Fortunately, there will come a day when Jesus will send me out to feed the hungry, heal the sick, teach new disciples and bring glory to His name. I only pray that I don’t have to learn this lesson too many times. I’m tired of being unemployed.

Scriptures That Bother Me — Matthew 14:14

Posted by Jim Thornber on November 28, 2008
Posted in: Christian Spirituality, Religion, Service, Spiritual Gifts. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

Not Bothered About Being Bothered

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14

Here’s the scene. Jesus has just heard that Herod, in a warped sense of duty, has presented the recently severed head of John the Baptist as a birthday present to his stepdaughter, who is also his niece, because his new wife, his brother’s ex, didn’t like John. Yes, it’s complicated. Anyway, upon hearing the news, Jesus took a boat to what He hoped would be a solitary place. However, His hoped-for solitary place was now full of people and, having compassion on them, He healed their sick. Furthermore, if you keep reading, He also performed the miracle we call “Feeding the Five Thousand.”

Okay, here’s that part that bothers me: Jesus wasn’t bothered about being bothered.

Maybe it’s just me, but I know if I had recently found out that a drunken, immoral, quasi-religious dictator had beheaded my cousin, I would want to go away and find a quiet, solitary place to pray and cry and shout out my pain to God. And once getting there, the last thing I’d want to do is minister to a bunch of people who are more interested in themselves than in my pain.

But Jesus doesn’t do that. Instead, He has compassion on them.

This reminds of the numerous times I’ve seen people working on their car by the side of the road. And instead of helping them, I’ve rationalized (a compound of two words, rational and lies…) how I probably don’t know how to fix their problem, or I need to get to work or an appointment or church and I don’t have time to stop and give them a hand. Hmmm, do I see in myself shades of the religious hypocrites in the Parable of the Good Samaritan?

(NOTE: I had to stop writing at this point and go to work. On my way, I saw a man working on his car at the side of the road. I immediately thought about this article, considered that I needed to get to work, and drove by. I failed my first test of the day at being bothered. . . . . . . . AUGGGHHHHHH!!!).

However, I also find myself getting impatient with people who interrupt my current agenda, be it writing, helping somebody at my job, or meeting the needs of a customer. I truly desire to live such that no one will see my impatience, anger, or easily bothered attitude. This is why Jesus challenges me so much. Of course, Scripture is rather silent on the ways Jesus might have shown impatience with people. And even though He says things like, “O you of little faith” (Matthew 8:26; 14:31), I don’t think He was showing exasperation as much as He was desirous of His disciples being able to grasp His main message.

And me? Have I grasped the main message of Jesus? Not completely, and you can tell this by the way I live, or don’t live, His most basic teachings. But that’s really not my point. My point is that the ease with which Jesus moved from pain to compassion reminds me of how far I’ve yet to go to obtain Christlikeness in all my ways. The good news is I’m a lot better at it than I used to be, as any of my long-lasting friends can testify.

So here is my challenge. The next time someone interrupts my agenda, needs my presence, requires my compassion, or (take a deep breath) is broken down by the side of the road, I hope to show the same love and compassion for the person in need as Jesus has shown to me.