Texts:
- Psalms 29-32
- Matthew 16-17
- Daniel 7-9
Before I even get started reading today Lord, I have a question. Why don't we know anything really about Jesus' life when he was a carpenter? What I really struggle with is the conviction that You want me to be alive and living the Jesus way, following Jesus examples, in my classroom but Jesus never really shows us how that works out. I never see Jesus being in the middle of prayer and then suddenly remembering that he left all of his tools out in the rain, like I do when I've forgotten to grade tests. I never see Jesus trying to figure out a how to do his job while doing his job for God as well. How did You do it?
I was reading Peterson's "The Jesus Way" last night. He was talking about the "laity myth." Basically saying it's totally untrue that God can only use pastors, missionaries, and others in full time "God-work." But I know exactly where this myth comes from. It comes from Your word. It comes from Jesus. What did Jesus do when it was time to do God's work? He stopped being a carpenter and started preaching and healing. Peterson pointed out that the disciples were all regular people with regular jobs. Right...until Jesus called them to be his disciples and they left those jobs and followed him.
I always have this sense that when I don't have to worry about work I follow You much better. But I know that not working is not a reality that many people (including myself) can afford. So how do we follow the Jesus way of one who did not work while He publically ministered? I'm not saying its impossible, I'm saying I don't understand. Ah well...now to the text.
In the book of Daniel, after he has a terrible vision, there is a statement about his work. It's interesting, for it confirms what I thought: that it is hard to do work (a regular job) when you are hearing and interacting with the Lord.
Daniel 8:27 - "I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for several days. Then I got up and went about the king's business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding."
That's exactly how I feel. As I interact and live with this text, it is exhausting because it is so far beyond understanding, so hard to bring into reality, becuase You are so far above understanding. It's simply tiresome. Add to the fact that we stay up late studying it and contemplating it...I wish that I could take several days to digest it.
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Just a thought, when we see with Jesus eyes (from yesterday) and act out in our daily lives it makes our faith "seen" and "recognized". It also enables us to work our jobs and be about the whole Jesus business.
I am wondering more often how we will be able to do this. It certainly will take something that we can't supply. Between school, work, parenthood (for some of us), marriage, social lives, and hobbies, this major work of study/planning/ministering seems insurmountable. God will make a way... but how, and when? Will it cost our mental and physical health?
Father, continue to show us what your doing so we can get behind it.
I should also say that this challenge has a bit of excitement to it as well, keeping eyes on Jesus despite the realities of work. This is what we eventually need to teach, and so right now it is as if we are in our labortory. Getting to try living the Jesus way in normal lives. Maybe it's just a call to remember it is harder than it looks.
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