Faith in a Hurry
Pastor Joanie I have made it through the first 11 Chapters of Matthew (the first 9 days of reading through the New Testament). Here are a couple of things that have stood out to me over the past couple of days of reading:
- Matthew seems to write in a fast pace. It almost feels like Jesus is in a hurry. As soon as he was baptized, his teachings, healings, and other parts of ministry begin with a lot of momentum. After reading through the Sermon on the Mount, it felt like Jesus was on a sprint.
- When Jesus begins healing people, he seems very concerned about the relationship of their healing and their faith. There seems to be a connection between healing and faith. Either Jesus healed someone because they had faith first or it was their faith that healed them.
I’ve been a bit overwhelmed at the pace that Matthew details the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Matthew jumps from one sermon or event to another without time to let you catch your breath. And it’s got me thinking…if Jesus’ had just begun his teachings and ministry…how did it give folks time to develop such a deep faith in him that allowed for such miraculous healings–for wholeness? I mean, I’ve been following Jesus since childhood and I know my faith is still growing. I still falter and sin. And I’ve been taking it at a much slower pace than the disciples and the early followers of Jesus were given.
So, I wonder…do we sell ourselves short?
- Do we underestimate our faith?
- What areas of our lives has healing taken place?
- How has faith played a part in our healing?
- Do we learn and grow in our faith more when we are under pressure or presented with a lot of information quickly?
I don’t know the answers to these questions. But I do wonder what Matthew was trying to teach us about Jesus’ ministry and our faith through the way he wrote this part of his gospel. At the end of chapter 11, we finally get our deep breath:
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (v. 28)
That gives me enough energy to carry on…to chapter 12!
If You Missed Sunday’s Sermon…
Read or listen to From Negative to Postive — John 1:43-51
God’s Words for This Week
Jonah 3:1-5, 10– The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2 “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. (NRSV, v. 1-3a)
Psalm 62:5-12 –Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. (NIV, v. 5)
1 Corinthians 7:29-31 – I do want to point out, friends, that time is of the essence. There is no time to waste, so don’t complicate your lives unnecessarily. (The Message, v. 29)
Mark 1:14-20 – And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” (NRSV, v.17)
This Week at Hood
Wednesday, January 17, 6:00 pm – Choir Practice
Wednesday, January 17, 6:00 pm – Young-ish Adult Small Group
Thursday, January 18, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Pastor Jason at The Cellar for Drop-In Coffee & Conversation (108 N Wilson St)
Sunday, January 21, 11:00 am – Worship, Laity Sunday