Sabbath: Discipling the “Ordinary”
Read for This Week’s Study: Luke 2:21-28; Matt. 15:32-39; Matt. 16:13-17; Luke 12:6-7; 13:1-5; James 2:1-9.
Memory Text: Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him (Mark 1:16-18).
Christ’s death was the great equalizer: it showed that we all are sinners in need of God’s grace. In light of the cross, ethnic, political, economic, and social barriers crumble. Sometimes, though, in our soul winning, we forget that crucial truth, and we especially seek to win those who might be deemed honorable
or great
in the eyes of the world.
Not so with Jesus, who saw the meaninglessness and emptiness of worldly greatness and honor. In fact, in many cases, it was the most successful
people-the favorably positioned Pharisees, the wealthy Sadducees, and the Roman aristocracy-who troubled Him the most. In contrast, the ordinary
people-carpenters, fishermen, farmers, housewives, shepherds, soldiers, and servants-generally thronged and embraced Him.
(27)
So then from this insight, then we've a huge responsibility to go extra miles to reach even the rich and powerful men to make them God's disciples.God bless you for this eye opening.
As I considered this introductory lesson for this week I realized that not only did Jesus choose His disciples from what was considered the lower classes but as far as I know He never picked people from Judea (the area around Jerusalem). All His disciples seemed to come from Galilee which consisted of a mixed population of Jew and Gentile. Neither did He pick anyone from His home town of Nazareth, probably because, "Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country" (Jn. 4:44 NKJV).
I also am of the opinion that Jesus never commanded discipleship but accepted people who were honestly interested and some of those were people I would not want to meet in a dark alley somewhere (Mk 3:17; Jn 18:10).
What causes successful person in some cases to make Jesus null and void while ordinary folks see Him as being meaningful?
"What causes successful person in some cases to make Jesus null and void while ordinary folks see Him as being meaningful?"
I think that rich, powerful, successful people might think they don't need anything else than what they have made for themselves and the more humble people are more ready to accept what Jesus offers.
"What causes Successful persons in some cases to make Jesus null and void while ordinary folks see Him as being meaningful?"
Quite often the world view of success is generally defined as being able to accumulate or achieve wealth, power or other outstanding achievements.Success can be defined or experienced in many other ways. In context of the question and the world view often adopted, in some cases, people of affluence, over time, often adopt a self sufficient "I have need of nothing or no one" behavior. The tendency towards the quest to gain increased wealth, power, or the next great achievement becomes self-consuming, hence the simplicity and the humility of Jesus, his message and his methods, holds little or no relevance.
I was one of those people who was a successful nurse. Went away from the church. Only time I prayed was when I needed to start an I.V. on a person, etc. Then I got sick - with the help of a Christian (second) husband, together we came back to the church and God is in our life everyday. We live on a fixed income but pay tithe, and all our daily needs are met through God's Grace. Never turn away from the Lord.
AMEN