July Following Jesus’ Models of Life

SUNDAY 2 JULY

Matthew 10:40-42

I wonder if we think seriously of the implication of following Jesus models of life. That those who receives us, receives Jesus and ultimately receives God in their life. This is an incredible and life changing formular. That your life and mine, when people meet with us, or if we relate to others around us, all they will find is Jesus in us in word and in deed. We can do that personally, or with others who are willing to receive and give from each other in prayer groups or fellowship groups. It would be transforming if we invite others to receive what we have received and encourage them to do the same to others around them. Jesus model works if we practice with families, and it works when we practice it with our communities around us.

SUNDAY 9 JULY

Matthew 11:1619, 25-30

We are living in a world that more and more people don’t have a faith in the Christian God. When we talk to people about God, they often make excuses or use an analogy of people who claim to know God, but their lifestyle are too difficult to understand or comprehend and they say you are crazy.

Thinking about this week, the National Aborigines and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) week. How many people know about this? What excuses do people have for not celebrating the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?

The best way to experience and appreciate our Aboriginal and Strait Islander friends is through relationship. Making an intentional decision to listen and learn about their culture and values. This was something Jesus notice in the people of his days, that they make knowing God very hard with too many rules and regulation and no wonder people make excuses. He then shares how getting to know God is as easy as living in God’s presence, listening and learning from him (Jesus). Like a child learns from a father, so is anyone learn from watching God in Jesus. He is our best picture of who God is and what God is like. He does not put on us a yoke, extra rules, or regulations. How can we continue to live and help the people in our community that does not want to know God? And also get to know our first people and celebrate who they truly are?

SUNDAY 16 JULY

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Our gospel text for this week is part of chapter 13 which stands at the middle of the five discourses that make up the Gospel according to Matthew (5-7, 10, 13, 18, 23-25). Preaching and teaching were important part of Jesus ministry. He did it in a way to catch people’s attention. Telling stories in parable was a way of connecting with the inner self of the listener, calling them for specific action.

You and I cannot just hop on a train and preach or walk into a gala dinner and share what you believe. Instead, when we have the chance to share our Christian stories. How can we proclaim them in a way that 21 st century Australians hear and understand?

SUNDAY 30 JULY

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Perhaps the question is as old as Christianity itself: “Why doesn’t God intervene?” It becomes very personal for some of us when one face trauma or life-threatening illness. One of the challenges posed by this parable was that ‘life is about waiting.’.

Life experiences can sometimes shape our faith or it can also shake our faith. But the core remains, we either have to wait or God is in the business of waiting with us. Is this a fair assumption on what God is like or what we are required to be like? When we study Jesus’ public ministry, we learn that he acted in a caring, supportive and compassion manner.