3 September 2014 - got milk?

Insert Mother-in-law Joke Here

We all have parts of us that are still immature. We have areas of our hearts that have not yet grown to the full stature of Christ (cf. Eph. 4:13). If God offers us milk and not solid food let us be grateful for the nourishment. Let's swallow our pride and receive.

Jesus is here to "proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God".  He knows the purpose for which he is here. He won't turn aside or be dissuaded. He will bring the good work he begins in us to completion. We don't have to insist that he do it all at once because we can trust in his fidelity. We want to know that Jesus is the Christ and confess it just like Peter does. But we cannot take this revelation. We must receive it. Demons try to interfere. They appeal to our curiosity with half truths. Jesus keeps them quiet "because they knew he was the Christ". Jesus is indeed the Christ. But if we learn that fact from demons we will not learn it correctly. Indeed, it will seem an imposition rather than a gift. Let us be patient then. Jesus is here to convey this good news to us. He is focused. He knows his business. We can trust him with our process.

Jesus wants us to know our purpose as strongly as he knows his. We are watered as God's field and built into God's building so that we in turn may water and build as "God's co-workers". Sometimes we all want to turn aside to the comfortable and the familiar. These distraction try to prevent us from leaving and continue on our mission. Jesus wants us to know our purpose strongly enough that we are not distracted. There are healings that need to be done. There are demons that need to be cast out. And we are part of God's plan for that. When we engage in his plan we often feel like we have to do the whole thing ourselves. But we are a body. Each of us is a different part with a different gift. We are called to offer ourselves at specific times and places. One of us may be called to bless someone at one stage of his or her journey whereas another may be called to that same person before us, and another person again after. One waters and another gives the growth.

God knows us all. He is much better at being in charge of the universe than we are. He is able to deploy us according to our strengths.

From his fixed throne he beholds
all who dwell on the earth,
He who fashioned the heart of each,
he who knows all their works.

And so, LORD, water us. Build us. Transform us until your purpose for us fills our minds and hearts. Transform us until we rejoice in you and overflow with your praises.

Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust.