Author: Chuck & Deb

Read Matthew 11.1-6

“Go and report to John what you hear and see“ (Matthew 11.4)

THE REAL DEAL

The roundhouse kick came within six inches of my nose. He was teaching and then, in the blink of an eye, demonstrated that he knew exactly what he was talking about. We had all heard the rumors that our friend and coworker was a master in the art of Kung Fu. But he was a quiet guy who never bragged or drew attention to himself. When he was asked to teach us the martial arts, he delivered. All the rumors were obviously true. He was the real deal. Jesus said, “You will know a tree by its fruit.” When asked by John‘s disciples if He was the “Expected One“, He applied the same standard to Himself. Once again we can follow Christ‘s example: an example of authenticity. Jesus is the real deal.

How well are your deeds matching your words? Do people know you are a follower of Christ by your actions?

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Read Matthew 10.2-42

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master” (Matthew 10.24-25)

NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PRACTICE

“Here’s the diapers and the wipes. I usually take them to Mc Donald’s at 3 o’clock, then to bed by 8…” Deb was rattling off instructions like a proficient battlefield commander. She was the supermom who was about to entrust her cubs to the rookie. Fortunately, I’d watched her do those things a million times. I got this! Or so I thought. After the two–day “Mom’s get away” the boys were still alive. But the house was a wreck and Mr. Mom was nearly incapacitated. The next time I sent her away for a Mom Vacation, I was better prepared and things went a little smoother. I had received instructions and seen it modeled, but there‘s no substitute for practice. Jesus has sent us on a mission and given us our marching orders. He has shown us how it’s done. Now it’s time to get after it. We learn ministry by doing ministry.

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Read Matthew 9.35-10.1

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” (Matthew 9.37)

ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND MODEL

I was staring at the pile of 1,200 bricks it would take to pave my patio. I knew the job was too big for one person, but started anyway. After a while I asked my sons for help. I showed them how to lay the bricks in place and they got to work. While we were making progress, some guys in our ministry dropped by the house. I enlisted their help and showed them how to lay the bricks. At first the task looked overwhelming, but between the five of us, the patio was finished in a couple of days instead of a couple of weeks. This is how Jesus multiplied His ministry. He asked the Father for a few men to help Him and modeled how to help people. Once He showed them how to minister to others, He put them to work.

How many workers do we need to reach the world for Jesus? Are you praying and working? Are you modeling?

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Read Matthew 9.18-34

“Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” (Matthew 9.22)

THE JESUS PRESCRIPTION

My oldest son, Chuck, deployed to Afghanistan as a Infantry platoon leader. I could be wringing my hands and fretting every minute. But I have decided to take a dose of faith in Christ daily. I know that Jesus loves my son more than I ever could and that He has his best interest at heart. And through that faith, I have been healed of a plague that can be one the major contributing factors in heart disease and mental illness. It’s called anxiety. It’s more common than the common cold and is killing people every day. And when you think about it, it only makes sense to turn it over to Jesus and trust Him. I can’t be with my son – but He can. I can’t help my son – but He can. I have been healed of the disease called anxiety. (Philippians 4.6-7)

What is the scourge in your life? Have you brought it to Jesus in faith and asked Him to heal you?

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Read Matthew 9.14-17

“…but they put new wine into fresh wineskins…” (Matthew 9.17)

COUNTER PRODUCTIVE

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Don’t spit into the wind. You can’t push a rope. And the list goes on. Jesus sums up these sayings with two of His own; “you can’t put a new patch on an old garment and you don’t put new wine in old wineskins.” All of these sayings are warning to the hearer that if you do these things they are potentially counter productive. It’s not saying it’s impossible but generally speaking, you’re wasting your time. I have another saying when it comes to discipleship; “Feed based on appetite.” It’s very difficult to teach someone how to follow Jesus when they don’t want to. Pray and look for spiritually hungry people to feed.

Are you hungry for spiritual food? Are you investing in the hungry or are you force-feeding?

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Read Matthew 9.1-13

“…I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9.13)

HANGIN’ WITH SINNERS

After Bible study, we spilled into a nearby restaurant. As this committed group of disciples talked about Jesus, out of the corner of my eye I saw a guy eavesdropping. He was sitting on the edge of his seat and leaning into the conversation. I asked him to join us and he enthusiastically accepted. This simple invitation led to the next, which led to the next. He was practically hanging out with us every day. Our little community of Jesus followers thoroughly embraced him. Three weeks later, he had become a fellow disciple of Jesus. There was no pitch and no canned prayer. We just talked about Jesus and loved him into the Kingdom.

Are sinners hanging out with your band of believers? Does your band of believers hang out with sinners?

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Read Matthew 8.18-34

When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm… (Matthew 8.23-24)

THIS IS NO MYSTICAL VACATION

What a deal! It only cost Deb and me twenty bucks to fly from Dover, Delaware, to Izmir, Turkey on a military transport! Only one problem: the military reserves the right to change the flight plan at any time. So we landed in Incirlik. After two days on a hand full of pita bread, a 14-hour bus ride halfway across Turkey, and the wonderful feeling that you may not survive this “great vacation”, we made it to Izmir. But we had been adequately warned that the flight could change at any time. I wonder if we‘re warning people about the real costs associated with being a disciple. Jesus did. He warned people, “…if you follow Me, you’re going through some tough places and tough times“. We know that ultimately following the Master is worth the price. But let’s tell folks the truth: this not a mystical vacation!

Read Matthew 8.1-17



This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.” (Matthew 8.17)



STILL THE GREAT PHYSICIAN 
 


Do miracles still happen? A dear friend of mine was praying that Jesus would deliver me from my neurological disease and yet she was battling an intestinal disorder and serious problems with her pituitary gland. How selfless! What do you think God thinks about that? Well let me tell you! She was completely and miraculously healed of both. The doctors were dumbfounded and admitted that it was nothing short of a miracle. Faith, Hope, and Love are a powerful mixture. We often attribute these as gifts from God – and they are. But when He sees us leveraging them for the sake of others, it moves Him. I believe my healing will come in His time, but it‘s great to witness that Jesus is still “carrying away our diseases.”


Does your faith still leave room for God to do miracles? Does that same faith continue when there are none?

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Read Matthew 7.13-29

“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you…” (Matthew 7.22-23)

COUNTERFEITS

You know what scares me? These gospel tracts disguised as $100 bills. I saw some the other day in the gym and I watched peoples‘ reaction to them. It wasn’t pretty. How in the world did we come up with the idea of tricking people into following Christ through a counterfeit dollar bill? But Jesus points out something scarier: a person who is a counterfeit. They can preach a good sermon, cast out some demons, and even pull off a few miracles and they’re not even close to the real deal. So if this is Jesus’ response to folks doing this high–speed stuff, what will He say to the person who prayed “the prayer” and yet shows no fruit of love for Him or people? Maybe we should start handing out real $100 bills. Or better yet, start loving people the way Jesus did.

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Read Matthew 7.1-12

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7.12)

THE PLATINUM RULE

Ever play games with little kids and they want to change the rules? We’re actually amazed at how they have carefully developed a scheme that would give them the upper hand. Wily little rascals aren’t they? As adults, we play these simple little tricks with spiritual principles all the time. It’s called justification. When we twist a passage to our advantage and destroy its original intent, we’re trying to change the rules. We could do that with Matthew 7.12, the “Golden Rule.” So Jesus Himself changes the rules and goes “Platinum.” In John 13.34-35, He gives us a new command to not just love others as we ourselves want to be loved, but to love others the way Christ loved us. Now that’s a whole new ball game.

How has Jesus demonstrated His love for you? How can you pass that same love on to others?

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