September 23, 2019
Luke 9:54-56
When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”  But Jesus turned and rebuked them.  Then he and his disciples went to another village.
New International Version (NIV)
                What does God want us to do to the disinterested people in our world?  I mean the atheists, the agnostics, and all the others who seem to have little interest in God (though, in fact, I believe they have a lot of interest).  What about the mean people?  Shouldn’t we just be meaner than they are? 

                Jesus and his disciples tried to stop in a village in Samaria but the people there would not welcome him.  What to do?   James and John, former sons of thunder had a stormy idea.  Their righteous indignation had been riled up.  “Shall we incinerate them?”  Why not just bring the fire early to this village that did not welcome Jesus. 

                “No.”  Jesus rebuked the sons of thunder and shined the light of his love into their darkness one more time.  They went to another village.  It is not our job to fight with people who disagree with us.  Enough for us to speak the truth in love.  Some people do not want God.  We are not to be unkind to them. 

               Remember the story of the prophet Elisha blinding and leading the entire enemy Aramean army right into the city of Samaria.  The King of Israel asked, “Should I kill them?”  The prophet spoke the heart of God when he said, “No.  Feed them.”  We could try it.  Honestly, what do we have to lose by being kind to hateful people?  They, on the other hand, have everything to gain as they try to figure out why we love them.
Pray with me:       
Father, as your former enemies, we thank you for showing kindness to us while we were still sinners.  Forgive us when we try to take the law of God into our own hands.  Because we have received such amazing grace, please make us gracious so that we can give grace to all who need it – and we all need it.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.    
This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan.  Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download 
the app at readscripture.org.  Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully, 
Duane 

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