Back to Basics

Sometimes I wonder if we have not complicated church life more than we ought - there is a flurry of activity, but focus is obscured and fruitfulness is absent.

Priorities

And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose." And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea - Luke 4:42-44

It was refreshing to read over the priorities of Jesus - having conquered Satanic wiles, and been proven Son of God, he now goes out to minister to men.

Preaching

Who would not have loved to have been there, having preached to throngs at the lake, as the empty nets now bulged with a massive catch of fish - perhaps we need to learn the lesson again: drop all, preach truth, catch men.

For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." - Luke 5:9-10

Prayer

One of the urban lepers provides an outstanding example of cleansing: Jews now have proof that Christ can wash the soul and renew fellowship with God - it happens at a touch, as Luke's footnote shows, even in Christ, in times of secret prayer.

And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him. And he charged him to tell no one, but "go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them." But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray - Luke 5:13-16

Power

When a man falls through the roof, and a paralytic is raised up, there really is no doubt that faith in Christ's Gospel is power of God to save & brings forgiven sins, in which the Father gets all praise.

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-- he said to the man who was paralyzed-- "I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home." And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen extraordinary things today." - Luke 5:24-26

Pain

Pharisees do not smile at a sudden turn of events which shows them dead and cold - charges of blasphemy, disdain of sinners, and puzzlement at joy charts painful steps of those who follow Christ, take up the Gospel cross, and get priorities right.

And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." - Luke 5:30-32

Conclusion

May God show us mercy if we have settled for activity - may He grant grace to us and supply us soul-winning, fishermen, hearts that suffer in His strength as we speak and supplicate.