“And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said,
Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man in not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.
And they went to another village.” Luke 9 v51-56 AKJV
To be like Jesus.The diverse ethnic groups or cultures over time have grown from the very beginning out of the tribes of Israel to where we are today. Even in Jesus day, travel brought him to different cultural journeys that had rooted division from even hundreds of years before his time.
In a teaching moment, the disciples or ones with him asked in a way-shall we be offended because we are not readily accepted and show some course of retaliation because of our offense? Jesus answer was not one of a defensive posture but one of correction to his own, asking what manner of thinking or “spirit” is manifesting in you. Jesus knew, and this is why it is written, that a time would come for all to have the opportunity to be grafted into the body of Christ. He knew one offensive nature did not get answered correctly by another. He knew that his purpose was to save those which were lost, those who had lost the understanding of God’s love for them, his true precepts and statutes, and that grace would come as healing for the ethnic problems that needed to be overcome, and it did.
“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called to Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That a time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the common-wealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who some times were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the father.” Ephesians 2 v11-18 AKJV
Lord, I thank you for this day and for your wisdom that has gotten us here. I pray Lord we hear what you are saying to us as a church. Keep us Lord, guide us in the right Spirit so that when we encounter men at any moment we can reach heaven on their behalf as we need to.
Thank you Lord, for the prayers of others. Blessed is this day. Amen
January 14
Threecrosses 