Tuesday, April 28, 2009

"Trusted with very little......"

So often, we read a passage of scripture and miss some rather significant things. We focus on the 'big' things and pay little attention to the things we deem small. How many times have we read Luke 16:10-11? Most of us memorized it years ago and can quote it mechanically.

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"

These verses were shown to me recently in a whole new way. The youth group at my church meets on Thursday night for bible study and my small group just started going through a book called Discipleship Essentials: A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ by Greg Ogden. As the title says, the theme of the book is discipleship. The first lesson covered Matthew 28.
When we read this we generally focus three main points. First the DUH one, the resurrection. Second, the guards report to the chief priests. And third, the 'great commission'. But, there is something I have never seen before.

Matthew 28:10b says, "Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Normally, when reading this passage this one small command of Jesus doesn't mean anything. I think nothing of it. But don't overlook it again. Look at it and think. Put yourselves in the disciples shoes as the women give them Jesus' message.

We have to go to Galilee? But why? He appeared to you in the garden didn't he? Why on earth can't he just come here to us and speak with us? Galilee? It's a long walk. I really don't see the point.....etc. etc.

Are these questions ones we ask every day? Yes. So why did Jesus tell them to go to Galilee to see him? Think about it, he was about to send them on a mission to the entire world. He was going to tell them to GO. And not just a little go, a HUGE go. Go and make disciples of ALL nations. That is a big go. So what did Jesus do? He gave them a little go first. He told them to go to Galilee. So that when they proved themselves trustworthy of the little go, He could entrust them with a big go.

Look at Luke 16:10-11 again:
"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"

Is Jesus command to go to Galilee not an awesome example of this?

It convicted me greatly. How many times do I receive a little go and think it is unimportant? I am so busy looking for the "Great Commissions" in life that I often miss the importance of the little ones. The small things that seem so unimportant are just as important as the big things.

4 comments:

  1. Very interesting point Mel! =) Hehe, not exactly what I thought of. ;-) But it is very true. Jesus pushes us to do things, which is good. We need to be pushed. If we aren't pushed, we don't grow in Him.
    Enjoyed the post! =)

    ~Maddie

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  2. Confession: I've been reading your blog, and I love it! The best of all though, is when I find little tidbits like this that I can ponder all day and think about the ways I can rise up to little goes!

    My blog has been the cute-shoes-at-the-mall type, but reading yours makes me want to take the time to write down the small things that I learn from studying Christ. It makes such a better blog!

    I'm excited to see upcoming posts!

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  3. Thanks so much for commenting and telling me this. I started this blog with the intent of encouraging other Christians to strive for more, but I often feel as though I'm not really making any kind of difference in anyone's life. So thanks for letting me know that I'm not just wasting my time. You truly lifted my spirits today and made me feel like I can make a difference in the world. =)

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  4. Got here because of Google. Thanks for the interesting sharing. Keep it up! God bless =D

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