Friday, December 12th

Matthew was invited by Jesus with these words, “come follow me” not only was it an invitation of acceptance, but it was also an invitation to go and do the improbable. To go and do the things of Jesus. Jesus looked to all the disciples and essentially said, “I believe you can do what I do. Now go and do it.”

Which means, if you call yourself a disciple, Jesus is looking at you and saying, “go and do what I did.” Which means, like Rahab, are you looking for ways to do the improbable?
Quick side comment. I actually had the word “incredible” in their instead, but changed it, because I felt to many of you would disqualify yourself from doing the incredible. But could embrace doing the improbable.

Which is probably what Paul was feeling toward the Corinthians. Notice 2 Corinthians 6:4-13, but read it through the MSG version.

Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don’t put it off; don’t frustrate God’s work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we’re doing. Our work as God’s servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly … in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we’re beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we’re telling the truth, and when God’s showing his power; when we’re doing our best setting things right; when we’re praised, and when we’re blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all. 11-13 Dear, dear Corinthians, I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn’t fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way. I’m speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!

WOW… I love that. We can have all these things come against us, that can disrupt our lives, that can get us off our walk with Jesus. We can see them as disruptions, or we can see them as opportunities to do the improbable. How many times do get knocked back by what we think is a setback, when it could be a set-up for something more?

That’s why I love verses 11-13, reread them, with “Dear, dear New Lifers ….” May we open up our lives, not settle for small, but to live open and expansively.

The coming of Christmas, despite the tinsel and the treats, the gift giving and receiving, the tradition and the unexpected, how are you living accepted? How do you look to do the improbable? Because in the story of Christmas it is receiving the blessing and being the blessing.

Finish today’s reflection with this song, The Blessing