Matthew 9:35-10:8 (9-20) - Third Sunday after Pentecost - Hearts overflowing

Matthew 9:35-10:8 (9-20) ---(Please read link)

Gospel for the Third Sunday after Pentecost

"Hearts Overflowing"

Tell the story of Jesus. That's it! The Story will do it's own work. If people know about Jesus they will love him.

The characteristics of Jesus ministry is to Teach, Preach and Heal. These characteristics move beyond the body and include the soul. Jesus has compassion for all people. Jesus' motive is compassion both towards body and soul. A love for us here and now and a love to take us with him into eternity.

In Jesus we can find a compassion that means so much more than caring. Jesus has a compassion that is the pain of love. Jesus loves the "common" person because he knows the "common" person to be "uncommon." Uncommon enough that Jesus' compassion took him to the cross. This is a compassion in the pain of love.

In no way do we people, born into a world of sin, our own sin, and who die in our own sin, in this world of sin; deserve this compassionate pain of love through Jesus. But, Jesus loves us so much that he freely gives to us eternal life in his presence, both here and now, and forever with him, by taking upon himself our sin and putting it to death on a cross. And then... and then... he rose again in new life, promising a resurrection, with all who believe in him, to be with him forever, in perfect freedom and grace in resurrected bodies; perfect in his righteousness. Not our righteousness. but through him alone, will we be righteous.

But we are here and now. And Jesus chooses to use his disciples. Jesus' followers who believe in him rather than themselves. Jesus sends us to "Sow" the Word of God to all the world. We are Jesus' laborers or perhaps his farm workers, in this world in which we live. Workers sent to "Harvest" the field. The "Harvest" is often a symbol of the age to come. That age of eternity, in our own resurrection, as we live with Jesus into eternity.

Let's talk about disciples for a moment, working our way towards apostles. 

Disciples are ready to respond to the Gospel. The people of this world in which we live, are God's field in this illustration. People in this field of here and now, made for life with God. 

Disciples are ordinary people, but their greatness is in Christ. A disciple does not make a name for him or herself. A disciple lives out and through the name and works of Jesus. Disciples are diverse in temperament and gifts. Some disciples lead, some follow. All disciples need encouragement and correction. Together, disciples are like an orchestra, each different and vital to Jesus mission in the field.

Disciples are learners, and Apostles are sent out. Apostles are Disciples sent out into the field to harvest for Christ. Both are called to surrender their human pride and follow Jesus.

Jesus message does not stop at our lips. Jesus message proceeds from our joy overflowing our hearts in what God's grace gives to all the world. A sent disciple can't help themselves. God gives the grace of everlasting life freely to the underserving sinners who are disciples. As a result disciples can't help but to freely give God's grace to all in the field of the world in which we live today. Freely we receive Jesus, so freely we give to the world the grace of Jesus through us from Jesus. God's kingdom is only ours as we share it --- like in the field in which we live today.

As a disciple, we can't hug our salvation for ourselves. My salvation is not mine, My salvation is not something I earn or even gain by my own faith. My salvation is not from anything I do but rather it is a gift from God. In salvation the joy moves disciples to share it and give it freely in the harvest field of this world to anyone that would receive salvation's graceful love from God.

In this harvest field of God's grace, God gives all of us the universe to see with our eyes

AND

God gives Jesus for our soul.

Both are immeasurable gifts from God. See what God has done! See what God has done both for body and soul. We belong to God and God claims us as his own and loves us to death. God proved his love for all of us in this harvest field of life, God proved his love, especially for sinners, in giving himself all the way through, body, soul and into eternity.

So, as a disciple sent into the "Harvest Field," we trust God for the spoken Word he gives to and through us, that all may come to see the Grace of God in Jesus, to eternal life with him... today... tomorrow... and forever.

Hearts Overflowing - Thanks be to God!