Verses 12-13- In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:
Verses 22-23 - "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.
Verse 35 - But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
Verse 47 - House built on the rock: Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them,
Here again we see how much of Jesus' life was grounded in prayer. Before making a big decision - like choosing the 12 apostles - he spent the whole night in prayer. This underscores his recognition that God knows the future and if he is making a big decision, it is worth taking the time to ask God and get direction from him. It is probably also a reflection of simply wanting to spend time in God's presence. (Jesus, though God, had emptied himself of his divine power as he became a man and he thus gives us the example of how we should life)
Father, draw me into a deeper relationship with you! I need your love, care, direction and protection! Help me to press in and spend more time in your presence!
This is a very important perspective to have! So often our perspective is that of fear and anxiety when we are hated and spoken against on account of Jesus. But Jesus says we are blessed and should rejoice and leap for joy! The proper perspective is that we have a father in heaven who loves us and sees when we go through difficulty in his name. He loves us, rewards us and is there with us to walk through the valley of the shadow of death and will set a table for us in the presence of our enemies. Our focus, as always, needs to be on God and his love, rather than on the circumstances around us. Not easy to do, but certainly life changing!
Father I thank you that you are kind to the ungrateful and the evil. I know that I am both of those and I am glad that you still love me! Help me to love and live like you do! I want to be your won and reflect your goodness and kindness!
Three important steps: 1) come to Jesus 2) hear his words 3) do them
This shows that while reading the Bible as we are doing is important (step 2), we also need to go to the final step (doing what we hear) to have our lives built on a solid foundation that won't be shaken.
Father help me not only to hear, but to do what you say! Your words are hope, and life and truth! Help me to walk in your ways!
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