When Jesus encourages the little children to come to him and he blesses them, this was very counter-cultural in his day. Children were seen as one of the lowest of society, unable to "pull their weight" and surely not worth Jesus' time. However, Jesus shows that in His kingdom, things will be different. No one will be looked on as less than or unworthy of Jesus' blessing. That's true for you today! He wants to bless you!

So we now recognize ourselves as a sent people...so why don't we go? Do we lack desire, discipline, or direction? It can be overwhelming to get started in following the great commission. A great place to start is to simply use what you have. Your talents, gifts, and passions in places you already find yourself and simply serve those around you. 

To be human is to suffer. HOW we suffer is a great witness to the world of God's nearness and his redemptive power to bring good and healing and righteousness through the most difficult seasons of life. 

When Jesus calls us to be His witnesses, He doesn't send us out alone. In fact, when we try to go it alone, there's temptation to go with an agenda, and it usually leads to burn out. We've been given the power of the Holy Spirit to equip us for this mission. We've also been given each other, the family of God to sharpen us and be the environment where the gifts of the Spirit are actualized. 

Statistics show that most Christians believe sharing the Gospel is an important part of our faith, yet so few actually participate in it on a regular basis. Why? As we go, we transport the Gospel with us wherever we find ourselves. May we listen more than we speak...both vertically (with God) and horizontally (with others) so that we might leave hope, goodness, and mercy wherever we go. 

Pastor Philip challenges us to walk in our identity as a sent people...which begins, first and foremost, with a deep consecration. We cannot change others if we have not been first changed ourselves. May we go at the pace of Jesus, walking in rhythm with the Spirit so we may be able to see and love others clearly. 

Like much of Jesus does in His upside-down kingdom, He redefines what greatness is. While we have been discipled in the world and what it says is "great" we must leave that behind in our pursuit of the kind of greatness Jesus describes. The kind that serves others and does so without need for recognition. 

Jesus wasn't the Messiah that many expected because their view and sights were too small. We miss out on so much when we try to define Jesus by our own terms and agendas. Like, Jesus, following Him and his ways means picking up our cross. Denying ourselves and our agendas is the foundation of following Jesus. 

Those that were asking for a "sign" were those who really didn't want to believe in Jesus in the first place. May we have ears that actually hear and eyes that actually see all that Jesus was and how He's still working today!

The Pharisees & teachers of the religious law got a bad rap from Jesus because they were imposing man-made rules and customs on the people of God, rather than turning their hearts over to Him. Let's not be like them, but let's give attention to our hearts and remember that what "defiles" us starts in our heart and not external forces.