BBD 03.30.04 Get Your Hands Dirty
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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The Burning Bush Devotional
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03.30.04
Get Your Hands Dirty
So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the
earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying,
"Truly this was the Son of God!" And many women who followed Jesus from
Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar (watching from
a distance - NIV), among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James
and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons. - Matthew 27:54-56.
When I was a child, I would help my mother with the garden, which included
planting the seeds. We planted the seeds by hand, digging the holes, placing
the seeds in the small holes, and then covering the seeds up with the dirt.
It was exciting when the plants began to grow and poke through the earth.
That was the part about gardening that I enjoyed as a child. Some of the
other parts I didn’t enjoy quite as much. But for the most part even today,
gardening is a hands on activity. To be a successful gardener you are going
to have to get your hands dirty.
Considering the different people involved or viewing the crucifixion of
Jesus we find that there were “many women” who were present. When compared
to the disciples the women are to be commended because they did not deny
Jesus and they did not run away and hide. The passage of Scripture in
Matthew 27 says that the women viewed the crucifixion from “afar” or “from a
distance.” Most likely this was as close as they were allowed to come or as
close as was safe for them to be with the mob mentality that was still
present. However, the phrase “looking on from afar” has caught my attention
and it is a haunting and convicting phrase when applied to our own lives.
Too many times, we see ourselves and other Christians taking on the role of
spectator in regard to the Christian life. Yes, we come to church, we sing,
we bow our heads in prayer, and we listen to the preaching but do we ever
get our hands dirty? No, we are not out there doing terrible things day
after day but does our Christianity ever go beyond being a spectator sport.
Are we ever involved in hands on Christianity? Do we apply the words in the
hymns we sing and the sermons we hear preached to our lives? Are we
benchwarmers or active, hands on participants in the Christian life?
God has called all of us to be co-laborers with Him. God has called all of
us to be Ambassadors for Christ. Maybe you have been afraid you will get
your hands dirty? There is no way to avoid it if you are to be fully engaged
and in God’s will for your life as a child of God.
Copyright © 2004. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
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