July 1, 2016
Matthew 11:20-24
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum,will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
CONSIDER THIS
Jesus denounced entire towns. Imagine that. It’s not something we think much about. Imagine if Jesus came to your town and denounced it and began pronouncing “woes” and impending doom. What if he compared your town with Sodom and you came out on the wrong end of the comparison; if there is a right end on that one? Note, he’s not addressing particular people or groups of people but entire towns. Jesus, the meek and mild Messiah is basically judging towns as fit for hell.
It harkens back to the epic negotiation between God and Abraham over the city of Sodom back in Genesis 18. God was preparing to destroy Sodom as a consequence of the wickedness and lack of repentance there. Abraham brought this pleading:
Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?
The Lord agreed. Then Abraham hedged down to saving the city if 45 righteous people could be found. This went all the way down to ten people. Ultimately they could not be found and the city was destroyed.
Maybe there’s a word tucked in here for the church today. What if ten righteous people in a city or town could make the difference? What if one Christian family in a neighborhood could make the difference for the whole neighborhood? What if our influence could spread like microscopically invisible leaven spreads through large amounts of flour with a profoundly inordinate impact? It’s so easy to think our small part will not be missed; that it doesn’t really matter. What if it could mean the difference between the town being sacked or spared?
Are you ready to start the negotiations?
THE QUESTIONS
1. So what does repentance (realignment with the mission of Jesus and the Kingdom of God) look like for you today?
2. Have you ever considered that so much could be riding on your life and faith in Jesus?
3. What might it look like for you and your church community to take ownership of your town for the sake of the Gospel? How might that impact your ongoing prayer life and relationship with God. Ready to start the bidding? ;0)
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J.D. Walt, is a Bond Slave of the Lord Jesus Christ. jd.walt@seedbed.com.