754 I Send My Messenger Before Your Face?, A Guided Christian Meditation on Luke 7:27-30 with the Recenter With Christ app

The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in and connect wi
h the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.

Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.

Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving jor anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.

Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:

Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate.

Scripture for Meditation

Luke 7

ESV
27 This is he of whom it is written,
“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’
28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

KJV
27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

Meditation on Scripture:

This passage is a continuation of Jesus’s response to John. Jesus himself declares that John was a prophet and the greatest there was. Specifically because he came to teach about Jesus. He also was testifying that he was greater than John the Baptist, since he also referred to himself as the least in the kingdom. The Son of God descended below all. After this he took on the sin of the world and as a result was both the lowest, but also the greatest. John testified of that.

No matter what Good moral lessons the scriptures teach we should recognize that first and foremost the purpose of scripture is to testify of Christ and our need of Him.

It is interesting that those who would be baptised believed that they were baptised of John saw this statement as a justifying God. and the Pharisees and lawyers, who rejected the baptism of John, did not receive this well. They denied the counsel of God that would have blessed their lives as much as anyone else.

The willingness of the people to be baptised was directly connected with their willingness to believe the words of Jesus. When we do what God asks us to do, that is one way we can demonstrate our faith in God. It is not through thosue actions that we earn some credit score in heaven, but it is a demonstration of faith in Jesus Christ, as James says. Place your faith entirely in Jesus Christ and follow those things He asks you to do. THe new testament is filled with commandments of Jesus. We should seek them out and seek to do them, not to try and earn heaven but to align with the faith that we profess. If we love Him, we will keep His commandments.

Meditation of Prayer:

Pray as directed by the Spirit.

Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him.

Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm:

I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials.

Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life:

This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast

Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?

FIND ME ON:
Download my free app: Recenter with Christ
Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com
Voicemail - (602) 888-3795
Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com
Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast
Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast
Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast
Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

NIV
24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

752 What Did You Go To The Wilderness to See?, A Guided Christian Meditation on Luke 7:24-26 with the Recenter With Christ app

The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in and connect wi
h the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.

Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.

Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving jor anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.

Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:

Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate.

Scripture for Meditation

Luke 7

NKJV
24 When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

NIV
24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

Meditation on Scripture:

John the Baptist did not come to tell the people what they already expected or wanted to hear. He did not come in the way they expected. In some ways he was very surprising. He was dressed very hubly. They referred to him as a “Wild Man.” He had unique elements of life instituted by the Nazarene oath. He was set apart for a purpose. As he said, it was to make straight the path for the Lord, or to prepare the world for the coming of the Lord.

Due to the unexpected message he taught, he amassed a following that ended up being problematic for religious leaders at the time. Jesus makes the point to show, there was a reason that drew the people to John’s message and that drew their hearts and minds to it when they heard it. As a result many more were ready to receive the Messiah.

God uses regular people to do his work. John the Baptist had a very specific calling. It was the work given to John by God that made that calling holy. God makes His work holy. Jesus did not truely need John the Baptist. There are many ways God could have done this but he chose John. Similarly God doesn't need us to do His work, but as we participate in His work, our efforts are made holy by Him. Just as John humbly submitted to Jesus when his work was done, so should we take the same mindset around what God has called us to. What has God called you to in life? How can you learn to hold your calling more humbly like John.

Meditation of Prayer:

Pray as directed by the Spirit.

Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him.

Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm:

I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials.

Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life:

This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast

Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?

FIND ME ON:
Download my free app: Recenter with Christ
Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com
Voicemail - (602) 888-3795
Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com
Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast
Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast
Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast
Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

RSV
19 And John, calling to him two of his disciples, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” 21 In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many that were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is he

FIND ME ON:
Download my free app: Recenter with Christ
Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com
Voicemail - (602) 888-3795
Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com
Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast
Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast
Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast
Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

750 Shall We Look For Another?, A Guided Christian Meditation on Luke 7:19-23 with the Recenter With Christ app

The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in and connect wi
h the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.

Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.

Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving jor anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.

Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:

Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate.

Scripture for Meditation

Luke 7

NASB
19 And after summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or are we to look for another?” 20 When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the Coming One, or are we to look for another?’” 21 At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind. 22 And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: people who were blind receive sight, people who limped walk, people with leprosy are cleansed and people who were deaf hear, dead people are raised up, and people who are poor have the gospel preached to them. 23 And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.”

RSV
19 Aznd John, calling to him two of his disciples, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” 21 In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many that were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.”

Meditation on Scripture:

I’ve heard multiple commentaries on this scripture. On the one hand John knew the divinity of Jesus from the womb when he leaped in his mother when she drew near the pregnant Mary. In the book of John it is John the Baptist who confirms to his disciples that Jesus is the lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. Yet I have heard other commentaries stating that John was legitimately investigating the divinity of Jesus.

In any case I love this scripture. John points out to these disciples needed to find out for themselves that Jesus was the one they were waiting for. Many times when people start their journey in faith they do so with a tentative and borrowed faith. This is a normal development. The hope is that at some point we all do what these disciples of John did. We need to find out for ourselves.

Additionally the thing that they were comparing was eventually related to prophecy in scripture. When these disciples hear the answer Jesus gave they would have seen Jesus works and compared that to the prophecies Jesus mentioned here. The Messiah would do these things and Jesus had done them. Regardless of how long we have been in the faith it helps to continually confirm our faith in Jesus through scripture, talking to spiritual leaders we trust, and prayer and reflection.

Meditation of Prayer:

Pray as directed by the Spirit.

Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him.

Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm:

I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials.

Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life:

This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast

Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?

FIND ME ON:
Download my free app: Recenter with Christ
Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com
Voicemail - (602) 888-3795
Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com
Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast
Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast
Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast
Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

16 Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.”
17 And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.
18 Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.

NASB
11 Soon afterward Jesus went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. 12 Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her and said to her, “Do not go on weeping.” 14 And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.