Today's Gospel

Evidence You Can’t Ignore

Remember, we're looking for a word, a phrasal idea. Lots of things here, lots of names, right? Whenever you hear all these names in the Scriptures, it's easy to think, "Oh, it's all those names again." It's easy to tune out. Don't do that. Don't do that. Just keep one thing in mind. It's very, very important. You see all these names? Why? Proof. Proof of what? Proof that these things took place in history. Particular place, particular time, particular people, okay? Not just a figment of Christian imagination, not just fiction, not just something that somebody made up. That's why the authors, they keep naming specific people, specific places, specific times to help us to understand, to realize, and to never forget these things took place at a particular moment in history. And that the story of Jesus is not just a story. It's not just a figment of Christian imagination, that it is a historic event, that he is a historic person. Maybe the word you picked up today is betrayed. It's the second last word. It's just sort of right there at the end of the reading. Maybe you're being betrayed. Maybe someone's betrayed you. Maybe you're dealing with trying to work through betrayal and overcome betrayal.

It's so easy to be blindsided in this world. It's so easy to be betrayed in this world because we're all broken, we're all human, and we all betray ourselves at times. And so it's only a natural consequence, extension of that that we betray others. What's interesting here is the word desired. Jesus desired that these be the twelve. What do you desire? What are you desiring in your life right now? Comes back to what we started with. Want the right things. Desire the right things because desire is powerful, powerful in our lives. It's a powerful engine. It's a powerful motive. It's a powerful direction. It's a powerful force in our lives. Whatever you place your desire on, it's going to have a powerful effect in your life. And so today, take some time, reflect upon what is it that you want. What are you wanting? Are you wanting the right things at this time in your life? You've placed your powerful desire on the right things. And if you haven't, how do you extract your desire from those things and place your desire on things that will lead to rich, beautiful, abundant, faithful future? God bless you. Have an amazing day. Something wonderful is about to happen. Remember, don't just be yourself. Be the-very-best-version-of-yourself, all that God created you to be.