Hand to the Plow
Hand to the Plow
As Jesus worked his way towards his ultimate goal in Jerusalem, those around him were caught up in the drama unprepared. Their enthusiasm exposed false motives, distractions, qualifications. They were not entirely aligned with Jesus' purpose; they were not heading in the same direction. Jesus was headed one way; they, another. Jesus says "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
Jesus disrupted and disoriented the perceptions of even his closest followers at times. It is important for us to sit with this for a moment, to let ourselves acknowledge the tension that plays out between our wills and his, between our expectations and his, between our desires and his.
As we’ll see, the exchange that Jesus offers us isn't between what we want and what he wants; it's between an old life and a new life. Putting our hand to the plow without looking back is about what we see ahead of us, and that makes all the difference.
These are hard, good words from Jesus, and I look forward to hearing them together with you on Sunday.
Steve Engstrom+
Joy Together
One way of describing “joy” is the way we feel when someone is glad to be with us. It’s a simple idea with powerful effects. In fact, Jesus is known fundamentally as Immanuel–God with us. And if God is with us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31). On the contrary, when we experience God being with us, our capacity for loving even our enemies expands and we become more like Him.
Building joy with God and with each other is at the center of Christian community and discipleship. During the months of July and August, we are encouraging the Redeemer family to build joy together by sharing a meal with someone new and sharing stories of gratitude. Through the rest of June, we're asking you to sign up online or on Sunday mornings to register your interest. You will be randomly assigned to two other couples or individuals so that there are approximately three “groups” around the table, sharing together.
Seeking Flourishing
Sometimes seeking the flourishing of our neighbors can mean getting our hands dirty! This summer we hope to help restore our Historic London Town & Gardens. The volunteer positions include:
Trail building (laying gravel paths, edging the paths, stabilizing)
Invasive removal (removing ivy, bamboo, or other seasonal weeds)
Site restoration (restoring an area back to the way it was through invasive removal and bed amendments
If interested in helping with any of these options please contact Patrick Finn at patrick.finn@redeemerannapolis.org. Days and times are customizable to fit your schedule.
Picture credit: Bethel Wossenyeleh on Unsplash