Loving and Serving His Word - Daily Readings for Inspiration and Growth

Reading for November 2

Jesus Isn't Nice

by Dave Quintana - Servants of the Word

Among many an unpreached sermon in my repertoire (that for some strange reason, though I have generously offered it many a time, no one has ever taken me up on) is: "Jesus isn't nice, the Church isn't safe, and the Kingdom of God only comes by violence!" I can't imagine why no one has ever been keen to have me give this talk. Maybe I am reading it wrong, but I have never noticed that the apostles and the first followers of Christ seemed like particularly "nice" people—fishermen, tax collectors, women of ill repute … not really the sort of folk you would invite for tea on the veranda overlooking the garden. All things proper and comfortable and expected and status quo don't appear much in my New Testament. Let's be willing to ask ourselves some hard questions. Let's be willing to ask the church some hard questions.

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade." His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me." Jn 2:13-17 ESV

Daily Meds from the Q Source
by Dave Quintana, published by Tabor House, 2012

Dave Quintana's daily meditations and Bible readings to stir our minds and kindle our hearts in 2013. He explores themes important to all who search to be wise men and women in the Lord, and provides a wealth of personal experience from living and ministering in Central America, Asia, Europe, and the United States. Expect to be challenged. Expect to be inspired. Expect to meet the living and loving God. 

Dave Quintana is an elder of the Servants of the Word, a missionary brotherhood of men living single for the Lord.

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