My Best Friend Ever!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012, 8:00 a.m. – My four year old grandson came into my room to wake me this morning. He said he was hungry. I was in one of those deep “coma-like” sleeps and dreaming, so it took me a few minutes to respond to him. I then went out to the kitchen to help him get his breakfast. I sat down and ate with him. Then, I noticed the dishwasher needed emptying, so he helped me empty it. He gets impatient sometimes and tries to do things faster than what I move, so I told him to “have patience,” and then I sang to him a children’s song I had learned when my kids were small – “Patience” (Herbert the Snail) – Music Machine - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kn6Z2Mop5I.

I wanted to play the song for Samuel. I thought the song was on one of our “Patch the Pirate” tapes (more children’s songs from my kids’ era), but alas, it was not. Samuel seemed interested in hearing the tapes (pre-CDs, IPods and the like) I had, and the songs on them, so I began to play the “Goes to the Jungle” one for him, which had a little boy named Samuel as one of the characters, which was nice. I sat down with him and listened to the first part of the tape. Just as I was about to go back to my room to have my quiet time with the Lord, a song began to play that I really like, called “My Very Best Friend.”

The Lord had placed the song “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” in my mind this morning upon awakening, so when I went back to my room, and the words to “My Very Best Friend” were still playing in my mind, I realized that both songs were about Jesus, and about our close walk and relationship with him, and I thought how “cool” of God to direct me to that song, as well. [I typed up the words from what I heard on the tape, so not necessarily perfect.]

Then, I sat down to have my quiet time with the Lord. I was praying through some things in my life, asking the Lord for direction, mainly having to do with balancing and prioritizing my time in the way the Lord would want. I felt led to go back through the previous chapters in Matthew to see what he had been teaching me already. He stopped me at Matthew 10:26-42. I read the passage. It was definitely God’s answer to my prayer. The Lord’s words to me this morning gave me much peace and assurance.

I had read Matthew 16 yesterday and part of 17 last night. I knew the Lord was leading me this morning to a passage concerning our relationship with Jesus Christ, so when I got to Matthew 18 I realized this is where I was supposed to be reading, how it paralleled the passage in Matthew 10, and how it fit with singing children’s songs this morning, and with time spent with my grandson, etc. The Lord was preparing my heart for what he wanted to teach me this morning.

Matthew 18:1-9 (NIV 1984): At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

“Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

My Understanding: Little children are not perfect any more than we are. They don’t always have the purest of motives or intent. They don’t always immediately obey their Mommies and/or Daddies. So, what is it about little children that Jesus was referring when he told his disciples that unless they change and become like little children, they will not enter the kingdom of heaven?

For one, I believe really small children are very teachable. They seem to hear the voice of God easier than many adults, they trust more easily, believe more easily, and have greater faith than most adults. Their minds are not clogged up with so much useless junk, knowledge, philosophies, etc. as the minds of educated and/or life-experienced adults. They don’t have to filter what they hear from God through so much life experience and human or even Biblical head knowledge. So, they can just trust the Lord and accept what he says.

The disciples’ thinking seemed to not reflect this kind of child-like faith and trust. They were concerned with their positions in heaven, i.e. who would be the greatest. Children are not immune to this, so this is not to say that children never struggle with wanting to be first or more important than others. They do. They have human natures, too, just like us. Yet, there is a simplicity about them that can symbolize humility of spirit which is exemplified in their child-like trust and their teachability. The disciples evidently were lacking in this kind of simple trust and faith because they were missing the point of heaven. They were thinking with earthly minds instead of with heavenly thinking (more like a young child).

Parallels in Matthew 10

Jesus had just finished telling his disciples (Matthew 10) that he was sending them out like sheep among wolves. He told them of how they would be hated, persecuted, arrested, brought before councils and flogged in synagogues, betrayed, rejected and treated as an enemy even by their own family members, but that those who stood firm to the end would be saved. Some of them would even be accused of being of Satan, just like had happened to Jesus and to John the Baptist. Yet, Jesus said they were not to fear persecution or opposition from sinful man, but whatever the Lord said to them privately, in their times alone with him, in those quiet and still moments, they were to proclaim openly and publicly. He told them that whoever acknowledges him before men, he will acknowledge before his Father, but whoever disowns him before men, he will disown before his Father.

Then, Jesus said (as recorded in Matt. 10): “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

This is the kind of child-like faith, humility and trust in Jesus that Jesus was talking about in Matthew 18. It has to do with totally abandoning, i.e. completely and unreservedly giving ourselves over to Jesus Christ, like a child will do when he completely trusts someone. The child shows no fear, but will even jump into the air trusting you to catch him, only sometimes without warning you first. J He is not consumed with himself at that moment but can only think of the joy of being in your loving arms. That is the way we are to love Jesus. And, truly he is the only one deserving of such unbridled love and devotion. When we let go of our old lives of sin and we jump into new life with Jesus, then we truly find our lives. He must be in first place in our lives above all else, and his approval of us should always matter more to us than whether or not man (or woman) approves and accepts us. What positions we hold or who is most important does not matter anymore.

Welcome “Little Ones”

Jesus had just finished (Matthew 18) telling his disciples that they must humble themselves like a child in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. Then, he said that whoever welcomes a little child like this (like he exemplified) in his name welcomes him. The next sentence explains the meaning of child as “little ones” who believe in Jesus, so Jesus is referring not just to small children here, but to all who have come to Christ with such child-like faith. He is not meaning at all those who merely claim to have faith in Christ, but all those who have humbled themselves, have repented of their sins, and who have abandoned their lives of sin in order to walk in humble and faithful obedience to Jesus Christ. When we welcome Jesus’ true disciples and we don’t reject, despise, persecute, devalue, and/or dishonor them, we are welcoming him. He said that whatever we do to those who are his followers it is like we are doing it to him (see Matt. 10). Whoever receives us receives Jesus, and he who receives Jesus receives the Father. And if one gives a “cup of cold water” to the “little ones” because they are Jesus’ disciples, he will not lose his reward. A cup of cold water is meant to quench one’s thirst, so this means to offer refreshment, i.e. to encourage, revive, energize, extend kindness and revitalize the Lord’s disciples, the opposite of rejection and persecution.

Cause to Sin

Yet, if anyone goes beyond just rejection and persecution, which is hurtful enough, to actually causing (leading) one of Jesus’ disciples to fall into sin, he or she stands in danger of God’s judgment on him. Having a millstone tied around your neck and drowned in the depths of the sea would pale by comparison to the judgment of God that would await you. Jesus takes sin very seriously. Jesus said “Woe” (anguish; grief; affliction; distress) to the world because of what things cause sin. Satan is the author of sin, he tempts us to sin with his lies and deceptions, and our own sin natures are what lead us into sin. As well, sinful attitudes, unforgiveness, hatred, lust, poor judgment, sinful desires of the flesh, golden opportunities to sin, the worldliness in the church, sinful practices of church leaders, peer pressure, the availability of movies, TV, videos, the internet, smart phones, tablets and the like at our finger tips where we can access the whole world of sin are “things” that lead us to sin. Yet sin is truly a heart issue and is a decision of our own hearts and minds. Outside of faith in Jesus Christ, we are doomed to eternity in hell (eternal punishment; woe). Even with Christ, if we fall into sin and don’t repent, we should experience some level of anguish or distress because of our sin. Sin hurts us and hurts others. That is pain enough!

Then Jesus said something that I believe, Biblically, applies to all sin. Jesus frequently used hyperboles in his illustrations to make a point. A hyperbole is “a deliberate and obvious exaggeration used for effect” (Encarta). And, in this case, he stated that if a part of our bodies caused or led us into sin, such as our eyes or hands, we were to gouge them out (the eye) or cut them off (the hand or foot) and throw them away. He argued that it was better to lose one part of one’s body, rather than the whole body to be thrown into hell because of a sinful lifestyle. This has its counterpart in these passages of scripture:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Heb. 12:1).

“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you” (Jms. 1:21; cf. Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:8; 1 Pet. 2:1).

We are not only to get rid of the sin, but we are to throw off everything (burden or hindrance) that hinders our walk with Christ, i.e. that leads us into sin. We need to rid ourselves of those hindrances to our faithful walks of obedience to Christ Jesus. And, we need to run with perseverance the race marked out for us to run, in repentance, faithfulness and obedience to Christ, so that we can have that “closer walk” with Christ. We must know that Jesus Christ is the very best friend we will ever have. And, we need to treat him like he is really our very best friend, too, which includes forsaking our sins, following him in obedience, and treating others as though what we are doing we are doing to Jesus Christ.

Just a Closer Walk with Thee / Unknown

I am weak, but Thou art strong,

Jesus, keep me from all wrong,

I’ll be satisfied as long

As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,

Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

Daily walking close to Thee,

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

My Very Best Friend / Ron Hamilton – “Patch the Pirate”

Jesus is closer than a brother.

Every moment he is near.

I know he never will forsake me.

He has conquered all my fear.

Jesus is closer than a brother.

On his love I can depend.

King of kings, Lord of lords,

Conquering Son, oh, all of these,

He’s my very best friend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gDeYuckXgQ

On This Rock

Tuesday, May 22, 2012, 6:16 a.m. – I woke several times in the night, and each time the song “Be Still” was playing in my mind: http://youtu.be/l004RIy2PR8. Then when I awoke this morning the song “Not by Might” was playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Matthew 16 (quoting verses 13-28 NIV 1984):

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

My Understanding: The religious leaders (and political leaders), known as the Pharisees and Sadducees, helped comprise the Sanhedrin, the supreme ruling body of the Jews of Jesus’ day, which had its own law enforcement, and had the authority to arrest and to try people, but not to execute them, which is why they had to get the Roman authorities to execute Jesus Christ. These leaders came to Jesus to test him. They wanted a sign from him to show who he was or how he had the authority to do the things he did. He told them the only sign they would receive would be the “sign of Jonah,” because they were a wicked and adulterous generation who knew how to interpret the weather, but could not interpret the “signs of the times.” The signs to which they were obviously oblivious was that Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of prophecy of scripture, that he was indeed the promised Messiah, and that the promised kingdom of heaven was now upon them. That day had now dawned.

Sign of Jonah

The “sign of Jonah” that they were to be given was explained more thoroughly in Matthew 12:38-42. Jonah, because of disobedience to God in refusing to call Nineveh to repent of their sins was thrown into the water and was swallowed by a large fish (maybe a whale), which really was Jonah’s salvation from certain death that would have come had he remained in the water and had drowned. He was in the belly of the big fish 3 days and 3 nights before the Lord had the fish vomit him up, after Jonah called on God in repentance. Jonah then went and told the people of Nineveh that God was going to overturn them in forty days. The people believed Jonah, i.e. they believed God, and perhaps it was because they had heard what had happened to Jonah. The people repented, and God relented.

Though Jesus Christ never sinned, he did, in death, take upon himself the sins of the entire world. From his death to his resurrection there was a span of 3 days. Jonah was a prophet of God, although a reluctant one where Nineveh was concerned. Prophets were spokesmen for God, i.e. they spoke the very words of God to the people. Jesus Christ was not merely a prophet, but he was fully God and fully man – “God with us.” So, when he spoke, he spoke the very words of God to the people, because he was/is God. He was greater than Jonah because Jonah was just a man whereas Jesus was God and he was the promised Messiah of the people who would bring in the kingdom of heaven.

Jonah’s deliverance from certain death apparently served as a sign that he was truly of God, i.e. that he was God’s chosen instrument to bring God’s messages to the people. Jesus, although greater by far than Jonah, would prove himself to be God, the Messiah and our Savior by dying on the cross for our sins, and then by his resurrection back to life. The people repented at the preaching of Jonah. Jesus was saying that the judgment of these religious leaders of his day would be greater because they, unlike Nineveh, did not recognize God’s voice, they did not believe Jesus’ words, and they did not repent.

Jesus then warned his disciples against the “yeast” of these religious leaders. Yeast was a word often used in scripture to describe, not only evil and wickedness, but the way that evil worked its way into people’s hearts and would often spread like gangrene (see 2 Tim. 2:17) to devour, corrode, and consume its victims (evil over good), destroying what were the healthy (spiritually speaking) parts of the body of Christ. This kind of teaching would not only remove truth (eat away at it) but would spread and continue to destroy or corrupt other truths. This is often done deliberately, slowly and subtly in order to be unnoticed by the unsuspecting or the undiscerning Christian. That is why we are given the picture of yeast, because of how it works its way into the whole batch of dough. Paul said: “Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Co. 5:6b-7).

On this Rock

Jesus asked his disciples who other people were saying he was. Then he asked them who they say he is. Peter answered very definitively: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus then told Peter he was blessed because man did not tell him that, but God the Father did, which meant he was listening to God.

Peter’s name meant “rock”, so when Jesus said to Peter, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it,” he was speaking of building his church on Peter himself, or most certainly on Peter’s testimony for Christ. When the Day of Pentecost came after Jesus had ascended into heaven and the disciples were waiting for the promised Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit came, as promised, and the people were amazed at what they were seeing, and some were accusing the disciples of being drunk, Peter was the one who made the first proclamation of the gospel to the people where thousands were saved and the church began (had its inception).

Although Jesus’ words were directed at Peter, they, perhaps, have a much broader application. For one, Jesus is also called our “Rock” and our Redeemer. He is our solid foundation. So, truly the church is built upon Jesus Christ, as well as Jesus Christ is the builder and the capstone (cornerstone). Yet, the apostles and disciples also laid a foundation of the teachings of Christ, of the gospel, and they also built upon that foundation of Christ and his word in helping disciple the church along to maturity. So, in one sense Peter was the rock of which Jesus spoke, but in another sense it was Jesus himself who empowered and filled Peter to be able to preach that message, and who empowers us to preach the gospel, too. So, Peter represents all of Christ’s disciples (us, too), and Peter represented Christ, as do we. Certainly it was the convicting power of the Holy Spirit in people’s hearts and lives that led them to salvation through Christ and thus the church began, and it was not through the persuasive words of man that people were added to the church.

Keys of the Kingdom

This part of the passage (V. 19) about binding and loosing and keys to the kingdom can be a little difficult to understand. If you have keys to a house or a building, it means you have the authority to enter, so first of all this meant that Peter had been given entry into heaven via his faith in Jesus Christ, which he had just declared. Through preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, under the authority and inspiration of Christ and the Holy Spirit of God, he was also opening the kingdom of heaven to all who would listen, who would believe, and who would show they believed by their changed lives. Peter began his sermon with the word “repent,” and in a subsequent sermon he repeated the same message with these words: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19). This message represented the “keys” into the kingdom, i.e. Peter showed them the way into the kingdom – turn from your sins and turn to God/Jesus in faith and obedience. This is the true gospel, and the true gospel holds out the keys for anyone who will respond in faith. All of us who have come to Christ through faith possess the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and we have all been given the responsibility of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others that they may enter, too.

“Follow Me”

Jesus expanded on this idea of having keys to the kingdom, and what those “keys” entail, when he told of his coming suffering and death at the hands of the religious leaders. Peter was an interesting character. He was so passionate! Yet, sometimes his passion was misdirected. He didn’t understand what Jesus was saying. He didn’t understand that Jesus truly had to die, so he wished it otherwise. Jesus took this as Satan trying to dissuade Jesus from what he knew he must do, so he said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Sometimes we can be well-meaning when we try to tell people, “Oh, God wouldn’t allow you to go through that,” or even when we pray sincerely for people to be delivered from trials, because we don’t understand fully that sometimes they need to go through those times so that God’s will can be accomplished in and through their lives. So, perhaps we can sympathize with Peter’s plight. Yet, Jesus knew the cross was a necessary reality in order for us to be saved from our sins, and for us to be able to enter into his eternal kingdom.

Not only was the cross necessary for Christ, but it is also necessary for us, though not in the same way it was for Christ. He took the penalty for our sins so that we could go free from the final judgment of hell, so we could be free from bondage to and control of sin daily, and so we would be free to love, worship, serve and obey Christ/God (in relationship with Him). He provided the keys, in other words. In taking the keys and in applying them to the door to enter, though, we must also die, only not for the sins of ourselves and others, but to our sins, leaving our lives of sin behind us, and turning to walk in faithful obedience to Christ. That is what Jesus meant when he said that if we are going to come after him, we must deny ourselves and take up our cross daily (die daily) and follow (in obedience) him. If we try to hold on to our old lives of sin, we will lose them for eternity, but if we willingly die to our old lives of sinful passions and desires, and we turn to walk in righteousness which Christ has provided through his death and resurrection, then we will gain eternity in heaven. This is not works-based salvation, for it is Jesus who provides the keys (the way) and it is he who gives us the faith, repentance and the ability to obey in his power and his strength within us.

Not By Might / An Original Work / March 29, 2012

Based off Zechariah 4

“Not by might, and not by power,

But by My Spirit,” says our Lord, God.

“Mighty mountain, O what are you?

Before Christ you will become level ground.”

The hands of our Lord, Savior God,

Formed the foundation of His church.

He alone will complete the work

He began in His servants’ hearts and minds.

Who despises small beginnings?

Much can be done in Christ’s strength within.

Be of courage, and trust your Lord.

All sufficient He is for all your needs.

Opposition and apathy:

Holy Spirit will set us free!

We can be overcomers in our faith

In our Lord, and our Savior, King.

Don’t be troubled by God’s timing.

He has ev’rything in His command.

Hasten to obey His commands fully,

Trusting Him to work all for good.

Not by might nor by human strength,

But by God’s power; strength within;

My dependency now on His working

His will in me in righteousness.

http://youtu.be/bX2houWB_HE

Growing in Your Grace

Monday, May 21, 2012, 6:28 a.m. – The Lord woke me this morning with the song “Your Grace Divine.” Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Matthew 14 (quoting vv. 22-36 NIV 1984):

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

My Understanding: Herod heard reports about Jesus. He decided that Jesus was a “risen from the dead” John the Baptist, and that is why Jesus had such miraculous powers at work in him. Herod had previously arrested John and had him placed in prison because John confronted him with his unlawful act of taking his brother’s wife to be his own. Herod wanted to kill John, but did not do so for fear of the people who considered him a prophet. Yet, he made an unwise promise to a young girl whose dance pleased him, and thus he felt forced (obligated) to keep the promise. He had John beheaded, and his head brought to the girl on a platter. The girl then gave it to her mother (Herodias), who had given the girl the idea. John’s disciples took John’s body and buried it, and then they told Jesus. “When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place” (V.13a).

Compassion

When the crowds heard about this, they followed Jesus on foot. When Jesus landed his boat, he was met by this crowd. Even though he was most certainly saddened by the news of John’s beheading, and we cannot even begin to fathom all that was going through his mind at that time, yet he had compassion on the crowd and he healed their sick. He put aside his own feelings and cared for the needs of others. He also saw that they were hungry, and so he miraculously fed five thousand men plus women and children with just five loaves of bread and two fish, and had leftovers to boot.

What a great example to us of a servant’s heart that we can all learn from and pattern our own lives after. I pray, Lord, that you will teach me to be a servant like this. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Immediately!

After the people had been fed, Jesus sent his disciples to go ahead of him by boat to the other side. Then, he went up on a mountainside to pray. He still needed that time to himself and with the Father. That had been interrupted earlier by the crowds coming to Jesus and Jesus responding with compassion. So now he resumed that time.

He has set the example for us here, too, of our need to have time to ourselves to pray to our Lord. We need that time for our relationship with the Lord, for our own mental and spiritual strength and encouragement, to guide, lead, counsel and instruct us in the right way to go, and to strengthen and empower us for ministry, too.

I pray, Lord, for the wisdom to know when it is necessary for me to be alone with you, and when it is more important, at that time, to leave my time alone with you and to show love and compassion to others in meeting their needs. Give me a discerning spirit to know that correct balance I pray in Jesus’ name.

Take Courage!

It was now evening. I don’t know how long Jesus had been on the mountainside in his time of prayer with the Father. Yet, some time had passed because the boat was already “a considerable distance from land.” The boat was suffering the ill effects of some strong wind and waves.

Between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m. (the fourth watch of the night) Jesus went to them, walking on the water (on the lake). The disciples were terrified. They thought he was a ghost. I love Jesus’ words back to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Awesome! I love it when he speaks those words to me during times when I feel afraid or am confused over some circumstances in my life.

Jesus was assuring them that he was in control. We don’t have to fear things we don’t understand or be afraid of the results of storms we are presently going through. Jesus is with us. He will give us all we need. He knew this was going to happen. And, he has a plan and a purpose for it in our lives if we will but trust him with the results.

Lord Jesus, I pray for the strength and courage to trust you in all the circumstances of my life, to be sensitive to those times when I need to be alone with you, to be equally as sensitive to those times when I need to show love and compassion to others and to forget my own needs, and to believe that you have orchestrated all aspects of my life for your divine purposes and for your glory. Amen!

If It’s You

Peter’s doubt began before he ever stepped on the water. I don’t know if I ever noticed that before. The Lord had just told them to not be afraid, to have courage, and to assure them that indeed it was him walking to them and not a ghost. Yet Peter responded “If it’s you…”

Jesus agreed to Peter’s request, nonetheless, and he told him to come to him on the water. Jesus certainly knew that Peter did not have the faith to walk on the water, yet he allowed him to come. I think sometimes the Lord allows us to step out in areas where we think we have the faith to make it only to reveal to us that we are lacking in faith and that we need to trust him more. He allows us to go ahead, and even to make fools of ourselves sometimes, because we didn’t listen to him the first time he spoke to us, because we thought we knew better or we thought we understood what he would have us do. Yet, he knows, too, that those times when our faith is weak will ultimately reveal to us just how much we need the Lord and that we cannot go this alone.

We began with doubts but stepped out anyway, so when life’s difficult situations present themselves to us, we shake in our boots and we begin to crash in despair. Yet, that recognition that we can’t do it should lead us to call on Jesus to save us. It is in those times that Jesus’ compassion takes over and he reaches out his loving hand to us and catches us from drowning.

He may chide us for our lack of faith, too, but that’s ok because he loves us and he’s just letting us know how very much he does not want to see us drown and how much he longs for us to believe in him and to know that he is working always in our behalf, and that his plans and purposes for us will prevail. Jesus will reveal to us that he is not oblivious, unconcerned, uncaring or thoughtless about what we are going through, but that he cares very much. He may not calm the physical circumstances we are going through, but he will bring peace and calm to our hearts when we stop fretting and we begin praying and trusting.

Lord Jesus, I pray that you will always let me know when I lack faith and when I need to trust you more, that you will teach me what I need to learn through the trials of my life, that you will give me the faith, strength and courage and wisdom I need to respond correctly to life’s situations that present themselves to me every day, and that you will grow me in your grace, teaching me to love with your love. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Your Grace Divine / An Original Work / November 6, 2011

All I have is Yours, Lord.

You gave all to me,

When You died at Calv’ry

On that cruel tree.

Crucified for my sins;

You paid what I owe,

So I’d be forgiven;

My God come to know.

All I have is Yours, Lord.

You gave all to me,

When You died at Calv’ry

On that cruel tree.

Lord, I am so thankful

For Your grace divine.

I invited You, Lord,

In this heart of mine.

I have been forgiven

For all of my sins,

So I’d live with Jesus;

His grace flow within.

Lord, I am so thankful

For Your grace divine.

I invited You, Lord,

In this heart of mine.

Growing in Your grace, Lord;

Live for You each day;

How I love to worship

You throughout my day.

Sitting at Your feet, Lord,

List’ning to You speak,

Leads me to love You, Lord,

More throughout the week.

Growing in Your grace, Lord;

Live for You each day;

How I love to worship

You throughout my day.

http://youtu.be/JmJkwp-jhz4

http://www.godcares.tv/video/1290/Your-Grace-Divine

Not Without Cost

Sunday, May 20, 2012, 6:49 a.m. – The Lord woke me with this song in mind:

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer / Thomas O. Chisholm / W. J. Kirkpatrick

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,

Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,

Holy and harmless, patient and brave;

Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,

Willing to suffer others to save.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,

Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Matthew 13:44-46, 53-58 (NIV 1984):

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it…

When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”

And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

My Understanding: The kingdom of heaven began with Jesus’ earthly ministry and will be culminated in his return and in his kingdom reign on the earth. The kingdom was present in Jesus Christ while he was on the face of the earth – in his teachings, ministry, healings, deeds, words, actions, attitudes, behavior, etc. He was/is the embodiment of the kingdom. The kingdom also includes the gospel of salvation, the church (the body of Christ), the present ministry of Christ on this earth through his followers via the working of the Holy Spirit in and through us, our eternal salvation, and the promise and hope of eternity with God in heaven. When we invite Jesus Christ into our lives to be our Lord and Savior, we come into the kingdom of heaven via God’s grace, by faith, and we invite the kingdom of God to come within us, to dwell with us, and to be lived out through us.

Jesus said the kingdom of heaven was like a treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, hid it for safekeeping, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought the field. The reason he did it this way was that the treasure could not be his until he was the rightful owner of the field on which the treasure was found. A merchant (business person; trader; seller; retailer), i.e. “somebody who buys and sells goods” (Encarta) for a living was looking for fine pearls. A pearl, besides being a costly gem, is also “somebody or something highly esteemed or valued” (Encarta). Pearls of wisdom involve insight, wisdom, advice or godly principles governing one’s behavior. In Matthew 7:6 we learn: “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.” This, I believe, has to do with not giving the message of the gospel or words of godly counsel and wisdom to those who refuse it. So, a pearl is something that is precious, highly valued, of great worth, and is a picture of the kingdom of heaven. When the merchant found the right one, he sold everything and bought it.

Selling All

The kingdom of heaven is thus compared to a hidden treasure or a costly gem. And, the only way to get this treasure is through selling (getting rid of; giving up) all we possess in order to attain the treasure. Jesus said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it” (Luke 9:23-24). Paul said: “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ... For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin — because anyone who has died has been freed from sin” (Ro. 6:1-3, 6-7). The way we gain the kingdom of heaven is through death to ourselves and to our old lives of sin. Daily we must die to sin (repent – turn from) and follow (obey) Jesus Christ.

This does not necessarily mean that we sell everything we own that is of material value, though the Lord may require that of some, but what it means is that we give ourselves unreservedly to Jesus Christ, and we willingly leave behind us all the trappings of the world, all our sins, all idols of this world, worldly pleasures, anything displeasing to God and/or that is of the flesh of man, and all our rights to ownership of all that we possess in worldly wealth or possessions, in the sense of not holding on to the things of this life, and in recognition that this world is not our home. Romans 12:1-2 fits so well here:

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Buying Everything

Not only did the man who discovered the treasure and the merchant who found the pearl sell all they had, but the man bought the field and the merchant bought the pearl. Ephesians 4:17-24 gives us a Biblical picture of the reality of what Jesus Christ intended by these parables:

“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Putting off the old self is the same as selling all we have. Being made new in the attitude of our minds and putting on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness is the same as buying the field with the hidden treasure or buying the pearl. This is what the kingdom of heaven is like. Jesus paid the price for our sins so we could go free both from the penalty (eternity in hell) of sin and the control of sin over our everyday lives. He made it possible for us to enter into the kingdom of heaven. We don’t have to die for our sins if we come to Christ by faith. Yet, entry into God’s kingdom is not without cost entirely. Our heart response to what Jesus Christ did for us is to die to our old lives of sin and to be resurrected to new lives in Christ Jesus, to walk in obedience to Christ, to live for him, to be his witnesses, to serve him in whatever ways he has for us to serve, and to love others, etc.

Instead of laying up treasures on this earth, we are to lay up treasures in heaven (see Matt. 6:19-20). We should view everything in this life from an eternal perspective. This takes daily discipline to get our minds off the things of this life and to place them on the things of everlasting value, I know from experience. Certainly we have to be earthly minded to some extent for we have jobs, responsibilities, chores, errands, kids, grandkids, shopping, bills to pay, houses and automobiles to keep up, etc. So, we cannot be entirely removed from this life. Yet, the Bible teaches that we are to be in the world but not of it, and that we are not to love the things of this world, i.e. they are not to be our passion, desire, longing, what consumes our time, attention, resources and/or what we value most, talk about most, and/or what we live for. God – Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit, living holy lives pleasing to God, loving others like Christ loved us in giving himself for us, and sharing the gospel of Christ should be our passion and desire. We should give up all else (yield ownership; give up the hold the things of this world have on us) in order to gain Christ and his kingdom.

Without Honor

When we give up all for Jesus and we choose to no longer be controlled by sin or to follow the pattern of this world, but we choose to follow Jesus Christ and his teachings, and we choose to be lights in this dark world for the kingdom of God and for the gospel of Christ, Jesus said we, as his disciples, would face the same kind of treatment he faced. He said we would be hated and persecuted, and not just by people outside the church, either. Jesus’ greatest persecutors and the ones who sent him to the cross were the religious leaders in the temple. Sometimes our greatest persecution will come from those within our church family or within our own homes. Jesus said that would be the case. That is how they treated Jesus, and if we are making it our goal to be like him, we can be guaranteed not everyone is going to like it or like us. In fact, Jesus said that we lack honor the most from those closest to us, not that we are all prophets, but we are the Lord’s servants and witnesses. So to be dishonored and rejected is part of the cost of gaining the kingdom of heaven, too.

No Less / An Original Work / March 19, 2012

I can do no less than praise You,

Lord, for all You’ve done for me.

You died for my sins to save me,

So I would be set free.

I adore You! Lord, I praise You!

Jesus, Savior, King of kings!

You provided my redemption.

Your grace has pardoned me.

I can do no less than serve You.

Lord, Your witness I would be,

Telling others of Your love,

And why You died on that tree.

Tell of how You gave of Your life,

So from sin we’d be set free,

So we could worship You forever,

And live eternally.

I can do no less than love You,

Lord, for You have first loved me.

You gave of Your life so willing,

Because You cared for me.

Turn from my sin! Obey freely!

Live for You each passing day.

Read Your word, and follow Your lead,

Lord, as I humbly pray.

http://www.godcares.tv/video/1483/No-Less

http://youtu.be/ntBP1BhcyzQ

Scattering Seed

Friday, May 18, 2012, 8:42 a.m. – After I awoke this morning, the Lord put the song “I’m Not Ashamed” in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Matthew 12-13, and sensed that I was to focus this morning on chapter 13:1-23 (NIV 1984):

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear.”

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;

    though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;

    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

For this people’s heart has become calloused;

    they hardly hear with their ears,

    and they have closed their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

    hear with their ears,

    understand with their hearts

and turn, and I would heal them.’

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

My Understanding: Jesus often taught in parables. Parable – “a short simple story intended to illustrate a moral or religious lesson”; synonym: allegory – “a work in which the characters and events are to be understood as representing other things and symbolically expressing a deeper, often spiritual, moral, or political meaning” (Encarta).

The disciples asked Jesus why he spoke in parables. Jesus explained that it was because only those with eyes to see and ears to hear could understand what Jesus was saying (teaching), i.e. only those willing and receptive would be given spiritual understanding. Hearing Jesus teach in parables required the listener to either ignore the teaching, i.e. to refuse to hear, to see and/or to understand, and to harden his or her heart to the truth, or else it required time spent with Jesus at his feet, listening to his words, asking for understanding, patiently waiting on God to answer, seeking God’s face in prayer, repenting of sin, obeying Christ’s commands and in the process growing closer to Christ.

Here Jesus told the parable of the sower. The sower scattered the seed, and it fell on various types of soil. The sower is ultimately God, yet we also, as Christ’s representatives, are to be sowers in scattering the seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ; the message about the kingdom of heaven (Matt 13:19; 1 Co. 9:11; 2 Co. 9:6, 10; 1 Jn. 3:9). As we scatter the seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we will, as well, encounter varied types of soil, i.e. varied types of responses to the gospel message. The soil, thus, represents people’s hearts.

First heart response

Some seed “fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.” The respondent heard the message of the kingdom of heaven (the gospel), but did not understand it. So, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in the person’s heart. I have watched this happen before. I have seen people begin to respond to the gospel message only to have the truth snatched right away from them. Yet, although it was Satan who snatched the truth from the person’s heart, the problem did not originate with Satan. He was merely taking advantage of an opportunity already presented to him by the heart response of the individual who heard the truth, but then closed his or her eyes and ears to the message. “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.”

Second heart response

Some seed “fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.” “The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.”

The soil (heart) was shallow. Shallow means “of little depth,” and this case it refers to the person’s character, i.e. the person is superficial, insincere, artificial, phony, and his or her reception to the gospel was in appearance only, perhaps. The soil was also rocky, i.e. it was shaky, unsteady, unsound, unstable, uncertain, and wavering. In other words, the gospel never really took root in the person’s heart, because his acceptance of the truth was superficial.

I believe this is prevalent today with the insurgence of “gospel-lite” being preached from so many pulpits in today’s church. They are trying to make the gospel palatable to all who hear it so that they will be “saved.” Yet, they water it down to where it is no gospel at all. They tell their listeners that they don’t have to repent of their sins or obey Christ, and they give them a false notion that God is pleased with them no matter what they do. It sounds good, and it doesn’t cost them anything, and so they jump on board, but the real truth of the gospel never takes root in their hearts, and so when trouble or persecution comes, they quickly fall away, because the “gospel-lite” did not prepare them for that.

Third heart response

“Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.” “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.”

Remember here that the soil represents the person’s heart response to the gospel. This person had a “thorny” heart, i.e. his or her heart was tough, hard, difficult, perhaps fighting back God’s truths from truly taking root in his heart by being controversial, thick-headed, or by insulting the spirit of grace by deliberately continuing in sin (see Heb. 10:26-31). This person is more concerned with the things of this life in this world than with spiritual matters and eternal values. He or she probably fights off the conviction of the Holy Spirit and is determined to continue on his own path. Since his or her trust is in the things of this life, and not in the Lord, then eventually the cares of this world choke out what truth had begun to work its way into the person’s heart. The individual then was unfruitful.

What is Fruit?

Fruit - “the product or consequence of something done” (Encarta); yield; outgrowth; result; reward; fruition; outcome. “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” – turning from sin (Lk. 3:8a). “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (Jn. 15:4). “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (Jn. 15:8). “For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death” (Ro. 7:5). “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Gal. 5:22-23).

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Eph. 5:8-11). “All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth” (Col. 1:6b). “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father…” (Col. 1:10-12a).

If someone is unfruitful, he or she is not repentant, he does not remain in Christ for he follows still the ways of this world, he is not truly a disciple of Christ, he is still controlled by the sinful nature, he is still walking in darkness, he is not living a life pleasing to God, he is not a participant in the scattering of the seed of the true gospel of Jesus Christ, and he is not growing in Christ - not being strengthened with the power of the Holy Spirit within him, so that means he is not truly a follower of Christ and he and soils 1 and 2 are also not truly saved, and are not disciples of Christ.

Fourth heart response

Only one soil represents the truly saved, and true followers of Jesus Christ who have ears to hear, and eyes to see, and so have turned (repented) and have been healed spiritually (saved from their sins and have the promise and hope of eternity in heaven with God). They are not only saved from their sins, but they produce a crop, yielding far more than what was sown. In other words, these are people who do not hide their light under a bushel, but who share the gospel with others by life example, in testimony of their own salvation, and in deliberately giving out the good news to others so that they, too, can be saved from their sins. May we be the kind of soil that hears the word, believes it, puts it into practice in our daily lives, bears spiritual fruit, and that shares the gospel of Jesus Christ with others so that they, too, can come to know Christ as Lord and Savior.

I’m Not Ashamed / An Original Work / February 15, 2012

Based off Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Rom. 1:16-17

Go into all the world,

And tell them the Good News,

Making disciples of all the nations,

Baptizing them in the name of the Father

And of the Holy Spirit,

And of the Son,

Teaching them to obey

Ev’rything I have commanded you,

And surely I am with you,

E’en to the end of the age.

You will receive power

When the Holy Spirit

Comes on you;

My witnesses you will be

In Samaria, Judea, and Jerusalem,

And to the ends of the earth, amen!

You will receive power

When the Holy Spirit comes on you,

My witnesses you will be

Unto the ends of the earth.

I’m not ashamed of the

Gospel of my Jesus.

For salvation, it’s the power of God.

For in the gospel a righteousness

From God is made known,

A righteousness that is by faith.

I’m not ashamed of the

Gospel of my Jesus.

For salvation, it’s the power of God.

The righteous will live by faith.

http://youtu.be/HwLRP5rCJ5s

http://www.godcares.tv/video/1472/Im-Not-Ashamed

Doubts and Fears

Thursday, May 17, 2012, 8:25 a.m. – The Lord woke me this morning with the song “Our Eyes on Jesus” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Matthew 11:1-19, 28-30:

After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,

    who will prepare your way before you.’

I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. He who has ears, let him hear.

“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

“‘We played the flute for you,

    and you did not dance;

we sang a dirge,

    and you did not mourn.’

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”

My Understanding: I find it interesting how the Lord often has me go through personally in my life what he is having me teach so that I get it, and so that I apply it to my life. The last several lessons, this one included, have spoken right to my own life situations. God is doing a work in my heart in teaching me to trust him more and to not give way to discouragement. He is teaching me to take my eyes off the things of this world, and to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus. He is teaching me to focus my heart and mind on what has eternal value, and to not sweat the small stuff. He is helping me to not be distracted by the things of this world, but to keep an eternal perspective, to know he is in control over all things, that he allows everything he brings into my life for a purpose, and that I am to just trust him to work it all out for my good, the good of others, and for the praise and honor of God.

Doubt and Discouragement

John the Baptist was a pillar of faith. He was chosen by God to be the forerunner of Jesus Christ, and to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. He demonstrated much faith and perseverance, even in the face of much opposition throughout his ministry. Yet, he was human, too. No matter how great our faith and resolve may be, we are still clay vessels in earthly bodies that wear out and have minds that are not always as sharp and responsive as we would like them to be. We still bleed. We hurt, we get tired, and sometimes discouragement, disappointment and/or doubt can begin to settle in and to take over.

John was in prison, perhaps for a long time. We don’t know exactly what he faced while in prison. Yet, he was not shut out entirely from the outside world. He was able to receive news of what Jesus Christ was doing. Yet, the reports appear to have brought some kind of confusion to his mind, because he sent his disciples to inquire of Jesus as to whether he truly was the promised Messiah, or if they should expect someone else.

This seems an odd question of John to ask of Jesus. After all, he is the one who said about Jesus: “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” And, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” [Taken from John 1]

So, how is it that John was moved from such a public and profound declaration of Jesus Christ; of who he was and is, to sending his disciples to inquire of Jesus if he truly is the one? What caused discouragement and/or doubt to settle in to one of such great faith and determination? He was human. He was in prison. Perhaps there were aspects of Jesus’ ministry that he felt should be different than they were, and so he began to question whether he had completely understood who Jesus was and what he was supposed to do.

I’ve been there. There have been times in my life when circumstances seemed to dictate or else opposition seemed to indicate that maybe I was not hearing God correctly, or that I did not understand his word like I thought I did. And, so I inquired of the Lord during those times and asked him, “Did I get it right or wrong?” I wanted to make sure before I proceeded. Perhaps this is where John was, too.

There was much opposition to Jesus’ ministry. Some believe John expected Jesus to also come in judgment at that time, because scripture prophesied that he would not only come to take away the sins of the world, but he would also come in judgment (see Isaiah 61). Whatever the reason, John was experiencing doubt, and so he looked to Jesus for some kind of reassurance.

I’ve been there, too. Sometimes Jesus chastised me ever so gently for my lack of faith. Other times he came through with strong reassurances that calmed my fears and that brought peace. Sometimes he has had to correct my faulty thinking or to make a heart attitude adjustment in my life. I believe Jesus did so with John the Baptist, too. He let him know, by the things he reported, that he was indeed the fulfillment of prophesy (Is. 61), and that he was the promised Messiah. John had it right. There was not another to come. Yet, he also gently rebuked him for doubting and fearing while at the same time he encouraged him to persevere and to not give up hope, just because of opposition or because Jesus had not completely fulfilled, at that time, all prophesy concerning himself.

In Defense of John

John’s disciples began to leave. A crowd had gathered. Perhaps the crowd overheard what Jesus told John’s disciples to tell him. Jesus had the advantage of knowing what people were thinking or what was in their hearts. Perhaps the crowd was passing judgment on John because of the question he asked Jesus. It is so easy to judge by outward appearance, and maybe the crowd was being quick to draw wrong conclusions about John. Whatever the reason, Jesus decided to set everyone’s minds straight on who John was, and who Jesus was, too.

John was not easily swayed by public opinion. He didn’t lack judgment and discernment. He was not unstable or faithless in his devotion to God. He just had some questions in his mind, and he needed some clarity. Then, he was good. I understand that. John also was not a wealthy man or a man of power and great influence. He was a humble and obedient servant of Almighty God. And, he was a prophet, i.e. he spoke the very words of God to the people. Yet Jesus said he was more than a prophet, for he was the fulfillment of prophesy of scripture concerning the one who would come before the Messiah to prepare the way for him. In that statement Jesus was also declaring himself to be the Messiah.

Jesus said that, from the days of John the Baptist, which also included the beginning of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, the “kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” The kingdom of heaven has its embodiment in Jesus Christ. John was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. So, he was part of the “forceful men” who were advancing the kingdom. He preached the need for repentance (turning from sin) because the kingdom was near. Forceful means “characterized by strength and power” (Encarta). He had the strength and power of the Spirit of God on him, and it was in that strength and power that the kingdom was advanced (spread; progressed; moved forward; proceeded). Jesus was dispelling any myths that John was no longer one of those “forceful men” who lay hold (grasp; seize) of the kingdom and who cause it to move forward. John’s character and mission had not changed. He just needed some clarification and some answers.

Then Jesus addressed the people of his generation (his contemporaries). Again, he knew their hearts, but he also heard the words they said and saw their actions. This was evidently in reference to the ministries of Jesus and John, i.e. that the people wanted Jesus and John to be something other than who they were, and who they were called to be. The word “dance” has the connotation here of being asked to change one’s behavior, so when it says here, “You did not dance,” it means that you did not give in and change who you are. John and Jesus were both being criticized and rejected because of the way they lived. Yet, “wisdom is proved right by her actions,” i.e. in God’s providence these men were exactly who they were supposed to be, and doing precisely what they were predestined to do. Basically, the people did not like the messages Jesus and John were preaching, so they wanted them to change and become more like men, rather than obeying God the Father.

You and Me

We are going to have times in our lives when we question our own abilities to understand clearly the words of Jesus. John wasn’t doubting Jesus, but his own understanding of who Jesus was. He had some confusion in his mind because his understanding was not complete. None of us have perfect understanding all the time. Sometimes we will need clarification. Yet, that did not mean that John was no longer a godly man or that he was less than who he was called to be. He just needed some reassurance from Jesus. And, there will be times in our lives when we will need reassurance, too. Sometimes Jesus will have to correct our faulty thinking and/or to rearrange our priorities in order to give us that reassurance, though. Often we will need to have our thinking brought back into the right perspective. Yet, a correct response to Jesus’ correction in our lives will bring with it much wisdom.

Satan likes to hit us when we’re down. And, he will use humans to do his work, whether they are willing participants or not. Some might seize the opportunity of our obvious time of weakness to attack or accuse falsely. Yet, Jesus will be our ready defense if we are living rightly before him. Satan is the great accuser, and he will use these times to try to get us to get down on ourselves and to give up working for the Lord, but we must not give up ever! We must keep on believing, trusting and obeying, even if we don’t understand everything. We will have people in our generation who think we should be just like them, and that we should do all the same things they do, and if we don’t, we are termed “not normal.” Yet, it is at these times when we must stay focused on Jesus, and not on man or our circumstances, and we must allow God to do his work in our hearts and lives to change us, to mold us, and to make us into the people of God he wants us to be.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Our Eyes on Jesus / An Original Work / April 23, 2012

Based off Hebrews 12:2-13

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.

Our faith starts and grows in Him,

Who for the joy set before Him

Endured all our sin.

Scorning the shame of the cross,

He sat down beside God above.

He was willing to die for us,

To save us, in love.

Think about the opposition

He endured from sinful men,

So when you go through life’s trials,

You stay strong within.

Knowing all He went through for us

Helps us not grow weak of heart;

Not grow weary; don’t give up;

And not from Him depart.

In your struggle against sin’s ways,

Resist not to shed your blood.

Have you forgotten the words

God spoke to us in love?

“My child, don’t ignore it when

The Lord corrects you; do faint not,

Because the Lord disciplines those

That He loves, of God.”

God rebukes us all for our good;

Share with Him in holiness.

It produces a harvest of

God’s own righteousness.

Therefore, strengthen all within you

That is weak and might give way.

Stand firm in the faith God gives you;

Trust Him and obey.

http://youtu.be/42vBVB1ERjI

Not a Rosy Picture

Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 6:56 a.m. – The Lord woke me this morning with the song “Do Your Best” - http://youtu.be/ZDijxGceCLE. The song is based off 2 Timothy 2: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%202&version=NIV1984. 2 Timothy 2 actually parallels today’s passage in Matthew 10 in many respects. I will quote selected verses from the New International Version of the Bible (1984), Matthew 10:

He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness…

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “... As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give…

“If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town... I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

“Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you…

“All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another…

“A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!

“So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword… a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it… http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2010&version=NIV1984

My Understanding: A disciple of Christ is a follower of Christ. He had many, yet he chose twelve to follow him physically in ministry, to go where he went, and to do the work of the ministry to which he had called them. He taught them, trained them, set the example before them, counseled, nurtured, loved and cared for them. They followed him, learned from his teaching and example, and loved him, too. Right before he left the earth to go back to heaven, he commanded his disciples to make disciples (of Christ) of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all that Jesus Christ had commanded. So, a disciple is one who spends time with Jesus, who goes where he goes, who listens to him teach, and who obeys his commands. A disciple is a student, a trainee, a servant and a coworker for Christ.  

Although some of Jesus’ instructions here were clearly specific to those twelve, much of Jesus’ instructions here also apply to us today. Those are the instructions we will learn about today. When we come to faith in Jesus Christ we, too, become followers and disciples of Jesus Christ. I pray, Lord, that you teach me what you want me to learn today. Amen.

The Commission

First of all, their authority to do what they did came from Jesus Christ. He has given us that same authority. We, as followers of Christ, have Jesus, in the person of the Holy Spirit, living within us, so we have the Word dwelling within our hearts and lives teaching us all things; guiding, directing, and counseling, etc., just like Jesus did with his disciples when he lived and walked on the earth. So, we have the authority of his Holy Spirit within us speaking to and through us, and we have the authority of the written word of God by which we teach and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. We do not speak with words of worldly wisdom, but we speak with words of wisdom gained from time spent at Jesus’ feet.

Jesus commanded them to go, and then he gave them the message they were to preach: “The kingdom of heaven is near.” John the Baptist preached: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Jesus began his ministry with the same message as that of John the Baptist. So, one could conclude that “Repent” was a given or was understood to be included. The gospel message itself requires repentance (turning from sin) and turning to walk in faithful obedience to Jesus Christ, so they would have known that in preaching the gospel that repentance and forgiveness of sins was required for entry into the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven began with Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, includes all that he was and is, why he came, the plan of salvation, the promise of eternity, and will culminate in Jesus Christ’s return to judge, to gather his elect, and to rule and reign.  

Jesus also told them that they were to “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, and drive out demons.” They were to give as they had been given.

When I gave prayerful thought to this command, the Lord gave me another understanding of it besides just the obvious. The Bible lists the various spiritual gifts, and healing as “gifts of healing” (see 1 Co. 12). Just as there are various needs of healing (physical, emotional, spiritual), there are also varied ways in which we can receive healing. We may have a physical impairment, and yet our greater need is to be healed spiritually or emotionally, because God intends to use that impairment (weakness) for his purposes and glory in our lives and through our lives (example: Joni Eareckson Tada). We can heal with a kind word, a hug, a word of encouragement, a meal, a scripture, a labor of love, etc. We are to show love and compassion for people just like Jesus did. People can be spiritually or emotionally dead, and by giving them the gospel and/or by giving them words of counsel from God’s holy word, we can “raise the dead” emotionally or spiritually. We, as well, can drive out demons by preaching the truth of the gospel, by teaching the truth of God’s word, and by exposing lies and bringing people to the knowledge of the truth. We can also do this through acts of love and kindness. In other words, we are to be Jesus to the world around us.

The Persecution

Jesus did not paint a rosy picture for his disciples of what it would be like to be one of Christ’s followers. They would suffer in all (or most all) the ways he suffered. Yet, through suffering they would be humbled, learn obedience, learn to die to self and to give to others, sympathize and be compassionate toward others who are suffering, and learn right ways of responding to injustice, persecution and suffering. They would grow closer to Christ through suffering, would be made holy, would learn perseverance and determination, and would become more passionate for Christ and for his gospel had they not gone through suffering.

Jesus did not tell them that everyone would jump for joy at the message of the gospel. Many people like the false gospel-lite and the broad road to heaven, but they don’t like it when you preach the truth of the gospel and the narrow path to heaven. The true gospel confronts sin in sinful man, calls it what it is, and calls for repentance and obedience (faith requirements). Some or many would reject the message of the gospel. If the message was rejected, Jesus said they were to brush the dust off their feet and go someplace else. Jesus said he was sending them out like “sheep among wolves.” They were to be discerning and not easily persuaded away from the truth of the gospel, but were to be bold in their witness for Christ, yet they were also to be innocent of evil and gentle and loving in all ways.

They were not to be surprised when they were persecuted for the sake of the gospel, but they were to expect it and to prepare for it mentally, emotionally and spiritually. They were not to worry ahead of time about what might happen or what they would do in any eventuality, but they were to know that persecution is a given, and that they should trust the Lord to give them all they need to endure it and to respond correctly to it. I am still learning this. They would be persecuted not only by the world and government, but they would be persecuted, too, in the synagogues. I think when the world persecutes us we can handle it so much better than when we are mistreated by our own, either in the church or by members of our own family. Yet, Jesus told them they would be treated like he was treated, and it was his own people and even some of his own family members who were his greatest opponents. We will be hated even by our own family members because of our stand for Christ and our testimony for him and his gospel message. We may even be called “of Satan,” just like Jesus was accused.

Protection and Affection

Yet, we are not to be afraid of men (or women) and what they can do to us. We are to make sure we are walking in obedience to Jesus Christ, that we are teaching the truth of his word and of his gospel, that we are standing strong in our faith and on our testimony for Christ, and that we do not back down, hide our faith, shrink back, give up, and/or deny Christ or refuse to acknowledge him before men. If we acknowledge (confess; honor) Christ before men, he will acknowledge us before his Father in heaven, but if we disown him by our words, actions, and attitudes (collectively), he will disown us. Rather than fear man and what he might do to us, we should honor, value, esteem, respect, revere and love Almighty God so much that we would never want to dishonor him before men. Our love for Christ must always exceed our love for mankind. And, we should always choose him first.

Jesus said we are not to be afraid of man, but we are to tell them whatever he tells us to tell them, and in the manner in which he guides us to tell them (by his example). He will not leave us or forsake us. He will protect us emotionally, spiritually and perhaps even physically. He will fill us with his peace, joy, assurances, encouragement, hope, and counsel because he loves us and because he cares about even the minutest details of our lives.

Yet, we are still human beings. Even though Christ has called us to be his disciples, and he has promised to be with us and to give us all that we need, when we are persecuted, hated, rejected, abandoned, betrayed, mocked, misunderstood, and mistreated for the sake of the gospel, especially by those within the church and in our own families, it hurts. We still bleed just like everyone else. We don’t become emotionless zombies or even uncaring or unsympathetic toward others just because we are called to preach the gospel in all its truth. We know the truth hurts, and we don’t like hurting others anymore than anyone else does. We are not to be categorized as choleric or autocratic just because we must speak what Jesus commands us to speak. Some of us do it with great fear and trembling. And, we do care whether or not we hurt others or we are hurt in the process, too. Yet, the acceptance or rejection of others cannot be the determining factor in our decision to obey or not obey Christ; in whether to share the gospel or to hide it under a bushel. We must obey Christ, and we must trust the Lord to heal all wounds, including our own.

Broken and Contrite / An Original Work / May 13, 2012

I come before You, Lord, my Savior,

With humble heart and crushed in spirit.

I bow before You, I implore You,

Heal my broken heart, I pray.

Love You, Jesus, Lord, my master,

You are the King of my heart.

Lord, purify my heart within me;

Sanctify me, whole within.

I come before You, Lord, my Savior,

With humble heart and crushed in spirit.

I bow before You, I implore You,

Heal my broken heart, I pray.

Oh, Lord, I long to obey fully

The words You’ve spoken through Your Spirit.

I pray You give me grace and mercy,

Strength and wisdom to obey.

Father God, my heart’s desire,

Won’t You set my heart on fire?

Lord, cleanse my heart of all that hinders

My walk with You, now I pray.

Oh, Lord, I long to obey fully

The words You’ve spoken through Your Spirit.

I pray You give me grace and mercy,

Strength and wisdom to obey.

Oh, Jesus, Savior, full of mercy,

My heart cries out for understanding.

I want to follow You in all ways,

Never straying from Your truth.

Holy Spirit, come in power,

Fill me with Your love today.

Lord, mold and make me;

Your hands formed me;

Live Your life through me, I pray.

Oh, Jesus, Savior, full of mercy,

My heart cries out for understanding.

I want to follow You in all ways,

Never straying from Your truth.

http://youtu.be/3pskAZtELrk