Matt. 19:1-26; Mark 10:1-27; Luke 18:15-27
After Jesus final departure from Galilee, He entered into Peraea. Imagine his delight of revisiting the same area where He began his ministry starting with his baptism. However he knew of his impending death. This became a new chapter in His life which would become saddened and yet unwilling to stray away from His goal; the Redemption of Man...
Remember my last post where the leaders asked Jesus about divorce? Well, soon afterward, a rich young man came to Jesus inquiring about eternal life. Jesus read his heart from the beginning and saw he was more interested in his earthly possessions than his spiritual and eternal life. Jesus posed the question to him, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and then thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me." Although the young man wanted eternal life, he was unwilling to part with his possessions. He could not pay the price asked of him. All that money, and no way to buy his way out!
"In the observations He made He did not expressly say that to part with property was necessary to salvation, but He did speak in a manner which seemed to the disciples almost to imply that... He was hinting that the thing to be renounced in order to salvation was not money, but the inordinate love of it." The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pg. 254.
What a shame to have everything, seemingly, but yet lose everything in eternity!
Even the disciples were perplexed by this statement as they asked, "Who then can be saved?" Bruce continues, "It is an inquiry of vital moment what our Lord really meant to teach on the subjects of marriage and money. The question concerns not merely the life to come, but the whole character of our present life. For if man's life on earth doth not consist wholly in possessions and family relations, these occupy a very prominent place therein. Family relations are essential to the existence of society, and without wealth there would be no civilization. Did, Jesus, then, frown or look down on these things, as at least unfavorable to, if not incompatible with, the interests of the divine kingdom and the aspirations of its citizens?" pg. 255.
The short answer is "no." Jesus knew that these things did not change the salvation of man anymore than they do today for those who have family and riches; and in some occasions both. The question is where the young man's heart was centered. He had all he could ever want (on this earth), but was unwilling to part with it for the kingdom's sake. That's where his heart lie.
Was Jesus asking him to part with all his riches just to enter the kingdom of Heaven? I don't think so. I think He was determining from His spiritual intuition that this would be a stumbling block for the young man from the very beginning and wanted him to know it before he surrendered to the call.
You see, some in the past have given everything up for the high calling of Christ and still missed the mark. Monks were some of the few. Celibacy was the given course of their life. This allowed the monk no distractions in his quest for the cause of Christ. But was it? When he spent his whole life behind walls of stone craving his quest; did he really understand his calling was to go out from the walls and reach those with the saving power he kept to himself? In reality, this monk's life was and is never a serious option for the serious Christian. The serious Christian lives beyond the walls. He ventures out of it, seeking to save that which was lost; even losing what some consider important in life.
Listen to one more quote as we close for the day, "Abstinence is the virtue of the weak (the monk), temperance (the serious Christian) is the virtue of the strong. Abstinence is certainly the safer way for those who are prone to inordinate affection, but it purchases safety at the expense of moral culture; for it removes us from those temptations connected with family relationships and earthly possessions, through which character, while it may be imperiled, is at the same time developed and strengthened. Abstinence is also inferior to temperance in healthiness of tone." pg. 257.
So where are you today? Are you selfish with no ambition to share Jesus? Or are you serious about the cause of Christ willing to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ outside the walls of your household and share it with the world who need the light in a morally and spiritually darkened world?
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Friday, August 21, 2015
Self Sacrifice
Matt. 19:1-26; Mark 10:1-27; Luke 18:15-27
How much are you willing to sacrifice for your relationship with the Lord?
As Jesus makes a second visit to the area of Peraea, he and John both have recollections of the last visit. Both must have reflected on the great days of the past; however Jesus knew that His time was coming to an end. The joy he must have experienced of meeting with John the Baptist, undergoing baptism in the Jordan River, and beginning His public ministry. Now, on his second visit, He is nearing the culmination of His ministry. To die a cruel death for those who would be willing to put Him to death...
Before He can get a chance to enjoy His memories of goodness and joy, the Pharisees begin to taunt Him with questions; seeking to entrap Him into either being unpopular with the crowd or finding fault in His knowledge of the law. "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?"
Jesus replied, "By laying down the primitive principle, that divorce was justified only by conjugal infidelity, and by explaining, that any thing to the contrary in the law of Moses was simply an accommodation to the hardness of men's hearts. The disciples heard this reply, and they made their own remarks on it. They said to Jesus: 'If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.'" The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pg. 252-253.
The heart of the matter is this:
1. Marriage is a serious event in life. It is not to be taken lightly. It is a "heart matter." It is and was designed to be for life. If you're not ready for a lifelong event, don't jump into it...
2. Marriage is something to be thought about and carefully planned with careful consideration. Is Jesus at the heart of this marriage? We find that today, marriage is something which is planned very quickly and has the "option" for divorce if it doesn't work. Its called "convenience marriage."
If it doesn't work, "lets find a way out." I tell people often who ask about marriage, "God hates divorce on so many levels." One is because of the hurt and pain associated with the separation that occurs; it is a cancer that lives within each one for years to come.
Spouses come to the closest thing to having the death of another; except they see the person still alive, without them...
Children suffer with fear, anger, rejection, and resentment thinking they might have been the root cause. Parents know their children will confront them in the future. How will they though? Either properly or improperly? This too can cause the previously damaged person to enter into their relationships in the future which affects their own marriage view and relationships.
3. Some of us from the womb feel the need for celibacy, because anything else distracts us and is impracticable. They sense the family life would impend their time with the relationship with the Lord. I know of people to this day who have made this decision. Believe it or not...
But something to think about in all this. What if Jesus ran out on our salvation when the times got tough? Did He commit to the relationship with us when we are infested with cancer, or broken from a bad relationship? No. He is there to comfort us in our times of need.
Don't get me wrong. There are circumstances where "space" is definitely needed. Maybe not divorce immediately, but space to think about the marriage. But what a shame it is to think about it "after" everything has gone wrong, instead of this planning"before" the marriage. Seems kind of backwards doesn't it?
This is why God has a perfect plan. It includes being obedient to His Word. This will help avoid a lot of heartaches in the future and allow us to have the best life Christ intended for us! I encourage you to place your life in His hand and allow His feet to guide your steps in your marriage today!
How much are you willing to sacrifice for your relationship with the Lord?
As Jesus makes a second visit to the area of Peraea, he and John both have recollections of the last visit. Both must have reflected on the great days of the past; however Jesus knew that His time was coming to an end. The joy he must have experienced of meeting with John the Baptist, undergoing baptism in the Jordan River, and beginning His public ministry. Now, on his second visit, He is nearing the culmination of His ministry. To die a cruel death for those who would be willing to put Him to death...
Before He can get a chance to enjoy His memories of goodness and joy, the Pharisees begin to taunt Him with questions; seeking to entrap Him into either being unpopular with the crowd or finding fault in His knowledge of the law. "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?"
Jesus replied, "By laying down the primitive principle, that divorce was justified only by conjugal infidelity, and by explaining, that any thing to the contrary in the law of Moses was simply an accommodation to the hardness of men's hearts. The disciples heard this reply, and they made their own remarks on it. They said to Jesus: 'If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.'" The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pg. 252-253.
The heart of the matter is this:
1. Marriage is a serious event in life. It is not to be taken lightly. It is a "heart matter." It is and was designed to be for life. If you're not ready for a lifelong event, don't jump into it...
2. Marriage is something to be thought about and carefully planned with careful consideration. Is Jesus at the heart of this marriage? We find that today, marriage is something which is planned very quickly and has the "option" for divorce if it doesn't work. Its called "convenience marriage."
If it doesn't work, "lets find a way out." I tell people often who ask about marriage, "God hates divorce on so many levels." One is because of the hurt and pain associated with the separation that occurs; it is a cancer that lives within each one for years to come.
Spouses come to the closest thing to having the death of another; except they see the person still alive, without them...
Children suffer with fear, anger, rejection, and resentment thinking they might have been the root cause. Parents know their children will confront them in the future. How will they though? Either properly or improperly? This too can cause the previously damaged person to enter into their relationships in the future which affects their own marriage view and relationships.
3. Some of us from the womb feel the need for celibacy, because anything else distracts us and is impracticable. They sense the family life would impend their time with the relationship with the Lord. I know of people to this day who have made this decision. Believe it or not...
But something to think about in all this. What if Jesus ran out on our salvation when the times got tough? Did He commit to the relationship with us when we are infested with cancer, or broken from a bad relationship? No. He is there to comfort us in our times of need.
Don't get me wrong. There are circumstances where "space" is definitely needed. Maybe not divorce immediately, but space to think about the marriage. But what a shame it is to think about it "after" everything has gone wrong, instead of this planning"before" the marriage. Seems kind of backwards doesn't it?
This is why God has a perfect plan. It includes being obedient to His Word. This will help avoid a lot of heartaches in the future and allow us to have the best life Christ intended for us! I encourage you to place your life in His hand and allow His feet to guide your steps in your marriage today!
Friday, August 14, 2015
Is Jesus Prejudice?
Luke 9:51-56
I often have thought of the story where Jesus and the disciples entered into a Samaritan city. When they asked for lodging, they were refused. Jesus knew the answer, but still James and John (aptly named the Sons of Thunder) proposed the calling of fire from Heaven to consume the villagers.
Just as Jesus knew the heart condition of the people in the village; so He knew the hearts of these two men...
This was another strange proposal for the disciples of Jesus after years of following Him. In fact John would have been witness to the woman at the well's meeting with Jesus when He told her of the new era to come. How it shows the best are to learn so slow!
"How startling, again to think of this same John, a year or two after the date of this suggestion, going down from Jerusalem and preaching the gospel of Jesus the crucified in 'many of the villages of the Samaritans,' possibly in this very village which he desired to see destroyed!" The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pg. 242.
But Jesus was not prejudice against the disciples as a result of their tempered responses at the time. He knew what they would come to be. Jesus loved the heart of the men whom they would become.
"The zeal of the son of thunder did not disappear from John's nature after he became an apostle; it only became tempered by the light of wisdom, and softened by the heat of love....in his later years he knew better what to hate-- the objects of his abhorrence being hypocrisy, apostasy, and Laodicean insincerity; not as of old, mere ignorant rudeness and clownish incivility." pg. 242
All of us have something from our past which is lurking within. It's called our old nature. It wrestles for its attention and demands its place in our new life. It calls for retribution when hurt, getting the last word in during a conversation, pushing the limits of the legal boundaries. It is the worst of us... We are prejudice to only the things that matter to us.
Some how do we change and become the person that Christ can use and glorify His Kingdom? Here is the key. Submit your life to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! This means taking our time to diligently study the Scriptures and ask ourselves the hard questions. How do I respond to this situation which will honor God instead of doing it the same way I have before? Praying and asking God to reveal our hearts; showing us what they really look like in that area. Asking godly friends and family to help us with our struggles as we seek to follow Christ in a real and personal way.
These are attainable goals for each us which can be started now. Don't wait until the new year. You can begin now! Remember, Jesus sees the goodness in you and what you will become as a child of God, but it only because of what He has done in you. Now, give way to that change and let it happen!
I often have thought of the story where Jesus and the disciples entered into a Samaritan city. When they asked for lodging, they were refused. Jesus knew the answer, but still James and John (aptly named the Sons of Thunder) proposed the calling of fire from Heaven to consume the villagers.
Just as Jesus knew the heart condition of the people in the village; so He knew the hearts of these two men...
This was another strange proposal for the disciples of Jesus after years of following Him. In fact John would have been witness to the woman at the well's meeting with Jesus when He told her of the new era to come. How it shows the best are to learn so slow!
"How startling, again to think of this same John, a year or two after the date of this suggestion, going down from Jerusalem and preaching the gospel of Jesus the crucified in 'many of the villages of the Samaritans,' possibly in this very village which he desired to see destroyed!" The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pg. 242.
But Jesus was not prejudice against the disciples as a result of their tempered responses at the time. He knew what they would come to be. Jesus loved the heart of the men whom they would become.
"The zeal of the son of thunder did not disappear from John's nature after he became an apostle; it only became tempered by the light of wisdom, and softened by the heat of love....in his later years he knew better what to hate-- the objects of his abhorrence being hypocrisy, apostasy, and Laodicean insincerity; not as of old, mere ignorant rudeness and clownish incivility." pg. 242
All of us have something from our past which is lurking within. It's called our old nature. It wrestles for its attention and demands its place in our new life. It calls for retribution when hurt, getting the last word in during a conversation, pushing the limits of the legal boundaries. It is the worst of us... We are prejudice to only the things that matter to us.
Some how do we change and become the person that Christ can use and glorify His Kingdom? Here is the key. Submit your life to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! This means taking our time to diligently study the Scriptures and ask ourselves the hard questions. How do I respond to this situation which will honor God instead of doing it the same way I have before? Praying and asking God to reveal our hearts; showing us what they really look like in that area. Asking godly friends and family to help us with our struggles as we seek to follow Christ in a real and personal way.
These are attainable goals for each us which can be started now. Don't wait until the new year. You can begin now! Remember, Jesus sees the goodness in you and what you will become as a child of God, but it only because of what He has done in you. Now, give way to that change and let it happen!
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Who is Against us and Who for Us?
Luke 9:49-50; Mark 9:38-41
Today we look a little at the life of John.
As the disciples continue to grow in their faith and walk with Christ, another situation which seems to be a distraction occurs which seems to confuse the disciples. Funny how this incident occurs right after each one of the disciples is talking about who will be the greatest in the kingdom...
John is not now who he will be, but differs at this time from his future self. He is one who asks the question why a person who is not a part of them (the close group of Jesus disciples) who can continue to perform exorcisms in the name of Jesus when he is not a follower of Christ.
John wants judgment to fall upon one who is doing something outside of the scope of the group of disciples just like the other disciples who at times would have called fire down from heaven to people they felt who needed it. Later in his life, John will become one who is concerned about love for all as he writes the book of John. This is not who he is now though.
"For the conscience of a young disciple is like a fire of green logs, which smokes first before it burns with clear blaze. And a Christian whose conscience is in this state must be treated as we treat a dull fire: he must be borne with, that is, till his conscience clear itself of bitter, cloudy smoke, and become a pure, genial, warm flame of zeal tempered by charity." The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pg. 234.
John was one of those smoky logs in the fire place, without a time for a good seasoning. Firewood to burn, has to be set aside over time. It needs time for it to dry out and become useful; otherwise it will continue to give you problems in performing what it was created to be; light and heat, the purposes for what you need it to be.
All of us have issues in life. John was no different. He continued to grow through events in his life which made him a huge asset for the Kingdom of God, but for now he is a liability. For now he is smoky and unclear as the Kingdom's goal. His goal right now is to be someone of influence and noticed. A seat at the big table...
You see so many people get caught up in their own actions for the Kingdom that if anyone else either from a different faith background, difference in personality, or temperament that they become a threat of superseding their chance to be more important in the Kingdom. This is where John was at in this period of his life. Jesus does not rebuke his ignorance, but rather uses it to cause a teachable event in his life. Jesus responds to his question in Mark 9:40,
"For he who is not against us is for us."
Have you ever taken time to evaluate your relationship with Christ. I mean deeply...
Are you smoky at best, or well seasoned?
When we get to the point of being well seasoned it will show. Just a seasoned fire log burns bright in the fireplace, so can our lives become a clear bright burning flame for the Kingdom of God. One that will be light and warmth to all who encounter us. Just like the person John would one day come to be for the Kingdom of God!
Today we look a little at the life of John.
As the disciples continue to grow in their faith and walk with Christ, another situation which seems to be a distraction occurs which seems to confuse the disciples. Funny how this incident occurs right after each one of the disciples is talking about who will be the greatest in the kingdom...
John is not now who he will be, but differs at this time from his future self. He is one who asks the question why a person who is not a part of them (the close group of Jesus disciples) who can continue to perform exorcisms in the name of Jesus when he is not a follower of Christ.
John wants judgment to fall upon one who is doing something outside of the scope of the group of disciples just like the other disciples who at times would have called fire down from heaven to people they felt who needed it. Later in his life, John will become one who is concerned about love for all as he writes the book of John. This is not who he is now though.
"For the conscience of a young disciple is like a fire of green logs, which smokes first before it burns with clear blaze. And a Christian whose conscience is in this state must be treated as we treat a dull fire: he must be borne with, that is, till his conscience clear itself of bitter, cloudy smoke, and become a pure, genial, warm flame of zeal tempered by charity." The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pg. 234.
John was one of those smoky logs in the fire place, without a time for a good seasoning. Firewood to burn, has to be set aside over time. It needs time for it to dry out and become useful; otherwise it will continue to give you problems in performing what it was created to be; light and heat, the purposes for what you need it to be.
All of us have issues in life. John was no different. He continued to grow through events in his life which made him a huge asset for the Kingdom of God, but for now he is a liability. For now he is smoky and unclear as the Kingdom's goal. His goal right now is to be someone of influence and noticed. A seat at the big table...
You see so many people get caught up in their own actions for the Kingdom that if anyone else either from a different faith background, difference in personality, or temperament that they become a threat of superseding their chance to be more important in the Kingdom. This is where John was at in this period of his life. Jesus does not rebuke his ignorance, but rather uses it to cause a teachable event in his life. Jesus responds to his question in Mark 9:40,
"For he who is not against us is for us."
Have you ever taken time to evaluate your relationship with Christ. I mean deeply...
Are you smoky at best, or well seasoned?
When we get to the point of being well seasoned it will show. Just a seasoned fire log burns bright in the fireplace, so can our lives become a clear bright burning flame for the Kingdom of God. One that will be light and warmth to all who encounter us. Just like the person John would one day come to be for the Kingdom of God!
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