Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Forgive The Offenders

It says a lot about me if I don't forgive like Jesus did.


 Matthew 18:21-27, 32-35 Then Peter came to Him and asked, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?"

22  "No, not seven times," Jesus replied, "but seventy times seven!

23  "Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him.

24  In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars.  25   He couldn't pay, so his master ordered that he be sold--along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned--to pay the debt.  26  "But the man fell down before his master and begged him, 'Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.'  27  Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.

32  Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me.  33  Shouldn't you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?'  34  Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.  35  "That's what My heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart."

Matthew 5:7   God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

It's the gift that keeps on giving, it never wears out or goes out of style, the one gift that we needed the most. As much as we love this gift we are also supposed to re-gift it and let others have some.

Forgiveness is our greatest need, the desperate situation that we are in if we do not receive this gift through Christ. We have been pardoned by the king of the universe, his mercy to us is overwhelming and it is a great example of how we are to treat the people around us.

 How can we understand how miserable our condition was without forgiveness and then we decide to withhold forgiveness from those that hurt us? When we see ourselves for who we really are and realize how much mercy that was bestowed upon ourselves, we will have no other reaction that to extend mercy to the ones that offend us.

The Bible is very clear that if I do not show mercy in the same measure that it was given to me then I am in a very serious situation, maybe I didn't really get it when Jesus forgave me, I need to always remember the best gift that I ever received is the gift that I need to re-gift.

Help me Lord to always remember that debt that was canceled for my benefit and help me to extend that same mercy to those around me.

You might like to read: Commands of Jesus blog series.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Beware of Covetousness

How do you keep score?


Luke 12:13-21  Then someone called from the crowd, "Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father's estate with me."  14  Jesus replied, "Friend, who made Me a judge over you to decide such things as that?"

15  Then He said, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own."  16  Then He told them a story: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.  17   He said to himself, 'What should I do? I don't have room for all my crops.'

18  Then he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods.  19  And I'll sit back and say to myself, "My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!"' 

20  "But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?'  21  "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."

The American way to is grab everything that you can get, the "whoever dies with the most toys wins" mentality is how we are taught to measure our lives. I would have never guessed it but they must of had the same mentality back in Israel even with all the poverty around. 

Jesus was busy teaching his disciples when from out of nowhere a guy that is being cheated by his older brother yells out a request for justice. Jesus refused to become a civil judge, he could have easily become weighed down with the burden of settling disputes just like Moses had been back in Exodus 18:13.

The rewards of being a disciple of Jesus does not include the happiness and comfort of this age, it does not guarantee justice in legal matters, the accumulation of wealth isn't the goal of somebody that has a rich relationship with God. To become a Godly person and to be satisfied with the amount of earthly riches that come my way is the way for a true Christ follower to live.

 1 Timothy 6:6-8  Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.  7  After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it.  8  So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

Help me to focus my energy on the life that you want me to live Lord. The world is full of concern for the things that you do not want your children to be worried about.

You might like to read: Commands of Jesus blog series.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Don't Despise The Little Ones

If you don't love children then you might have a problem with Jesus.


Matthew 18:1-4, 10  About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" 

2  Jesus called a little child to Him and put the child among them.  3  Then He said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.  4  So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

10  "Beware that you don't look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of My heavenly Father.

Jesus told us that we are to become just like a child in order to inherit a place in eternity with him and yet we spend so much of our time pretending to be so grown up. We want to appear to have it all together and to be self sufficient, we want people to see our strength and we will go to great lengths to hide our weaknesses.

The problem is, Jesus didn't want his followers to be that kind of people, he wanted simple, obedient child like followers that would rely on him and would trust in him to take care of our weakness.  

I need to be willing to do what ever my heavenly father ask of me.

Increase my faith Lord that you will provide the strength and the guidance for anything that you ask me to do.

You might like to read: Commands of Jesus blog series.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Deny Yourself

Even if you get the whole world it isn't worth the cost


Luke 9:22-25  "The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things," He said. "He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day He will be raised from the dead."

23 Then He said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.  24  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?

The most prevalent false doctrines that the world embraces is selfishness and greed. The world's motivation is to get everything that it can get at any cost, but that is the problem, they have been deceived and they haven't seen what the price tag is on what they are buying into.

We have before us the most extreme example of a person that lived for others, Jesus was not selfish, he suffered for the sake of others, he was wrongfully rejected when he could have been the most popular guy in town, he was killed instead of being judgmental and punishing the people all around him that he had the right to condemn.

Here is the reality of the situation, even if you get every piece of wealth that the world has to offer, every treasure that there is but if you didn't follow Jesus then you have lost it all.

I need to remember what the price tag was for my eternal destiny, I have been bought at a very high price, the debt of my sin has been paid and I need to show my gratitude for Jesus sacrifice by living each day for him.

Lord, help me to fight against the world's economic policy, the stakes are too high, I need to give up my life for Christ sake so that I will be saved. Lord help us to never forget how great a sacrifice that you made for us.

You might like to read: Commands of Jesus blog series.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Beware of Leaven

A Little Bit Of Bad Doctrine Goes A Long Way


 Matthew 16:6-7, 11-12  "Watch out!" Jesus warned them. "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."  At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn't brought any bread.

Why can't you understand that I'm not talking about bread? So again I say, 'Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.'"   Then at last they understood that He wasn't speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

There are a lot of voices that are trying to get your attention and weigh in on how you should live but very few are saying anything that you need to listen too. Even well meaning Christ followers can be very wrong, some of the worst advice that I have ever received when I in a difficult situation came from my friends at church.

Bad advice comes from people with bad doctrine since what you believe influences the way you live and it will influence the advice that you give to others on how they should live. It takes just a little bit of deviation from the absolute truth to steer you way off course.

Quietly the gradual change in your thinking will take over, your behavior will shift a little bit and you are on your way. The false teaching will influence your temper, it will make you proud and before you know it you are a modern day Pharisee, so worldly that even though you are in the church you will be counter productive for the kingdom.

I need to keep myself in the Word, filling my mind each day with truth so that I will not be easily swayed by false doctrine.

Thank you Lord for giving us your word so that we may be able to answer the question that Pilate asked "What is truth?"

You might like to read: Commands of Jesus blog series.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Take My Yoke

Are you beat down and tired?


 Matthew 11:28-30  Then Jesus said, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

29  Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  30  For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

Wait a minute! I am already tired and worn out and instead of taking it easy you want me to trade my burden in for a new one. And you say that I will find rest by taking up this new burden. Yes, that is the offer that Jesus wants you to take.

The yoke of the world

Galatians 4:3  And that's the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.

The world doesn't have much to offer to you but it is still enticing to hold on to the bondage that it brings. The guilt and shame, the worthless pursuit of fame and fortune are all a heavy burden that needs to be unloaded.

The yoke of the cross

Luke 9:23  Then He said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.

There is freedom in Christ but there is also responsibility. Jesus said that we are to take up the burden that he has for us, the cross that we are to bear each day, and be his followers. We are to be the workers in the field, the Good Samaritans and the sowers of the gospel seed.

There is a lot of work left to be done Lord, but we know that you will empower your people to do the work. Thank you for finding me trustworthy and for giving me the strength to serve you. (1Timothy 1:12)

You might like to read: Commands of Jesus blog series

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Honor Your Parents

The fifth commandment is still in effect.


Matthew 15:4  God says, 'Honor your father and mother,' and 'Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.'

Exodus 20:12  "Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you."

The first command that pertains to our relationships with people is the one that tells us how to treat our parents. We are to show honor to them, that means not only respect and submission, but also to take care of a person, to nurture and sustain them.

It isn't any surprise that God wants us to treat our parents with the highest regard after all he told us to love our enemies and those people that persecute us. So then even if our parents were very lousy, terrible parents then we are still obligated to love and respect them and to take care of their needs when they cannot.

Lord help me to love my parents and care for them as they grow older. Thank you for Christian parents.

You might like to read: Commands of Jesus blog series

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Hear God's Voice

What are you listening to?


 Mark 4:9   Then he said "Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!"

John 10:26-27  But you don't believe Me because you are not My sheep. My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.

Luke 11:28  Jesus replied, "But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice."

We all know that it is a noisy world that we live in. There are a thousand voices trying to get noticed, people trying to sell you stuff you don't need, people trying to get your sympathy, people trying to get you to respond  to their demands. There are some good voices coming at us too but even they can keep you too busy to hear a still small voice.

Many times after Jesus taught an important lesson he would let the people know that they need to listen up and pay attention to his words. That's because sheep aren't the smartest animals around but there is one thing that they do know and that is their master's voice and when they hear that voice they react. How many times has the Shepherd spoken to me that I either didn't hear or I made a choise and decided not to react?
Luke 6:46  "So why do you keep calling Me 'Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say?
I need to listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd, it is a choice that I have to intentionally make, filtering out all of the other input that is trying to have a say on how I live.

Jesus, I want to be busy hearing and putting into practice the things that you desire for me to do. Help me to filter out the negative influences that try to get me off task.

You might like to read: Commands of Jesus blog series

Thursday, September 02, 2010

Fear Not

Stop worrying about it!


Matthew 10:28-31  "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 

29  What is the price of two sparrows--one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.  30  And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.  31  So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Luke 12:4-5  "Dear friends, don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that.  5  But I'll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, He's the One to fear.

What do I have to worry about? Not a thing! The only thing, the ONLY thing that matters at all is where I am going after my life on this planet is finished and since that issue is settled then what else is there.

The God of this hugh universe takes care of the smallest of his creation, the insignificant details of creation are personally known to him. Surely he will take care of me, after all I am made in his likeness, I have a soul that will live on after this body is worn out and gone, certainly he knows that details and cares about everyone of them.
Romans 8:35, 37  Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
I stand in awe of you Lord. It is amazing that you created an infinite universe and placed me in one little corner of it and yet you want a relationship with "little old me." Thank you for taking care of me.

You might like to read: Commands of Jesus blog series.