No Greater Neighbor

God's people should be the greatest neighbor ever.

Exodus 20:12-17  “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.  13  “You must not murder.  14  “You must not commit adultery.  15  “You must not steal.  16  “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.  17  “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.” 

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The Ten Commandments begin with the most important rules, the rules that teach us about to relate to God properly. There may be many "gods" in this world but there is no other God, he deserves our love and we need to slow down and spend time with him.

Our ultimate love and the greatest desire of our heart should be for God but it is such a great challenge because the world has so many other loves and so many other places to put our trust. We fall for the lie that we can use people and stuff to give us the security and fulfillment that can only be found in God. 

After the Ten Commandments teach us about our relationship with God it moves on to our relationship with the people around us. All of us are tempted constantly to look out for ourselves at any cost but the Bible clearly shows us that God wants his people to live a different way.

God expects us to be like him especially in the way that we love and care for other people. God is giving these rules to his people that he just rescued from slavery and saved them from the greatest military of the day. He has proved his love for them and he expects them to live the same.

Obeying these six commands about our relationship with the people around us will help us live at peace and it will show the world that there is a better way to live.

The Ten Commandments Simplified

Mark 12:29-31 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. 30 And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Jesus taught us the spirit of the law when he answered the question about the greatest of all of the commandments. Love your Savior and your neighbor is all that it takes to fulfill all of the laws.

The parable of the good Samaritan is a great example of how we need to choose to be generous to everyone. Jesus taught us that we need to go out of our way and become inconvenienced to be kind to others. Jesus didn't give us a limited space to show his love to others, he broadened the definition of a neighbor to anybody you come into contact with.

The New Testament has so much to say about how we treat people:

Love One Another

• “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
• “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
• “These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” (John 15:17)
• “Love one another with brotherly affection.” (Romans 12:10)
• “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8)
• “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12)
• “Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10)
• “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.” (1 Peter 1:22)
• “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
• “For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” (1 John 3:11)
• “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” (1 John 3:23)
• “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)
• “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:11-12)
• “And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.” (2 John 1:5)

Honor One Another

• “Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10b)

Greet One Another

• “Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.” (Romans 16:16)
• “All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (1 Corinthians 16:20)
• “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (2 Corinthians 13:12)
• “Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.” (1 Peter 5:14)

Welcome One Another

• “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7)

Show Hospitality To One Another

• “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (1 Peter 4:9)

Have Fellowship With One Another

• “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

Agree With One Another

• “…agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Corinthians 13:11b)

Live In Harmony With One Another

• “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.” (Romans 12:16)
• “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus.” (Romans 15:5)

Be At Peace With One Another

• “Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” (Mark 9:50)

Be Kind To One Another

• “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted…” (Ephesians 4:32a)

Forgive One Another

• “…forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32b)
• “…and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Colossians 3:13b)

Bear With One Another

• “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2-3)
• “Bearing with one another…” (Colossians 3:13a)

Bear One Another’s Burdens

• “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

Comfort One Another

• “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another…” (2 Corinthians 13:11)

Care For One Another

• “That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.” (1 Corinthians 12:25)

Confess Sins To One Another

• “Therefore, confess your sins to one another…” (James 5:16)

Pray For One Another

• “…and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16)

Encourage One Another

• “Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
• “Therefore encourage one another…” (1 Thessalonians 5:11a)
• “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25)

Build One Another Up

• “…and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Exhort One Another

• “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:13)

Instruct One Another

• “I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.” (Romans 15:14)

Teach And Admonish One Another

• “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)

Sing With One Another

• “Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.” (Ephesians 5:19)

Stir Up One Another To Love And Good Works

• “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” (Hebrews 10:24)

Do Good To One Another

• “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

Serve One Another

• “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13)
• “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:10)

Wash One Another’s Feet

• “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.” (John 13:14)

Wait For One Another

• “So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.” (1 Corinthians 11:33)

Be Humble Toward One Another

• “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” (1 Peter 5:5)

Submit To One Another

• “Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)

Speak The Truth To One Another

• “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” (Ephesians 4:25)
• “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.” (Colossians 3:9)

Do Not Speak Against One Another

• “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.” (James 4:11)
• “Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.” (James 5:9)

Do Not Judge One Another

• “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” (Romans 14:13)

Do Not Provoke One Another

• “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another…” (Galatians 5:26)

Do Not Envy One Another

• “…envying one another.” (Galatians 5:26)

If you think the Ten Commandments don't apply to you, that's fine, but look at how clearly the New Testament makes the case for behaving way above the world's standards. Too bad the world can't see our Jesus because we have failed to live like Jesus by living extremely loving lives. (John 13:35)

What a huge difference we could make in the world if Jesus followers actually followed. We fail to give up our pride and selfishness and take on grace, compassion, service and forgiveness even though Jesus makes it so clear.

Worship The Creator

We will not worship as we should before we get to Heaven.

Revelation 4:8-11 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the One who always was, who is, and who is still to come." 9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the One sitting on the throne (the One who lives forever and ever), 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the One sitting on the throne (the One who lives forever and ever).

And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, 11 "You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For You created all things, and they exist because You created what You pleased."

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The Revelation of John continues in chapter four with an invitation to step into Heaven. The Book of Revelation started with Jesus as he is today, the glorified Jesus at work among the churches, giving us instructions on how to do church.

John's vision keeps progressing and now the church age is over in chapter four and we can logically conclude that the rapture of the church has occurred. The progression of John's vision is from the Church Age on earth to the throne of God in Heaven. Combine that progression with what we know from other scriptures and you can see that God's children are safely with him when his wrath is poured out on those that are still on earth in chapter six. (1 Corinthians 15:52 / 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

John is called up to Heaven to encourage us of how wonderful our future is. What an amazing sight that John is attempting to describe for us! John's experience is much different from any of the popular accounts of people that claim that they have been to Heaven. Unlike all of those stories everything that John sees in Heaven revolves around the throne of God.

God is on His throne and around the throne are beings that represent God's people, they have been given white robes and they have received their crowns which they will give back to God as they worship him.

God is in control, which is what we should expect from the one that is on the throne of Heaven. Despite the persecution that is going on back on Earth, which John is experiencing, the persecuted Christians should never doubt his power or his wisdom.

We suffer with so much discouragement and worry because we forget that he is on the throne and he is in control despite all of the chaos around us. We should not entertain the idea that evil is going to win.

God is being worshiped, which is what we should expect from the ones that are seeing the one who is on the throne of Heaven. As good as you may think your worship is, it is nothing in comparison, in Heaven God is truly being worshiped fully and correctly.

It is impossible in our current condition, to worship God as he should be worshiped, we will not comprehend the value and worth that should be given to God and worship him properly before we get to Heaven. As long as our old sin nature is a part of who we are then we will be distracted with our thoughts, our pride and our sinfulness.

While we wait for our call to go to Heaven we should learn more about how to worship and practice doing it.

The inner essence of worship is to know God truly and then respond from the heart to that knowledge by treasuring God, prizing God, enjoying God, being satisfied with God above all earthly things.

And then that deep, restful, joyful satisfaction in God overflows in demonstrable acts of praise from the lips and demonstrable acts of love in serving others for the sake of Christ.

-John Piper

It is clear in scripture that worship is more than just singing a song at church and then going home until next Sunday. Praising God begins with preparing our heart and then honoring God with our lips but it doesn't stop there. We tend to forget that worship continues long after the church music is over. (Psalm 50:14, Isaiah 29:13, Hosea 14:2)

Our worship continues through the preaching of God's Word and through our acts of love that show the value of God by what we are willing to sacrifice to serve others. When I present myself as a living sacrifice to do good for someone else I am declaring the worth of God in my life and I am making God look more glorious to the ones that witness my good deeds. (Matthew 5:16, Romans 12:1, Philippians 4:18, Hebrews 13:15-16)

Everything that we say and do and the lifestyle that we live should draw others to "come let us adore him."

RELATED ARTICLES

Present Your Bodies As a Living Sacrifice (desiringgod.org)

The Fruit Doesn't Lie

It is difficult to hide smelly fruit, it will tell on you every time.

Luke 3:7-14  He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don’t start saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones! 9 Even now the ax is ready to strike the root of the trees! Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 “What then should we do?” the crowds were asking him. 11 He replied to them, “The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same.”

12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He told them, “Don’t collect any more than what you have been authorized.”

14 Some soldiers also questioned him: “What should we do?”He said to them, “Don’t take money from anyone by force or false accusation; be satisfied with your wages.”

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The word is out about a man that is preaching out in the wilderness, he has drawn quite a crowd, John the Baptist was holding a revival out in the desert, crowds people were confessing their sin and getting baptized.

John had a very practical message for the new converts, he told them that they would need to live a different lifestyle, there would need to be a change of behavior that would prove that their conversion experience was authentic. John gave them some practical "how-to" tips:

• be generous (Luke 3:10-11)
• be fair (Luke 3:12-13)
• don't steal (Luke 3:14)

Take note that the correct process is new convert first and then new lifestyle second.

You should understand that all of us are producing fruit, it is just a matter of whether the fruit is good or not, Jesus  says we can't produce both. (Luke 6:41-45) we can try and cover up the truth about ourselves but when the produce is rotten than the whole world will figure it out.

I need to protect my heart so that the things that I say and do will be a testimony to the change that Jesus has made in my life. I need to live out Matthew 5:16 so that the world will see good fruit and be drawn closer to Jesus.

Thank you Lord for giving me a new life, I want to produce good fruit as a testimony of your goodness.

Resolution #5 - Make The Most Of Today

Sieze the day because time is ticking away.

Ephesian 2:10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13  I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live, and also that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things are a gift from God.

Philippians 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!

Psalm 144:4 For we are like a breath of air; our days are like a passing shadow.  

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When we are little our lives seem to be so long, each birthday seems to never get here and Christmas is an eternity away, but the older we get the faster the gears on the clock seem to turn. Even as fast as time seems to be moving it still seems like we have plenty of days left to take care of our good intentions.

There seems to be plenty of time to:

• Work less
• Increase family time
• Love more
• Listen to somebody that needs to share
• Get physically fit
• Be kinder 
• Focus on others

Before we know it we have spent too much of our day on the things that didn't matter. The urgent things that pop-up each day, the cares of life and the desire to accumulate wealth can easily get in the way of doing what I really intend to do.

I need to enjoy each day as a gift from God and invest my time in what really matters. People matter to God and he has called us to be his hands and feet to show the world his love, I want to be busy doing the work that God created me to do.

Help me Lord to be your hands and feet, showing your love to my family and to everyone around me. I want to be busy doing your work until my days on earth are gone.

Be Perfect

Someday we will be, until then I have work to do.

Matthew 5:46-48  If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.  47  If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.  48  But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Philippians 3:12  I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

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Striving to be perfect is something that Paul worked diligently at everyday, he depended on God's grace and power to help him become a better man. Not a perfect man but what an example he is to us, who better to make a claim for reaching perfection than Paul? Who could be more sold out to the cause of the gospel? Who could surpass him in zeal, love or self denial?

Paul's good character was lived out in front of his friends and most importantly he live the same way around his enemies. It is easy to treat our friends good and to keep our behavior as "religious" as possible around them but when we are around the people that don't treat us good then that's another story.

Ephesians 5:1-2  Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children.  2  Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

I need to reach for perfection, striving to please God in my obedience to his commands and in a change of character, knowing that I won't be complete until the day that he calls me home.

You have set the standard high Lord, give me the grace to live my life to please you and to have a character that pleases you. I want to live different so that my good deeds will bring glory to you. (Matthew 5:16)

Jesus Disciples Have Rewards In Heaven

Do the right thing even if it hurts.

Matthew 5:11-12  "God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are My followers.

12  Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

Luke 21:16-17  Even those closest to you--your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends--will betray you. They will even kill some of you.  17  And everyone will hate you because you are My followers.

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Being a disciple of the Lord has a cost , it isn't something easy and cheap that you do part time, the price can be pretty steep for some disciples in a lot of cultures. Living in a free society it is difficult to imagine real suffering that really cost big for those that follow Christ.

Not only is there a great cost but there is also a great reward for being a true disciple, despite all the hateful things that can happen to you for Christ sake there is an awesome reward, but don't get in a big hurry to get it. You may not see it for a while.

2 Timothy 4:8  And now the prize awaits me--the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of His return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing.

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy about the great prize that will be waiting when he gets to Heaven, you would think that after all the good things that Paul did that he would get some benefit down here but the truth is that some good works will be rewarded down here on planet earth but there is a good chance that you will never receive it down here.

1 Peter 2:23  He did not retaliate when He was insulted, nor threaten revenge when He suffered. He left His case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.

My good works should be the result of Godly character, it shouldn't be coming from any selfish motives, that kind of motivation will not get any kind of reward for eternity. My example is Jesus, I need to leave my life in God's hands and let him be the judge.

Thank you Lord for righting the wrongs that we encounter down here, help me to always follow you no matter what so that I will hear you say "Well done."

Good Deeds, What's Your Motivation?

Doing good can get you in trouble.

Matthew 5: 14  “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

Matthew 6:1  “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. “

2  “When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do”

5  “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites”16  “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do”

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At first it may seem that these two scriptures are inconsistent, first we are told to do our good deeds out in public and then we are told to hide our good deeds.

In Matthew 5 we are told to penetrate the darkness and be the light of the world, let your good deeds shine out for all to see is the command and then in Matthew 6 it looks like we are supposed to do our good deeds under cover.

Jesus told us to do good out in public, what other way is there for my light to shine, the world needs to see our love in action, they need to see us forgive others, pray for others, and provide for those that are in need. That’s how we shine our light in this dark world.

Our motivation for doing these good deeds is what we have to keep in check. Am I busy doing random acts of kindness so that I will be praised? In Matthew 5:16 it says to do your good deeds so that God will be glorified, that should be my motivation for every good work that I do, if I am doing good out in public with the motivation found in Matthew 6:1, to be admired by others then I already have my reward.

John 12:46  I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.

I need to be like Jesus and shine my light by doing good. Jesus shined out in everything that he did, out in public view, I need to do good works so that God will get the glory.

I pray that you will be pleased with my motivations Lord. Help me to shine out in this dark world with the motivation of drawing others into the light.

Sandra Bullock: A blessing to meet and portray a real Christian

Are we a blessing to the world?

Sandra Bullock: A blessing to meet and portray a real Christian (OneNewsNow.com)

Matthew 5:13-16  “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

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How are we doing at living out what we say we believe?

Obviously we are failing at making a difference in this world because we talk about high standards and values that are so enviable yet we are caught in compromising situations that show that we don't really care so much about those high standards.

Christ followers as a whole are not doing too good at being followers, we don't look much different from the other "good" people that this world has.

We say that marriage is honorable and "till death do us part" but what happens when the going gets tough?

We say that we are loving but do we really display it at the cost of inconvenience?

We say that we need a Savior but we don't obey his word.

We should be peacemakers, humble, hungry for righteousness.

Does it really matter that we don't live what we believe?

"Do not give me a lecture on how to live my life when I know I'm a pretty decent human being," says the actress. "I might not go to church everyday, but I know I do the right thing or try to."

If we open our eyes and see that the unbelievers are all around us looking to see if we really believe this stuff or are we just trying to look good then we will realize the importance of how we live. It matters to God and we should strive to please him, but it also matters to the rest of the world that is looking at our example of what Christianity is in order to decide if they need it or not.

Tuohy isn't like some hypocritical church-goers she's known, adds Bullock. "The beauty of Leigh Anne was one of my biggest questions was how people use their faith and their religion as a banner," she says. "And then they don't do the right thing, but they go 'I'm a good Christian and I go to church and this is the way you should live your life.'"

In a country that is supposed to be "Christian", why did it take so long for Sandra Bullock to see a "real" Christian? Do we like wearing the label "Christian" but fail to actually be a Christ follower?

Lord help us to be concerned about how you see us and to also be concerned about those that are watching us to see if we are genuine.

A Line In The Sand

Are you ready to step over the line and get serious for Jesus?

Mark 8:34-38  Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? 37 Is anything worth more than your soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

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Jesus taught many times on the concept of denying self and living to serve others. I think that sometimes we forget that the things that he taught were not instructions for the exclusive benefit of the twelve disciples but they are instructions for all of us. Here in this passage Jesus spoke to the disciples and to the crowd that had gathered around and he gave them some important instructions on how to be his follower.

Rule number 1: Turn from your selfish ways.
Yikes! What Jesus is demanding of those who follow him, those who choose to be publicly identified as his follower, is a total 180 degrees turning away from the pursuit of all personal agendas, never to return to them. Exactly opposite of our natural human desires, forget about them, the follower of Christ must be seeking to please the desires of the Father.

Rule number 2: Take up your cross.
Right here where I am today I have a mission field, most likely God already has me in the mission field that I am supposed to be working in, this isn't a call to go far from home to start doing his work.
What God may be waiting for is for me to stop pursuing my own interests and make the interests of others a top priority. As his follower I am called to do what he did, I must wash feet, rub elbows with the downtrodden, accept rejection, endure ridicule, expect to be persecuted, and carry a cross.

What extreme requirements, the fact that they are completely opposite of our sinful nature makes them seem harsh, but what is the alternative? If I spend all my time dwelling on my happiness and grabbing all the stuff that will supposedly bring fulfillment then Jesus said in the end I will lose all the my stuff and I will lose my life.

What benefit is it to me if I work to obtain my share of everything that the world has to offer but in the end its only stuff that belongs to this world and in this world its gonna stay.

What benefit is it to me if I am constantly looking out for number 1 and in my selfish endeavours I never see the one need that must be met for the protection of my soul? Humans spend so much time trying to fill "needs" that we think are so valuable and we don't see the most valuable need that we have.

Taking up my cross can lead to doing unpleasant things, being rejested or laughed at or even persecuted but still I am told to pick up my cross without embarrassment or shame so that my Savior will not be ashamed of me.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Give me a greater urgency to do the good works that you have called me to do, give me boldness to live for you despite the opposition that will come my way.

Jesus has drawn a line in the sand, if I want to be his follower then I have to choose to live to please the Father and to do the good works that he has called me to do.

A Higher Standard

SCRIPTURE

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Matthew 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

OBSERVATION

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Most people will do good if someone has been good to them, and most people will do good to someone if there hasn’t been any hostility between them, but Jesus is asking us to be good to everybody.

Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

He wants us to return good when we have received evil but then he gives us an even higher demand that we should make it our goal to be like our Father.

Most kids do look like their parents in the way they behave you can see characteristics that resemble the parent. My heavenly Father, who is perfect, is telling me that if I am a member of his family then I need to behave like him.

1 Peter 1:15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

APPLICATION

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Don’t give the family a bad name with my misbehaving

PRAYER

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Jesus please give me the strength and wisdom to enable me to behave like one of your children should.

What Did I Do Wrong

SCRIPTURE

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Genesis 26:12 Now Isaac, planting seed in that land, got in the same year fruit a hundred times as much, for the blessing of the Lord was on him. 13 And his wealth became very great, increasing more and more; 14 For he had great wealth of flocks and herds and great numbers of servants; so that the Philistines were full of envy.

15 Now all the water-holes, which his father's servants had made in the days of Abraham, had been stopped up with earth by the Philistines. 16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, Go away from us, for you are stronger than we are. 17 So Isaac went away from there, and put up his tents in the valley of Gerar, making his living-place there.

Proverbs 12:20 There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace.

OBSERVATION

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Have you ever been unwelcome somewhere? Been picked on for who knows why?

From a human perspective Isaac does not belong where he is at but God told his father Abraham to move to this neighborhood because some day it is going to belong to his grandkids. The other people that already live in the neighborhood are tired of Isaac, he is growing more food than anybody else, and his flock is growing in numbers like rabbits.

There is a lot of persecution going on and he cannot keep a well dug out for his family and servants or to water his crops or livestock. Nobody likes the new guy in town and they ask him to leave; now asking is all they could do since verse 16 says that Isaac was more powerful than they were.

He isn’t doing anything wrong, he is just living in the land that God told him to live in. What a difficult lesson to learn to not give back evil for evil. 1 Peter 3:9-11 says:

Not giving back evil for evil, or curse for curse, but in place of cursing, blessing; because this is the purpose of God for you that you may have a heritage of blessing. For it is said, Let the man who has a love of life, desiring to see good days, keep his tongue from evil and his lips from words of deceit: And let him be turned from evil and do good; searching for peace and going after it with all his heart.

Isaac goes through the trouble of digging new wells instead of standing up for his rights. We all want to be treated fair and it is difficult to release that desire instead of demanding what we feel we should get.

APPLICATION

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I need to a promoter of peace.(Romans 12:18)

The entire story of the Bible from cover to cover is a story of injustice being forgiven and forgotten. God’s “standard operating procedure” is to forgive and forget so why shouldn’t we live the same way.


PRAYER

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Help me Lord to be a promoter of peace. I need to live at peace with everyone weather I think they deserve my kindness or not.

Is The Bride Ready

Scripture

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Luke 14:12-24  Then he turned to his host. "When you put on a dinner," he said, "don't invite friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors! For they will return the invitation. 13 Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who can't repay you." 15 Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, "What a privilege it would be to get into the Kingdom of God!"

16 Jesus replied with this illustration: "A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When all was ready, he sent his servant around to notify the guests that it was time for them to arrive. 18 But they all began making excuses. One said he had just bought a field and wanted to inspect it, and asked to be excused. 19 Another said he had just bought five pair of oxen and wanted to try them out. 20 Another had just been married and for that reason couldn't come.

21 "The servant returned and reported to his master what they had said. His master was angry and told him to go quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and to invite the beggars, crippled, lame, and blind. 22 But even then, there was still room.

23 " 'Well, then,' said his master, 'go out into the country lanes and out behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. 24 For none of those I invited first will get even the smallest taste of what I had prepared for them.' "

Observation

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At the beginning of this chapter it tells us that it is the Sabbath day and Jesus is at the house of a prominent Pharisee where he has just finished healing a man. Jesus is still at the dinner when he turns to the host and tells him that he shouldn’t invite those that have food but he should instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. With a meal your rich friends will reward you but God is willing to offer you an eternal reward (verse 14).

What a privilege it would be to get into the kingdom of God! Many invitations are sent out but there are not many that are prepared however God will fill His table with guest for His feast that he has prepared.

6 Then I heard again what sounded like the shouting of a huge crowd, or like the waves of a hundred oceans crashing on the shore, or like the mighty rolling of great thunder, "Praise the Lord. For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him; for the time has come for the wedding banquet of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. 8 She is permitted to wear the cleanest and whitest and finest of linens." (Fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God.)

9 And the angel dictated this sentence to me: "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And he added, "God himself has stated this." Rev 19:6-9 (Living)

Jesus bride has prepared herself and she is permitted to wear the cleanest and whitest and finest of linens. The fine linen represents the good deeds that we have done; this is how we prepare the bride for the groom.

Application

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I will seek out ways to do good deeds everyday. I will be prepared for the Lord’s return by doing away with the improper concerns of this world.

Prayer

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Jesus I want to be more concerned for your eternal kingdom than in the temporary, help me to show love to others that need you. I am ready for your return!