Matthew 7:21-23
Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father Who is in Heaven. Many will say to me on that Day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name and in Your Name drive out demons, and in Your Name perform many miracles?" Then I will tell them plainly, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!"
Wow! All these church leaders, these missionaries, these Bible College professors, all the good people who thought that they were serving God and doing His work, called "evildoers" by the Lord? So who is "the one who does the will of my Father," if not these?
John tells us very specifically, in 6:28-29, "Then they asked Him, 'What must we do to do the works God requires?' Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.'"
So what does that mean? How could so many miss this? John used the Greek word, pisteuo for "believe," which comes from the word for "trustworthy." So we are to "entrust" ourselves to Jesus, to trust Him totally, implicitly, without reservation. Trust Him to do what? To be our "sacrificial Lamb," to die for us in payment for our debt of sin. When the penitent brought the lamb according to the Old Testament sacrificial system, in payment for the sin he was confessing, he would put his hand on the lamb's head, conferring his sin onto the lamb, then the lamb died in his place. That is what Jesus came to do, He is the "Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world." The Lamb God provided, to pay off the whole principle of our debt, not just the interest due on it year-by-year.
Now, when each of us realizes that we deserve death for all our sins, and that Jesus died for us, to pay off our whole debt; that is putting our trust in Him to accomplish in time for us what would take us forever to do. We are all "born in sin," with that Original Sin that Adam passes on in his DNA to all his children, all of mankind, the sin-nature that prompts us to make all those poor choices that "miss the mark" of what is best for us.
Romans 6:23 tells us that, "The wages of sin is death," and our "sin" is our sin-nature, that is the source and fountainhead of all our "sins." So if you ever made any decision to do what you knew was wrong and did it anyway, that proves that you have that sin-nature that Jesus bore on the cross when He came "to be sin," "for us," in our place (II Corinthians 5:21).
So even "good people" still have that sin-nature, and need a Savior to rescue them from having to spend eternity paying that eternal debt to God. Only the Eternal Person could pay our eternal debt in time. That is why He came, why He "became flesh," to qualify as human to die the human death we each deserve, yet still be the Eternal God, the Son that Isaiah said was "given" (9:6), Who was the Son from eternity past.
O my Father, thank You so much for showing me Jesus there on His Cross, letting me know that He took my place, my death, so that I could live forever with You. Thank You so much for loving me that much, to sacrifice Your own Son for me. Praise You, Almighty, Loving God, Omnipotent King of the Universe.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Broadway Or The Narrow Way?
Matthew 7:13-20
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Jesus is saying to not follow the crowd. Most people will go along with what everyone else is doing, thinking along the popular reasonings, and seeking after all the material things of this world, obeying all the advertisements, going along with the crowd.
But the way to real life is a narrow way, through a small portal, that few, compared to the crowds, will even search for to find. How can we know if we're following the right people, that will lead to that narrow way?
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes? or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Luke says, A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (6:45).
So we need to be careful of who we are listening to and following. These false teachers are coming in disguise, portraying themselves as good men, faithful Biblicists, people who only want to help. But if you investigate their personal lives, you could find out if they are being truthful or if they are deceived and are teaching lies that they believe are true.
I don't take what any teacher says as true just because they have a reputation as a good Bible teacher. I will take note of their teachings and then search the scriptures to see if what they are saying is true. Even Saint Paul didn't want people to believe what he said simply because he said it; he said that the Bereans were "more noble" than others because they not only "received the Word with all readiness," but also "searched the Scriptures daily [to see] whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11).
I also don't want you, dear reader of my blog, to take what I say to be true just because I believe it so. Do your own searching, to make sure that you are believing God's Truth, not any man's ideas. I may have some good ideas, but I don't think that I will never err in what I say, so please correct me whenever you find something that may not be correct. I will research your findings, also.
Tomorrow we will see why there are so many Bible teachers who may be deceived.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Jesus is saying to not follow the crowd. Most people will go along with what everyone else is doing, thinking along the popular reasonings, and seeking after all the material things of this world, obeying all the advertisements, going along with the crowd.
But the way to real life is a narrow way, through a small portal, that few, compared to the crowds, will even search for to find. How can we know if we're following the right people, that will lead to that narrow way?
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes? or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Luke says, A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (6:45).
So we need to be careful of who we are listening to and following. These false teachers are coming in disguise, portraying themselves as good men, faithful Biblicists, people who only want to help. But if you investigate their personal lives, you could find out if they are being truthful or if they are deceived and are teaching lies that they believe are true.
I don't take what any teacher says as true just because they have a reputation as a good Bible teacher. I will take note of their teachings and then search the scriptures to see if what they are saying is true. Even Saint Paul didn't want people to believe what he said simply because he said it; he said that the Bereans were "more noble" than others because they not only "received the Word with all readiness," but also "searched the Scriptures daily [to see] whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11).
I also don't want you, dear reader of my blog, to take what I say to be true just because I believe it so. Do your own searching, to make sure that you are believing God's Truth, not any man's ideas. I may have some good ideas, but I don't think that I will never err in what I say, so please correct me whenever you find something that may not be correct. I will research your findings, also.
Tomorrow we will see why there are so many Bible teachers who may be deceived.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, October 3, 2016
Do Unto Others
Matthew 7:12
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
This is commonly known as "The Golden Rule." Jesus says that to value others as we value our own selves and needs would fulfill the whole Old Testament ("The Law and The Prophets"), all the rules for living and everything that God has planned out for this Earth from beginning to end.
It makes sense. If I love my neighbor, I won't steal from him, lie to or about him, murder him, steal his spouse's affections, or desire to possess what he owns rather than work to get my own. And if I love God, I won't consider any other thing as more important than He is, or make a statue to worship, or use His Name in any but the most respectful way. I will honor the position my parents have over me, regardless of how good or bad I think their parenting to have been. And I will also honor both God and myself in taking off work one day a week for rest and worship.
That covers the Ten Commandments. And all the other rules and statutes and laws stem from those two tablets. And all the prophets preached about how God's people were "missing the mark" of even trying to follow the Creator's "guidelines" for how to get along in this world. And all the future prophesies will unfold in time, revealing all the consequences of not following our Lawgiver's direction.
But I read "the last chapter," so I know that our Almighty Sovereign will even all odds, straighten out all that is twisted, right all wrongs, and award every created being the awards each has earned, be it positive or negative.
So let us all strive to consider others in our lives as worth our love and affection, regardless of what it costs us, as our Father has lavished His love on us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
This is commonly known as "The Golden Rule." Jesus says that to value others as we value our own selves and needs would fulfill the whole Old Testament ("The Law and The Prophets"), all the rules for living and everything that God has planned out for this Earth from beginning to end.
It makes sense. If I love my neighbor, I won't steal from him, lie to or about him, murder him, steal his spouse's affections, or desire to possess what he owns rather than work to get my own. And if I love God, I won't consider any other thing as more important than He is, or make a statue to worship, or use His Name in any but the most respectful way. I will honor the position my parents have over me, regardless of how good or bad I think their parenting to have been. And I will also honor both God and myself in taking off work one day a week for rest and worship.
That covers the Ten Commandments. And all the other rules and statutes and laws stem from those two tablets. And all the prophets preached about how God's people were "missing the mark" of even trying to follow the Creator's "guidelines" for how to get along in this world. And all the future prophesies will unfold in time, revealing all the consequences of not following our Lawgiver's direction.
But I read "the last chapter," so I know that our Almighty Sovereign will even all odds, straighten out all that is twisted, right all wrongs, and award every created being the awards each has earned, be it positive or negative.
So let us all strive to consider others in our lives as worth our love and affection, regardless of what it costs us, as our Father has lavished His love on us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Ask, Seek, Knock; And Receive
Matthew 7:7-11
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!
Jesus is telling us that He wants us to ask for what it is we want or need. That means that we need to know what we are going to ask for. So often we pray in such generalities, how could we ever know when God would be answering? When we know what it is we need, or what we want to specifically ask for; then when His answers are that specific, then it's obvious that He is the One Who is working in our lives, and He gets the glory.
When Jesus says that our fathers are "evil," He doesn't mean that they are "bad people;" He just is referring to the fact that none of us comes up to God's perfection, we have all "sinned," or "missed the bull's eye," and are therefore "evil" in that sense.
So the more we know of God and His ways, the ways He designed this world to work, and endeavor to live our daily lives according to His rules; then when we pray, we will be asking our Father for what He wants to give to us, anyway, but is waiting for us to ask. And the more specific the prayer is, the better we will praise Him when He answers.
Let us seek to know our Father's character: His goodness and great love, His wisdom and how He designed our world to work, and His mercy and graciousness to us. Then we will be able to know what it is we need to ask for in order to carry out His plans for us. And He will get the credit for all He has done.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!
Jesus is telling us that He wants us to ask for what it is we want or need. That means that we need to know what we are going to ask for. So often we pray in such generalities, how could we ever know when God would be answering? When we know what it is we need, or what we want to specifically ask for; then when His answers are that specific, then it's obvious that He is the One Who is working in our lives, and He gets the glory.
When Jesus says that our fathers are "evil," He doesn't mean that they are "bad people;" He just is referring to the fact that none of us comes up to God's perfection, we have all "sinned," or "missed the bull's eye," and are therefore "evil" in that sense.
So the more we know of God and His ways, the ways He designed this world to work, and endeavor to live our daily lives according to His rules; then when we pray, we will be asking our Father for what He wants to give to us, anyway, but is waiting for us to ask. And the more specific the prayer is, the better we will praise Him when He answers.
Let us seek to know our Father's character: His goodness and great love, His wisdom and how He designed our world to work, and His mercy and graciousness to us. Then we will be able to know what it is we need to ask for in order to carry out His plans for us. And He will get the credit for all He has done.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Pearls To Pigs?
Matthew 7:6
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 turn and tear you to pieces.
Who are the people who do not want to know the real God? Who rail against Him and His people, and refuse to consider His ways? We need to be careful how we witness to these people, considering where they're coming from.
If we try to put any pressure on them at all, they will only push back, and "tear you to pieces." Much prayer must go into our approaching these ones, and remember that we are not the judge, nor the prosecuting attorney, but just a witness of what God has done for us. If they seem resistant to our personal story, then they are not yet ready to hear and consider the Gospel, that Jesus took the death they deserve for them, and rose again. That is our "pearl of great price."
I know that I tend to run ahead of God in His dealing with people, especially my own loved ones. I know that God loves them more than I do, so I must be patient and prayerful for them, making sure I'm wearing the Armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-17), and avoid arguing with them. I must trust that my Father will draw them in His way, and in His time. Only then will they be ready to hear the Good News, and know it applies to them, too.
Dear Father, please give us discernment in our sharing with others, to be considerate of where they are in their walk in life, and to communicate with them only what they are ready to receive; and not be discouraged, but continue in our prayer for them, and loving them unconditionally, as You love us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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 turn and tear you to pieces.
Who are the people who do not want to know the real God? Who rail against Him and His people, and refuse to consider His ways? We need to be careful how we witness to these people, considering where they're coming from.
If we try to put any pressure on them at all, they will only push back, and "tear you to pieces." Much prayer must go into our approaching these ones, and remember that we are not the judge, nor the prosecuting attorney, but just a witness of what God has done for us. If they seem resistant to our personal story, then they are not yet ready to hear and consider the Gospel, that Jesus took the death they deserve for them, and rose again. That is our "pearl of great price."
I know that I tend to run ahead of God in His dealing with people, especially my own loved ones. I know that God loves them more than I do, so I must be patient and prayerful for them, making sure I'm wearing the Armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-17), and avoid arguing with them. I must trust that my Father will draw them in His way, and in His time. Only then will they be ready to hear the Good News, and know it applies to them, too.
Dear Father, please give us discernment in our sharing with others, to be considerate of where they are in their walk in life, and to communicate with them only what they are ready to receive; and not be discouraged, but continue in our prayer for them, and loving them unconditionally, as You love us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, September 30, 2016
Specks And Planks
Matthew 7:3-5
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the two-by-four plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye," when all the time there is a plank of wood in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Jesus here employs some humor to get across His point. Who could possibly have a two-by-four stuck in his eye? The point here is that someone has a huge, glaring problem, yet is concerned for a minor flaw in someone else. We need first to work on our own moral deficiencies, and when we've been able to get a handle on those, then we will be in a place where we can help another.
One thing I learned in Celebrate Recovery is that I only needed to be one step ahead of another to be able to extend my hand to help them up that step, also. But I first needed to work on my own problems, to achieve my own small victories. I also learned that I was (am) like Shrek, an onion with layers. When I peeled off one layer, there was another underneath it that had contributed to that problem, now I needed to work on this new one that had been uncovered. But I was still in a position to help my neighbor over the hurdle I had just gotten over.
May we all have our eyes open to our own next step, as well as how we can contribute to our neighbor's growth in the Lord.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the two-by-four plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye," when all the time there is a plank of wood in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Jesus here employs some humor to get across His point. Who could possibly have a two-by-four stuck in his eye? The point here is that someone has a huge, glaring problem, yet is concerned for a minor flaw in someone else. We need first to work on our own moral deficiencies, and when we've been able to get a handle on those, then we will be in a place where we can help another.
One thing I learned in Celebrate Recovery is that I only needed to be one step ahead of another to be able to extend my hand to help them up that step, also. But I first needed to work on my own problems, to achieve my own small victories. I also learned that I was (am) like Shrek, an onion with layers. When I peeled off one layer, there was another underneath it that had contributed to that problem, now I needed to work on this new one that had been uncovered. But I was still in a position to help my neighbor over the hurdle I had just gotten over.
May we all have our eyes open to our own next step, as well as how we can contribute to our neighbor's growth in the Lord.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Pressed Down, Shaken Together
Continuing yesterday's theme, Luke adds a more positive example of consequences of how we consider others.
Luke 6:37-38
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
When we decide to view others through a heart of love and affection for them, then we are much less likely to harshly judge their actions. When we extend to others the graciousness that Christ has given to us, then we will treat them with kindness and compassion. And when we are known as kind and compassionate people, then others will respond to us with the same generosity they see in us.
Always remember to pass along whatever blessings God gives us through others. Good deeds can be multiplied in this way.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Luke 6:37-38
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
When we decide to view others through a heart of love and affection for them, then we are much less likely to harshly judge their actions. When we extend to others the graciousness that Christ has given to us, then we will treat them with kindness and compassion. And when we are known as kind and compassionate people, then others will respond to us with the same generosity they see in us.
Always remember to pass along whatever blessings God gives us through others. Good deeds can be multiplied in this way.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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