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!
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Judging Others
Matthew 7:1-2
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you too will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Jesus is here giving us a warning to be careful how we tend to evaluate others. He is not saying to never discriminate between what is good and bad, or beneficial and damaging. He is saying to consider others in a gracious frame of mind, to not be harsh with them. However we treat others, whether kindly or sternly, that is how others will treat us.
I want to always give the benefit of the doubt to someone who is apparently doing something I don't approve of, because I know that each of us is capable of committing the worst of atrocities, given the circumstances, not seeing any other choice. Understanding the person's environment and situation goes a long way in accepting the person, and may contribute to being able to help that person out of the trouble they consequently find themselves in as the result of the poor choices they have made.
Let us all consider how we may respond to the people in our lives who rub us the wrong way, not reacting to the provocation, but considering how we can bless them, and help them. We can pray for them, not against them, and bless them in our responses to them, as our Lord has had mercy on us, and granted us His grace.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you too will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Jesus is here giving us a warning to be careful how we tend to evaluate others. He is not saying to never discriminate between what is good and bad, or beneficial and damaging. He is saying to consider others in a gracious frame of mind, to not be harsh with them. However we treat others, whether kindly or sternly, that is how others will treat us.
I want to always give the benefit of the doubt to someone who is apparently doing something I don't approve of, because I know that each of us is capable of committing the worst of atrocities, given the circumstances, not seeing any other choice. Understanding the person's environment and situation goes a long way in accepting the person, and may contribute to being able to help that person out of the trouble they consequently find themselves in as the result of the poor choices they have made.
Let us all consider how we may respond to the people in our lives who rub us the wrong way, not reacting to the provocation, but considering how we can bless them, and help them. We can pray for them, not against them, and bless them in our responses to them, as our Lord has had mercy on us, and granted us His grace.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Why Worry?
Matthew 6:25-34
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Jesus is telling us that the food we depend on for life is not as important than our life itself, how we live our life. Birds don't work like we do, but God cares enough for them to see that they eat. And we are much more valuable than birds. And worrying will subtract from the hours of our life.
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you--you of little faith?
Do we tend to be more concerned about the fashion of our apparel, or how new our outfits are, collecting more clothes than we can wear, rather than knowing we have something appropriate to cover our nakedness?
So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them.
When we worry, who are we trusting to provide these basic needs? Our own abilities, or our Father in Heaven? Are we focused on acquiring as much as we can of the best this world has to offer? Or comparing our belongings with others' things? If we have our trust in God and are not focused on the things of this world, like people who don't even know God at all, then we won't need to worry.
But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
When our focus is on God and His ways for us, then we won't be worrying; we will be trusting our Father in Heaven Who knows better than we do what it is we really need, and that includes all the things of this world for our Earthly existence while we're here. And we only need to see one day at a time, and solve today's problems today. "Don't trouble trouble 'till trouble troubles you" is an old saying I heard a long time ago, that expresses this idea: don't be concerned about what might happen, if it also might not happen. Don't let your imagination dream up all kinds of scenarios that may never happen. Just be content with what you have each day.
God knows exactly what will happen every day of our lives, and has already planned to meet all our needs through everything that happens.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Jesus is telling us that the food we depend on for life is not as important than our life itself, how we live our life. Birds don't work like we do, but God cares enough for them to see that they eat. And we are much more valuable than birds. And worrying will subtract from the hours of our life.
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you--you of little faith?
Do we tend to be more concerned about the fashion of our apparel, or how new our outfits are, collecting more clothes than we can wear, rather than knowing we have something appropriate to cover our nakedness?
So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them.
When we worry, who are we trusting to provide these basic needs? Our own abilities, or our Father in Heaven? Are we focused on acquiring as much as we can of the best this world has to offer? Or comparing our belongings with others' things? If we have our trust in God and are not focused on the things of this world, like people who don't even know God at all, then we won't need to worry.
But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
When our focus is on God and His ways for us, then we won't be worrying; we will be trusting our Father in Heaven Who knows better than we do what it is we really need, and that includes all the things of this world for our Earthly existence while we're here. And we only need to see one day at a time, and solve today's problems today. "Don't trouble trouble 'till trouble troubles you" is an old saying I heard a long time ago, that expresses this idea: don't be concerned about what might happen, if it also might not happen. Don't let your imagination dream up all kinds of scenarios that may never happen. Just be content with what you have each day.
God knows exactly what will happen every day of our lives, and has already planned to meet all our needs through everything that happens.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, September 26, 2016
Treasures
(Continuing our study of the Sermon on the Mount, you may see the rest of Matthew 5 on my blog entry of June 13, 2015, "My Attitude Toward My Enemies;" and Matthew 6: 1-18 on my entry of June 19, 2015, "In Doing What We Do.")
Matthew 6:19-24
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This is self-explanatory. Anything we hoard on this Earth is subject to decay, mold and theft, as well as loss in other ways. But whatever we "send ahead" to Heaven will be kept pristine and fresh, with nothing that could possibly diminish its value.
Giving to missionaries is one way we can invest in God's Kingdom and "send it ahead." To help the poor is another way, or to spend our time serving in some way also will make a deposit in our Heavenly account. Whatever we choose to give, whether in time, money, talents and gifts, skills, whatever God has given us, we can give it back to Him and He will keep it in store for us.
Wherever we've stored the most of what we treasure, that's where our focus will be, whether here on Earth somewhere, or in God's Heaven.
(Verses 22-23: For the discussion on Light and Darkness, see my blog post of May 21, 2016 that covers the next two verses. [I certainly do not want darkness to act like light in my heart.])
(Verse 24) No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
How do you view money, what is it? If you desire money to have money, for security or whatever, then your god is money. God provides finances as a tool for us to use in order to pay for whatever it is we need, but we only need enough to supply our needs. The richest man in the world was asked, "How much is enough money?" and his answer was, "Just a little bit more"! Money will never fill that God-sized hole He placed in every one of us. No matter how much of any of this world's goods you may be able to acquire, it will never be "enough." Only God is enough. And He has given Himself to us!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Matthew 6:19-24
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This is self-explanatory. Anything we hoard on this Earth is subject to decay, mold and theft, as well as loss in other ways. But whatever we "send ahead" to Heaven will be kept pristine and fresh, with nothing that could possibly diminish its value.
Giving to missionaries is one way we can invest in God's Kingdom and "send it ahead." To help the poor is another way, or to spend our time serving in some way also will make a deposit in our Heavenly account. Whatever we choose to give, whether in time, money, talents and gifts, skills, whatever God has given us, we can give it back to Him and He will keep it in store for us.
Wherever we've stored the most of what we treasure, that's where our focus will be, whether here on Earth somewhere, or in God's Heaven.
(Verses 22-23: For the discussion on Light and Darkness, see my blog post of May 21, 2016 that covers the next two verses. [I certainly do not want darkness to act like light in my heart.])
(Verse 24) No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
How do you view money, what is it? If you desire money to have money, for security or whatever, then your god is money. God provides finances as a tool for us to use in order to pay for whatever it is we need, but we only need enough to supply our needs. The richest man in the world was asked, "How much is enough money?" and his answer was, "Just a little bit more"! Money will never fill that God-sized hole He placed in every one of us. No matter how much of any of this world's goods you may be able to acquire, it will never be "enough." Only God is enough. And He has given Himself to us!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Watch Our Words
(We are continuing our study of the Sermon on the Mount in learning just Who this Jesus really is.)
Matthew 5:33-37
Jesus continues to speak:
"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.' But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by Heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the Earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No;' anything beyond this comes from the evil one."
We are warned here to watch our words. Words are powerful; God's Word created everything that exists, and He made us in His own Image. When we make a vow, or swear to something, God holds us to it, even if we forget about it. Ecclesiastes 5:5-6 says, "It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest [saying] 'My vow was a mistake.' Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?" This means that if we carelessly swear to something and forget about it, or change our minds, God will remember it, and not allow what we're working for to succeed.
Our words also have power to build each other up, or to destroy one another. We can speak Truth and contribute value to this world we live in, or we can speak lies and deception and manipulation to tear down our society for our own short term gain. Many times when we are talking, we're not really paying attention to what we're saying, or how we're saying it, and it comes out in a way to tear down or be misunderstood, and hurt or wound and destroy relationships.
The Truth is always the best policy, even when it seems to work against us; it will only be a temporary setback, and turn out in the end to be the best. And we need always to do what we said we will do (see Psalm 15), even when it turns out to cost us more than we anticipated, whether that cost is financial or to save face.
May we always put a guard on our mouths to speak only what God would have us talk about, and avoid all the foolish and evil words that creep in when we're not paying attention.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Matthew 5:33-37
Jesus continues to speak:
"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.' But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by Heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the Earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No;' anything beyond this comes from the evil one."
We are warned here to watch our words. Words are powerful; God's Word created everything that exists, and He made us in His own Image. When we make a vow, or swear to something, God holds us to it, even if we forget about it. Ecclesiastes 5:5-6 says, "It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest [saying] 'My vow was a mistake.' Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?" This means that if we carelessly swear to something and forget about it, or change our minds, God will remember it, and not allow what we're working for to succeed.
Our words also have power to build each other up, or to destroy one another. We can speak Truth and contribute value to this world we live in, or we can speak lies and deception and manipulation to tear down our society for our own short term gain. Many times when we are talking, we're not really paying attention to what we're saying, or how we're saying it, and it comes out in a way to tear down or be misunderstood, and hurt or wound and destroy relationships.
The Truth is always the best policy, even when it seems to work against us; it will only be a temporary setback, and turn out in the end to be the best. And we need always to do what we said we will do (see Psalm 15), even when it turns out to cost us more than we anticipated, whether that cost is financial or to save face.
May we always put a guard on our mouths to speak only what God would have us talk about, and avoid all the foolish and evil words that creep in when we're not paying attention.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Divorce
Matthew 5:31-32
It has been said, "Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce." But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
(More discussion on divorce:)
Matthew 19:3-12
Some Pharisees came to Him to test Him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?"
"Haven't you read," He replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."
"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?"
Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery."
(When they were in the house again,) the disciples asked him about this: 'If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry."
Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others--and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."
(see also Mark 10:1-12)
Jesus was born under the Law (Galatians 4:4), by His life and death He fulfilled the Law, and now we are not under the Law, but under Grace (Romans 6:14).
So according to the beginning, with Adam and Eve, before the Law was given, God determined that when a man marries a wife, then God says that when they perform "the marital act" in joining together physically, then they are essentially one body. God has joined them together, and this relationship is meant to last their lifetime. This is God's ideal, because it results in the very best for us. Many scientific studies have shown that long-time married couples have the best sexual relationship over any other situation. So this lifestyle of lifetime monogamy has still proved to bring the most happiness in this world.
But so many of us have been divorced, what about us? Can we never again do right by our fellow man in this area? Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 7, 40 verses about marriage, divorce, widowhood, religiously mixed marriages, remaining single, the whole subject. And many Bible scholars point to verse 15, "But if the unbeliever leaves [the marriage], let it be so. The brother or sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace," as meaning that the believing spouse is not bound by the marriage vows to the unbelieving spouse, so is as free to remarry as the widow who is "loosed from the law of her husband" (Romans 7:2).
Other Bible scholars say that this is "stretching" and "reaching" for justification for Christians who give up on the marriage instead of staying and working out the difficulties, and too bad for the faithful, innocent spouse who is left in the lurch.
And there is the situation where someone is already divorced and remarried and then becomes a Christian, they cannot "be reconciled" to the spouse they had divorced (verse 11), they're already married to another spouse. To break up another family would not be "liv[ing] in peace."
Today's maritally convoluted society is not a problem for God; He has given us the ideal to strive for, and He also gives us grace to deal with the situations we face. I say, today is the first day in the rest of our lives, and if we have been living in ways that don't conform to these standards, then we can begin today, "remain[ing] in the situation [we are] in" (verse 20) today, whether married or single; and if we are in any other kind of relationship, then we can do the right thing to get right, whether that means to leave that unrighteous liaison, or to marry the lover you are entangled with, or whatever other situation you may find yourself in. With God's grace, and the strength and power of "He Who lives in us Who is greater than he who is in the world," (I John 4:4) we can straighten out our lives and our lifestyles and live in the right-ness that brings the joy of the Lord into our days.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
It has been said, "Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce." But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
(More discussion on divorce:)
Matthew 19:3-12
Some Pharisees came to Him to test Him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?"
"Haven't you read," He replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."
"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?"
Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery."
(When they were in the house again,) the disciples asked him about this: 'If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry."
Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others--and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."
(see also Mark 10:1-12)
Jesus was born under the Law (Galatians 4:4), by His life and death He fulfilled the Law, and now we are not under the Law, but under Grace (Romans 6:14).
So according to the beginning, with Adam and Eve, before the Law was given, God determined that when a man marries a wife, then God says that when they perform "the marital act" in joining together physically, then they are essentially one body. God has joined them together, and this relationship is meant to last their lifetime. This is God's ideal, because it results in the very best for us. Many scientific studies have shown that long-time married couples have the best sexual relationship over any other situation. So this lifestyle of lifetime monogamy has still proved to bring the most happiness in this world.
But so many of us have been divorced, what about us? Can we never again do right by our fellow man in this area? Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 7, 40 verses about marriage, divorce, widowhood, religiously mixed marriages, remaining single, the whole subject. And many Bible scholars point to verse 15, "But if the unbeliever leaves [the marriage], let it be so. The brother or sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace," as meaning that the believing spouse is not bound by the marriage vows to the unbelieving spouse, so is as free to remarry as the widow who is "loosed from the law of her husband" (Romans 7:2).
Other Bible scholars say that this is "stretching" and "reaching" for justification for Christians who give up on the marriage instead of staying and working out the difficulties, and too bad for the faithful, innocent spouse who is left in the lurch.
And there is the situation where someone is already divorced and remarried and then becomes a Christian, they cannot "be reconciled" to the spouse they had divorced (verse 11), they're already married to another spouse. To break up another family would not be "liv[ing] in peace."
Today's maritally convoluted society is not a problem for God; He has given us the ideal to strive for, and He also gives us grace to deal with the situations we face. I say, today is the first day in the rest of our lives, and if we have been living in ways that don't conform to these standards, then we can begin today, "remain[ing] in the situation [we are] in" (verse 20) today, whether married or single; and if we are in any other kind of relationship, then we can do the right thing to get right, whether that means to leave that unrighteous liaison, or to marry the lover you are entangled with, or whatever other situation you may find yourself in. With God's grace, and the strength and power of "He Who lives in us Who is greater than he who is in the world," (I John 4:4) we can straighten out our lives and our lifestyles and live in the right-ness that brings the joy of the Lord into our days.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, September 23, 2016
Avoiding Sexual Sin
Matthew 5:27-30
You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14). But I tell you, that anyone who looks on the opposite sex lustfully has already committed adultery in his heart.
Jesus is quoting the Old Testament Law, and asserting that He has authority over the Law, when He says, "You have heard...But I tell you." Only if He is the Lawgiver would He have this authority to expand the reach of the Law.
What we do is the result of what we have allowed ourselves to mentally dwell on. When we allow lustful thoughts to linger in our minds, we may or may not have actually acted it out, but God looks on our thoughts. Our fantasies can very easily lead us into very unsavory actions, so God wants us to stem this at the root, our thoughts.
If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14). But I tell you, that anyone who looks on the opposite sex lustfully has already committed adultery in his heart.
Jesus is quoting the Old Testament Law, and asserting that He has authority over the Law, when He says, "You have heard...But I tell you." Only if He is the Lawgiver would He have this authority to expand the reach of the Law.
What we do is the result of what we have allowed ourselves to mentally dwell on. When we allow lustful thoughts to linger in our minds, we may or may not have actually acted it out, but God looks on our thoughts. Our fantasies can very easily lead us into very unsavory actions, so God wants us to stem this at the root, our thoughts.
If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
I really don't think that maiming our bodies will keep us from the kinds of sins that are referenced here, because our bodies aren't the source from which they spring. Especially when the previous verses make our very thoughts accountable to God. This may be an example of cultural humor in exaggeration. The extreme act of eye-gouging or hand removal would leave a lingering picture of the lengths to which we may need to go in running from temptation. We need to remove whatever items have previously caused us moral problems, and replace them with wholesome things to fill the void. I'm sure we can all think of our own examples of what we need to throw out. Let's not keep around anything that has been an occasion of sin in our past.
Jesus, in this Sermon, is presenting what God's Kingdom will look like on this Earth. Some of these illustrations come across as very extreme. When we think about righteousness, our view is dependent on how bad the evil is around us; but God never changes, His standards never slide, but always remain firm. He is Good, the Standard for good; He is Right, the Standard for right; He is Love, the Standard for love. We can only know what good is, or right, or love, by knowing Him; He is the Ruler by which we measure.
Jesus, in this Sermon, is presenting what God's Kingdom will look like on this Earth. Some of these illustrations come across as very extreme. When we think about righteousness, our view is dependent on how bad the evil is around us; but God never changes, His standards never slide, but always remain firm. He is Good, the Standard for good; He is Right, the Standard for right; He is Love, the Standard for love. We can only know what good is, or right, or love, by knowing Him; He is the Ruler by which we measure.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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