Luke 18: 28-30
Jesus just talked about the rich man not being willing to give up his possessions to follow Him.
Then Peter said, Look, we've left everything and followed You.
And He said to them, Truly I say to you, there is no man that has left house or parents or brothers and sisters or wife or children, for the Kingdom of God's sake,
who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come Life everlasting.
This is more on "hating" our loved ones and ourselves to follow Him. We must be willing to give up close proximity with our loved ones, and be willing to consider our own lives not as important as God's Plan for us and the whole Universe.
God is God, we are not. His great Plan of the Ages is unfolding before our eyes, and if we put our families or our possessions ahead of what God is calling us to do, then we are making them stumbling stones. We are refusing to follow His plans for us in our part to prepare for the coming of His Kingdom here on this Earth.
We don't necessarily have to give them up, but we are to have the attitude to consider what God is calling us to do to have greater value than holding on to what we have; and if we need to let go, then we will let go. God must hold first place in our lives.
My dream is to travel the World spreading the Seed of the Gospel. When I go off to do that, I will be leaving my family members here. With technology today, I may be able to maintain contact with them with the Internet, or Skype, but I won't be able to give them a hug or share a meal with them while I go to the uttermost corner of the World.
I don't know yet how all this will work out, or how I should expect God to give me "manifold more" houses or parents or siblings or children, what that would look like, when I work out my dream.
But my desire is to work where God is working, wherever that might be in the World, starting right here at home, and to use all that God has given me to promote His Kingdom, whether that be my physical ability to travel, my financial resources, my intelligence, my personality, the possessions I hold; whatever I have, however He would have me use it or give it up, that's what I want to do.
O my Father, thank You for sharing Yourself with me! Thank You for opening the curtain to let me peer in to see more of Your workings! The more I learn of You, the better I get to know You, Father, the more I love You, and want to serve You, and desire to do whatever would bring You glory!
You are the only One I need. You are the Source of everything I'll ever need or want. Only You can satisfy the desires You have placed in my heart. I agree with Solomon, that I was born naked, and when I leave this life, I will take nothing of this World with me (Ecclesiastes 5:15). So whatever You see fit to give me of this World, I will use to grow my wealth in Your Kingdom; that You would receive all the credit, all the fame, all the glory and honor.
And every knee will bow, every tongue will confess in every language, that Christ Jesus is Lord over all, to the glory of God the Father, forever and ever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, April 5, 2019
Thursday, April 4, 2019
Are You Righteous?
Luke 18: 9-14
And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
Two men went up into the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself:
God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector;
I fast twice a week, I pay tithes of all that I get.
But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to Heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, the sinner!
I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.
We can brag on our good qualities, so that people will see us in a better light; or we can be honest with ourselves and others about our true state, without elevating or denigrating ourselves.
I need to keep in mind that everything I am or have with which to exalt myself, I have been given by God, not myself. Without Him I have nothing, I can do nothing. Only in His power can I accomplish anything at all that is of worth.
O my Father, thank You for giving me so much, lavishly, out of Your storehouse of bounty! Please help me to guard against any hint of pride of accomplishment of anything I would do; show me how to always give You the credit, the glory for it all, without sounding "holier-than-thou" with those who compliment me, or who would seek me out.
Father, You are good, and You give us good gifts. Help us to use the good gifts You give us to help one another, to uplift the downtrodden, to build up Your church, and to promote Your Kingdom.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
Two men went up into the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself:
God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector;
I fast twice a week, I pay tithes of all that I get.
But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to Heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, the sinner!
I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.
We can brag on our good qualities, so that people will see us in a better light; or we can be honest with ourselves and others about our true state, without elevating or denigrating ourselves.
I need to keep in mind that everything I am or have with which to exalt myself, I have been given by God, not myself. Without Him I have nothing, I can do nothing. Only in His power can I accomplish anything at all that is of worth.
O my Father, thank You for giving me so much, lavishly, out of Your storehouse of bounty! Please help me to guard against any hint of pride of accomplishment of anything I would do; show me how to always give You the credit, the glory for it all, without sounding "holier-than-thou" with those who compliment me, or who would seek me out.
Father, You are good, and You give us good gifts. Help us to use the good gifts You give us to help one another, to uplift the downtrodden, to build up Your church, and to promote Your Kingdom.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
On That Day
Luke 17: 22-36
And He said unto the disciples, The days will come, when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you shall not see it.
And they shall say to you, See here; or, See there: go not after them or follow them.
For as the lightning flashes out of one part of the sky and shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be seen in His Day.
But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the Day of the Son of Man:
They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from Heaven and destroyed them all.
It will be the just same on the Day that the Son of Man is revealed.
On that Day, don't turn back for anything, no matter where you are or what you're doing.
Remember Lot's wife.
Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left.
There will be two women grinding at the mill together; one will be taken and the other will be left.
Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.
This is about the Day of the Lord, when Jesus returns to the Earth and His feet touch down on the Mount of Olives, which splits the mountain (Zechariah 14:4).
This is not about the Rapture, which has already taken place. This is when the Battle of Armegeddon takes place; and those who are taken, are taken in judgment; and the ones left, are left to enter into His Kingdom in their flesh (Zechariah 14:16).
Those who are evil shall be taken in Divine judgment, and those who are righteous, no wrath shall touch them, For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, I Thessalonians 5:9. And as the Psalmist wrote,
Until then, we need to keep on watching what is going on in the World around us, because all these things should not take us by surprise; as we live in the Light, not in the darkness of the unrighteous--You are the children of Light, and children of the day, that the Day should overtake you as a thief; I Thessalonians 5:4.
O my Father, You have told us what will take place and be accomplished all they way through the Last Days, which we have been living in since Jesus ascended. But from looking at what has been going on these recent days, I must conclude that the coming of my Lord cannot be very far off, even at the door!
Please prepare and strengthen Your children to withstand the severe persecution that is coming soon.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
And He said unto the disciples, The days will come, when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you shall not see it.
And they shall say to you, See here; or, See there: go not after them or follow them.
For as the lightning flashes out of one part of the sky and shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be seen in His Day.
But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the Day of the Son of Man:
They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from Heaven and destroyed them all.
It will be the just same on the Day that the Son of Man is revealed.
On that Day, don't turn back for anything, no matter where you are or what you're doing.
Remember Lot's wife.
Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left.
There will be two women grinding at the mill together; one will be taken and the other will be left.
Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.
This is about the Day of the Lord, when Jesus returns to the Earth and His feet touch down on the Mount of Olives, which splits the mountain (Zechariah 14:4).
This is not about the Rapture, which has already taken place. This is when the Battle of Armegeddon takes place; and those who are taken, are taken in judgment; and the ones left, are left to enter into His Kingdom in their flesh (Zechariah 14:16).
Those who are evil shall be taken in Divine judgment, and those who are righteous, no wrath shall touch them, For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, I Thessalonians 5:9. And as the Psalmist wrote,
A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes will you behold and see the reward of the wicked. Psalm 91:7-8.So those who will be saved to live in His Kingdom will marry and re-populate the Earth, building a new World under King Jesus' righteous rule.
Until then, we need to keep on watching what is going on in the World around us, because all these things should not take us by surprise; as we live in the Light, not in the darkness of the unrighteous--You are the children of Light, and children of the day, that the Day should overtake you as a thief; I Thessalonians 5:4.
O my Father, You have told us what will take place and be accomplished all they way through the Last Days, which we have been living in since Jesus ascended. But from looking at what has been going on these recent days, I must conclude that the coming of my Lord cannot be very far off, even at the door!
Please prepare and strengthen Your children to withstand the severe persecution that is coming soon.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
Paradise & Hades And Heaven & Hell
Luke 16: 14-31
Sheol: Hades and Paradise
Jesus has just told the story of The Unjust Steward (vs 1-13), who gave all his lord's debtors discounts after he was given notice. And his boss commended him for his wisdom in making friends this way. Jesus said that, The children of this world are, in their generation, wiser than the children of light (v. 8).
And the Pharisees who were covetous, heard all these things, and they derided Him (v. 14). Probably because the prevailing opinion in that culture was that God blessed godly people with worldly possessions, so if they were rich, they were all right with God.
But Jesus refuted that assumption with the story of The Rich Man and Lazarus. This is not a parable, because He calls the beggar by his actual name, Lazarus. (He doesn't give the name of the rich man, to protect the guilty.) So it's a true story of something that really happened. It's history.
This gives us a discription of the Sheol where David said that all men went when they died, both the righteous and the evil (Ecclesiastes 6:6 and 9:3).
The Place of the Dead, called Sheol, had two parts. The rich man, who was wealthy in the things of this World, but not toward God, ended up in the fiery side, or Hades. Lazarus, the poor beggar, had no material goods, but was rich toward God, and was comforted in "Abraham's bosom," or Paradise.
Between these two sections there was a great gulf. Was it Nothingness? I don't know, but they could see one another across it, and talk to each other; but it was impossible for either to go from one side to the other either way.
This set-up doesn't exist today, now that Jesus has died and has risen from the dead.
Before Christ, people offered animal sacrifices, as lined out in the Law of Moses. Other peoples also offered sacrifices, but to their idols, which were backed up by demons, often killing their own children. God never had anyone sacrifice any other human person in death at any time. He asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, but stopped him from killing his son.
When an Israelite brought his own lamb or bull or goat to the priest, he would lay his hand on the head of the beast to identify with it, and then the priest would sacrifice it on the altar, dying instead of the person, for his sins. Then the animal's blood was splattered on the sides of the altar, which covered the sins so that the person could be forgiven.
That's how God saved His people then: they admitted they deserved death and let the animal die in their place. This was how it was done since Adam, when God killed animals to clothe him and his wife.
God saves people the same way today. Only we don't sacrifice animals any more, because Jesus is God's Lamb Who died in our place individually, once for all. And His Blood splattered on the sides of His altar, the Cross, doesn't just cover our sins, it washes them completely away, without a shadow of a stain.
Only what is perfectly pure can live with God in Heaven; otherwise, Heaven would get as bad as the World is today. That's why Jesus had to die. If there was any other way, God would have let Jesus out of it (If it be possible--Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, three times, Matthew 26:39).
When the Old Testament saints died, they went to Sheol, because they still bore their sins, they were just covered. But when Jesus' body was in the tomb, He went down into Paradise, organized all His saints into a Victory Procession, and paraded them before all the denizens of Hell on their way to Heaven, now that Jesus' Blood washed them clean. (See my blog posted on 2017, April 17: "What Was Jesus Doing?")
He carried the whole Paradise side of Sheol into Heaven that day, along with everyone who was in it; now only the Fire-side remains, that we call Hell. God made that place for the devil and his demons (Matthew 25:41); people only go there by their own choice. Sad to say, there are many who make this choice by default in rejecting God's most gracious offer of Heaven.
O my Father, I pray for all those sheep of Yours who are still lost. You know who they are, Father, and I'm asking You to keep sending workers out into Your mission fields to find them and draw each one of them into the safety of the One Fold with One Shepherd.
Just as You know all the Stars by name (Psalm 147:4), You also know us, and You call us by name. I will know my Shepherd, my Savior, my Redeemer, my King, my Bridegroom, by His voice when He calls me by my name (John 10:11, 14, 27), out of this World and into His arms!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sheol: Hades and Paradise
Jesus has just told the story of The Unjust Steward (vs 1-13), who gave all his lord's debtors discounts after he was given notice. And his boss commended him for his wisdom in making friends this way. Jesus said that, The children of this world are, in their generation, wiser than the children of light (v. 8).
And the Pharisees who were covetous, heard all these things, and they derided Him (v. 14). Probably because the prevailing opinion in that culture was that God blessed godly people with worldly possessions, so if they were rich, they were all right with God.
But Jesus refuted that assumption with the story of The Rich Man and Lazarus. This is not a parable, because He calls the beggar by his actual name, Lazarus. (He doesn't give the name of the rich man, to protect the guilty.) So it's a true story of something that really happened. It's history.
This gives us a discription of the Sheol where David said that all men went when they died, both the righteous and the evil (Ecclesiastes 6:6 and 9:3).
The Place of the Dead, called Sheol, had two parts. The rich man, who was wealthy in the things of this World, but not toward God, ended up in the fiery side, or Hades. Lazarus, the poor beggar, had no material goods, but was rich toward God, and was comforted in "Abraham's bosom," or Paradise.
Between these two sections there was a great gulf. Was it Nothingness? I don't know, but they could see one another across it, and talk to each other; but it was impossible for either to go from one side to the other either way.
This set-up doesn't exist today, now that Jesus has died and has risen from the dead.
Before Christ, people offered animal sacrifices, as lined out in the Law of Moses. Other peoples also offered sacrifices, but to their idols, which were backed up by demons, often killing their own children. God never had anyone sacrifice any other human person in death at any time. He asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, but stopped him from killing his son.
When an Israelite brought his own lamb or bull or goat to the priest, he would lay his hand on the head of the beast to identify with it, and then the priest would sacrifice it on the altar, dying instead of the person, for his sins. Then the animal's blood was splattered on the sides of the altar, which covered the sins so that the person could be forgiven.
That's how God saved His people then: they admitted they deserved death and let the animal die in their place. This was how it was done since Adam, when God killed animals to clothe him and his wife.
God saves people the same way today. Only we don't sacrifice animals any more, because Jesus is God's Lamb Who died in our place individually, once for all. And His Blood splattered on the sides of His altar, the Cross, doesn't just cover our sins, it washes them completely away, without a shadow of a stain.
Only what is perfectly pure can live with God in Heaven; otherwise, Heaven would get as bad as the World is today. That's why Jesus had to die. If there was any other way, God would have let Jesus out of it (If it be possible--Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, three times, Matthew 26:39).
When the Old Testament saints died, they went to Sheol, because they still bore their sins, they were just covered. But when Jesus' body was in the tomb, He went down into Paradise, organized all His saints into a Victory Procession, and paraded them before all the denizens of Hell on their way to Heaven, now that Jesus' Blood washed them clean. (See my blog posted on 2017, April 17: "What Was Jesus Doing?")
He carried the whole Paradise side of Sheol into Heaven that day, along with everyone who was in it; now only the Fire-side remains, that we call Hell. God made that place for the devil and his demons (Matthew 25:41); people only go there by their own choice. Sad to say, there are many who make this choice by default in rejecting God's most gracious offer of Heaven.
O my Father, I pray for all those sheep of Yours who are still lost. You know who they are, Father, and I'm asking You to keep sending workers out into Your mission fields to find them and draw each one of them into the safety of the One Fold with One Shepherd.
Just as You know all the Stars by name (Psalm 147:4), You also know us, and You call us by name. I will know my Shepherd, my Savior, my Redeemer, my King, my Bridegroom, by His voice when He calls me by my name (John 10:11, 14, 27), out of this World and into His arms!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, April 1, 2019
Dysfunctional, Lost Children
Luke 15: 11-32
The Prodigal Son
And He said, A certain man had two sons:
And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me to inherit. So he divided his wealth between them.
So the father gave both his sons now what they would inherit when he died, because the younger son didn't want to wait until his father died.
And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country,
This son didn't want to stick around; there must have been an issue in the family that he didn't want to face.
and there he squandered his estate with loose living.
And he never learned how to handle money.
Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.
So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
Okay, he got a job. Looks like not much was available in the job market.
And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.
There was no welfare state there, people were expected to be responsible for themselves.
But when he came to his senses, he said, How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!
Now he began to think clearly, instead of selfishly and foolishly.
I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.
Here's his confession and repentance, he's ready to turn over a new leaf.
So he got up and came to his father.
And was probably rehearsing his speech on the way.
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
Dad was on the watch for him, looking for when he would be returning, not knowing if he would, but eternally hopeful.
And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
This is only the first half of his speech. It looks like Dad cut him off from saying the rest.
But the father said to his slaves, Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him (have to dress up for the party), and put a ring on his hand (The ring was the credit card to put the family seal on the legal documents) and sandals on his feet;
And bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate (Party, party, party!);
For this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found. And they began to celebrate.
Dad ran to him because he could see his demeanor as he walked, rehearsing his speech of submission, and knew he was ready to receive the family honor.
Now his older son was in the field (Nobody thought to go get him for the occasion?), and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing (Uh-oh!).
And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be (What's going on here?).
And he said to him, Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.
Just the facts.
But he became angry and was not willing to go in;
This anger is telling, now we can see what has been going on between these two brothers.
and his father came out and began pleading with him.
Parents always want their children to get along.
But he answered and said to his father, Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours;
This son seems to have taken this as a personal insult, a slight from his father in favor of the one who left.
and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;
But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.
Now he's competing with his brother for his father's love.
And he said to him, Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.
He had all the advantages, Dad had given him his share, too, all the rest; the double portion as the elder son. It all belonged to him, and he could have had a party any time he wanted.
But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.
Dad's right. This is a very appropriate occasion to have a party.
The younger son just didn't want to compete with his brother, so he left.
But the father still loved them both. Parents do that.
No matter what kind of personality our kids develop as they grow up, we still accept them and love them and want the best for them. Even when they abandon us.
We're not told if the older brother ever came in to the party, or if he just sulked until it broke up and everybody went home. We don't know if these two brothers ever reconciled their differences to be able to get along.
They may have. It's a possibility. This gives me hope for my two daughters: they seem to have lived out this drama in my own family.
I pray that they will both face the realities of their childhoods together, and each confess their part, and forgive each other, and learn to accept each other in their similarities and in their differences.
O my Father, I was that prodigal in Your family: I ran away and left, and wandered into dangerous paths. But You never gave up on me; Your eye was continually upon me, to draw me into better paths, all the way back home to You, Father.
Now You have rescued me, lifting me out of the miry clay I was caught in, and You set my feet upon the Rock of my Salvation (Psalm 40:2). When I was sinking in the quicksand of the World, You pulled me out and set me in a wide space where I cannot fall off. I may stumble, but I will never fall, with Your hand securely holding mine.
And Father, please draw my children to Yourself. Please show them Your Love for them, in wanting them all to come to repentance so they can be saved from destruction. You are not willing that any should perish, Father; so be the Hound of Heaven to dog them until they return to the Shepherd and Guardian of their souls (II Peter 2:25).
And help me, Father, to be the parent to them that You are to me: lead me to love them as You love them, and to say Your words, and do Your works, and display Your attitudes of grace and compassion and aceptance. Show me how to do this, Father, instead of pushing them away.
And every eye will see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess Your glory and honor and praise and blessing and riches, forever and ever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The Prodigal Son
And He said, A certain man had two sons:
And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me to inherit. So he divided his wealth between them.
So the father gave both his sons now what they would inherit when he died, because the younger son didn't want to wait until his father died.
And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country,
This son didn't want to stick around; there must have been an issue in the family that he didn't want to face.
and there he squandered his estate with loose living.
And he never learned how to handle money.
Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.
So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
Okay, he got a job. Looks like not much was available in the job market.
And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.
There was no welfare state there, people were expected to be responsible for themselves.
But when he came to his senses, he said, How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!
Now he began to think clearly, instead of selfishly and foolishly.
Here's his confession and repentance, he's ready to turn over a new leaf.
So he got up and came to his father.
And was probably rehearsing his speech on the way.
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
Dad was on the watch for him, looking for when he would be returning, not knowing if he would, but eternally hopeful.
And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
This is only the first half of his speech. It looks like Dad cut him off from saying the rest.
But the father said to his slaves, Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him (have to dress up for the party), and put a ring on his hand (The ring was the credit card to put the family seal on the legal documents) and sandals on his feet;
And bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate (Party, party, party!);
For this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found. And they began to celebrate.
Dad ran to him because he could see his demeanor as he walked, rehearsing his speech of submission, and knew he was ready to receive the family honor.
Now his older son was in the field (Nobody thought to go get him for the occasion?), and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing (Uh-oh!).
And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be (What's going on here?).
And he said to him, Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.
Just the facts.
But he became angry and was not willing to go in;
This anger is telling, now we can see what has been going on between these two brothers.
and his father came out and began pleading with him.
Parents always want their children to get along.
But he answered and said to his father, Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours;
This son seems to have taken this as a personal insult, a slight from his father in favor of the one who left.
and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;
But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.
Now he's competing with his brother for his father's love.
And he said to him, Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.
He had all the advantages, Dad had given him his share, too, all the rest; the double portion as the elder son. It all belonged to him, and he could have had a party any time he wanted.
But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.
Dad's right. This is a very appropriate occasion to have a party.
The younger son just didn't want to compete with his brother, so he left.
But the father still loved them both. Parents do that.
No matter what kind of personality our kids develop as they grow up, we still accept them and love them and want the best for them. Even when they abandon us.
We're not told if the older brother ever came in to the party, or if he just sulked until it broke up and everybody went home. We don't know if these two brothers ever reconciled their differences to be able to get along.
They may have. It's a possibility. This gives me hope for my two daughters: they seem to have lived out this drama in my own family.
I pray that they will both face the realities of their childhoods together, and each confess their part, and forgive each other, and learn to accept each other in their similarities and in their differences.
O my Father, I was that prodigal in Your family: I ran away and left, and wandered into dangerous paths. But You never gave up on me; Your eye was continually upon me, to draw me into better paths, all the way back home to You, Father.
Now You have rescued me, lifting me out of the miry clay I was caught in, and You set my feet upon the Rock of my Salvation (Psalm 40:2). When I was sinking in the quicksand of the World, You pulled me out and set me in a wide space where I cannot fall off. I may stumble, but I will never fall, with Your hand securely holding mine.
And Father, please draw my children to Yourself. Please show them Your Love for them, in wanting them all to come to repentance so they can be saved from destruction. You are not willing that any should perish, Father; so be the Hound of Heaven to dog them until they return to the Shepherd and Guardian of their souls (II Peter 2:25).
And help me, Father, to be the parent to them that You are to me: lead me to love them as You love them, and to say Your words, and do Your works, and display Your attitudes of grace and compassion and aceptance. Show me how to do this, Father, instead of pushing them away.
And every eye will see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess Your glory and honor and praise and blessing and riches, forever and ever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, March 31, 2019
What Riches Are You Chasing?
Matthew 19: 16-30
And, look, one came and said to Him, Good Master, what good thing should I do to have eternal life?
And He said to him, Why are you calling Me good? There is only one that is good, God. Are you testifying that I am the Son of God? The Lord God of Creation?
But if you want to enter into eternal life, then keep the Commandments. Obey what you already know God wants you to do.
He asked Him, Which commandments?
Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, honor thy father and thy mother; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Just don't do anything against anyone else, always treat them as you want them to treat you. All the second Tablet of the Ten Commandments.
The young man said, All these I have kept since I was a child; but it doesn't seem to be enough; What else do I need to do?
Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect enough to live with God in Heaven, then go and sell what you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; and then come and follow Me.
But when the young man heard Him saying this, he went away sorrowful, because he owned a great amount of possessions. And he valued his possessions over having eternal life!
Then Jesus said to His disciples, Truly I say to you, that a rich man has a very difficult time entering the Kingdom of Heaven.
And again I say to you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.
When the disciples heard this, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
The prevailing opinion of that culture was that God would bless the most godly with the most material possessions.
But Jesus looked at them and said, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. God does the impossible as a matter of course.
Then Peter said, Look, we've given up all our stuff and are following You; What will we get out of it?
And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, that you who have followed me, in the Regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit on the Throne of His glory; you also will be sitting on twelve thrones ruling over the twelve Tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or real estate, for My Name's sake, shall receive a hundred times more in this life, and shall inherit eternal Life.
But many that are first in this life shall be last in the next, and the last shall be first.
The whole point here is about our priorities. Those that are wealthy in this World's goods most likely gained their riches by focusing on getting more stuff, rather than focusing on building their characters to be like God. Their priorities are skewed, putting material possessions over spiritual values.
That's why it's so hard for "rich people" to get saved. But when God draws even a rich person (No one can come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me draws him ... Jesus, in John 6:44), then He changes his heart, and shows him his need; then he can be saved.
And it's not always necessary to give up stuff, only the stuff that gets in the way. But even then, Jesus says we'll receive a hundred times as much in this life, and still inherit eternal Life!
And the impossible is possible with God. He's God and can do anything He wants! What I think is impossible for me, He can do for me, no problem! Wow!
O Father, You are so good! You are so generous! You Love me so much! You Love us all more than we can imagine! You want for all of us to come to You, but so many of us are still caught up in trying to "make ends meet," so we're focused on gathering this World's goods.
Father, don't let us get so caught up in the "rat race" that we forget who we are in You! And let those who don't know You yet realize how much better You are to Your own than the World is to those who belong to it.
Father, Your riches come without regret, without sorrow (Psalm 10:22); unlike the World's riches, that come with problems and troubles.
Father, help me always to remember how Your good is so much better than anything this World can give me, even if I am able to amass a great fortune, eventually. Teach me to use it wisely, for Your Kingdom; not foolishly waste it on my own comfort.
And send me and my words out over this whole World, Father, into every Nation, every tribe, every language; so that every creature will hear and have a clear, informed choice to choose You, and come to You, and willingly bend every knee, unlike all the rest who will be compelled to bow.
And every creature in Heaven and on Earth and under the Earth will bow the knee, and every tongue in every language will proclaim Your authority and glory and praise and riches and blessing.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
And, look, one came and said to Him, Good Master, what good thing should I do to have eternal life?
And He said to him, Why are you calling Me good? There is only one that is good, God. Are you testifying that I am the Son of God? The Lord God of Creation?
But if you want to enter into eternal life, then keep the Commandments. Obey what you already know God wants you to do.
He asked Him, Which commandments?
Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, honor thy father and thy mother; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Just don't do anything against anyone else, always treat them as you want them to treat you. All the second Tablet of the Ten Commandments.
The young man said, All these I have kept since I was a child; but it doesn't seem to be enough; What else do I need to do?
Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect enough to live with God in Heaven, then go and sell what you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; and then come and follow Me.
But when the young man heard Him saying this, he went away sorrowful, because he owned a great amount of possessions. And he valued his possessions over having eternal life!
Then Jesus said to His disciples, Truly I say to you, that a rich man has a very difficult time entering the Kingdom of Heaven.
And again I say to you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.
When the disciples heard this, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
The prevailing opinion of that culture was that God would bless the most godly with the most material possessions.
But Jesus looked at them and said, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. God does the impossible as a matter of course.
Then Peter said, Look, we've given up all our stuff and are following You; What will we get out of it?
And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, that you who have followed me, in the Regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit on the Throne of His glory; you also will be sitting on twelve thrones ruling over the twelve Tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or real estate, for My Name's sake, shall receive a hundred times more in this life, and shall inherit eternal Life.
But many that are first in this life shall be last in the next, and the last shall be first.
The whole point here is about our priorities. Those that are wealthy in this World's goods most likely gained their riches by focusing on getting more stuff, rather than focusing on building their characters to be like God. Their priorities are skewed, putting material possessions over spiritual values.
That's why it's so hard for "rich people" to get saved. But when God draws even a rich person (No one can come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me draws him ... Jesus, in John 6:44), then He changes his heart, and shows him his need; then he can be saved.
And it's not always necessary to give up stuff, only the stuff that gets in the way. But even then, Jesus says we'll receive a hundred times as much in this life, and still inherit eternal Life!
And the impossible is possible with God. He's God and can do anything He wants! What I think is impossible for me, He can do for me, no problem! Wow!
O Father, You are so good! You are so generous! You Love me so much! You Love us all more than we can imagine! You want for all of us to come to You, but so many of us are still caught up in trying to "make ends meet," so we're focused on gathering this World's goods.
Father, don't let us get so caught up in the "rat race" that we forget who we are in You! And let those who don't know You yet realize how much better You are to Your own than the World is to those who belong to it.
Father, Your riches come without regret, without sorrow (Psalm 10:22); unlike the World's riches, that come with problems and troubles.
Father, help me always to remember how Your good is so much better than anything this World can give me, even if I am able to amass a great fortune, eventually. Teach me to use it wisely, for Your Kingdom; not foolishly waste it on my own comfort.
And send me and my words out over this whole World, Father, into every Nation, every tribe, every language; so that every creature will hear and have a clear, informed choice to choose You, and come to You, and willingly bend every knee, unlike all the rest who will be compelled to bow.
And every creature in Heaven and on Earth and under the Earth will bow the knee, and every tongue in every language will proclaim Your authority and glory and praise and riches and blessing.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, March 30, 2019
The Bread Of Heaven For True Life
John 6: 26-69
After Jesus fed the five thousand and went back to Capernaum on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, the people He had fed followed Him, and Jesus said that they were looking for Him not to see the miracles that validated His identity, but they only came for the food.
So Jesus talks about food, the Bread of Life.
Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.
So they asked what they should do, and He said to believe in Him. So they asked, "Why You?" and then quoted Scripture about Moses, that, "He gave them bread out of Heaven to eat" (Psalm 78:24).
So Jesus tells them,
Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the Bread of Heaven, but it is My Father Who gives you the true Bread of Heaven; it's He who has come down out of Heaven to give Life to the World.
Then they said to Him, Lord, always give us this bread.
Jesus said, I am the Bread of Life. ...
(Read my blog entries of January 25 & 26, 2013 about, "Real Food And Real Drink," and "Nourishing My Real Life," for the basics on this.)
So those people grumbled about Jesus; they knew His parents and family, and who did He think He was, anyway!
When Jesus explained that the Bread of Life was His own body and blood, many of His disciples considered this too hard to understand, so they left Him.
So He asked The Twelve, "Are you going to leave, too?" And here's where we get Peter's wonderful confession, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the Words of Life eternal life. We have believed You, and we have learned that You are the Holy One of God.
Peter's statement shows the proper order: #1-believe; then, #2-see, come to know and understand.
We must first decide to believe whatever He would say to us, even if it doesn't make sense. Then, and only then, will we be able to come to understand the reasoning and logic of it all, how it all fits together sensibly.
All life is spiritual; when the spiritual part leaves a living thing, it is dead, whether it is a plant, an animal, or a person. The spirit of life in the Earth is what gives life to everything that lives. Ecclesiastes says that the spirit of life of the beast returns to the Earth, and the spirit of Man returns to God who gave it (3:21; 12:7).
God put a spirit of living into this Earth that produces all the living matter upon it (Genesis 1:11-12, 20, 24). But then God made Man and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and Man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7). So Mankind has more than the natural spirit of living, he also has a supernatural soul!
Only Mankind has a soul. So this soul is what gives us our intelligence, our will, and our ability to create ideas and communicate them to one another with language. We are creative, because we are made in the image and likeness of the Creator.
And only Mankind has a future beyond this Earth, because of his supernatural soul. Only Man will spend eternity with God or without Him. Living with God is eternal Life; living forever without Him is an eternal death.
To have the Life that will let us live forever, we need more than the food and drink this Earth provides--we need the food and drink that is spiritual. We need to nourish our bodies; we also need to nourish our spirits and souls.
Jesus explained this to His desciples. His words that He spoke, and that His prophets and evangelists wrote, is the spiritual nourishment we need for our spiritual life.
That is why I take such personal delight in studying Scripture--it is His Word, whether they are in red letters or black, they're all His love-letter to me.
O my Father, thank You so much for loving me so much! You know me, and yet You love me anyway! You have given me Your love-letter, and You have granted to me the intelligence and education to be able to understand so much of what You're telling us.
Thank You, Father, for allowing me to be able to share the wonderful things I am learning with others who are seeking You, also. May this missive help them to understand how wonderful and gracious You are, Father, and come to love You as I love you!
The more I learn of You and what You have done, and what You have planned for me; the more I am drawn to You. And the more I want others to know You, also.
Father, I look so eagerly to the culmination of this great Story of Scripture! I can hardly wait for all Your children to come to You and my Bridegroom/King returns to assume His Throne!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
After Jesus fed the five thousand and went back to Capernaum on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, the people He had fed followed Him, and Jesus said that they were looking for Him not to see the miracles that validated His identity, but they only came for the food.
So Jesus talks about food, the Bread of Life.
Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.
So they asked what they should do, and He said to believe in Him. So they asked, "Why You?" and then quoted Scripture about Moses, that, "He gave them bread out of Heaven to eat" (Psalm 78:24).
So Jesus tells them,
Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the Bread of Heaven, but it is My Father Who gives you the true Bread of Heaven; it's He who has come down out of Heaven to give Life to the World.
Then they said to Him, Lord, always give us this bread.
Jesus said, I am the Bread of Life. ...
(Read my blog entries of January 25 & 26, 2013 about, "Real Food And Real Drink," and "Nourishing My Real Life," for the basics on this.)
So those people grumbled about Jesus; they knew His parents and family, and who did He think He was, anyway!
When Jesus explained that the Bread of Life was His own body and blood, many of His disciples considered this too hard to understand, so they left Him.
So He asked The Twelve, "Are you going to leave, too?" And here's where we get Peter's wonderful confession, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the Words of Life eternal life. We have believed You, and we have learned that You are the Holy One of God.
Peter's statement shows the proper order: #1-believe; then, #2-see, come to know and understand.
We must first decide to believe whatever He would say to us, even if it doesn't make sense. Then, and only then, will we be able to come to understand the reasoning and logic of it all, how it all fits together sensibly.
All life is spiritual; when the spiritual part leaves a living thing, it is dead, whether it is a plant, an animal, or a person. The spirit of life in the Earth is what gives life to everything that lives. Ecclesiastes says that the spirit of life of the beast returns to the Earth, and the spirit of Man returns to God who gave it (3:21; 12:7).
God put a spirit of living into this Earth that produces all the living matter upon it (Genesis 1:11-12, 20, 24). But then God made Man and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and Man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7). So Mankind has more than the natural spirit of living, he also has a supernatural soul!
Only Mankind has a soul. So this soul is what gives us our intelligence, our will, and our ability to create ideas and communicate them to one another with language. We are creative, because we are made in the image and likeness of the Creator.
And only Mankind has a future beyond this Earth, because of his supernatural soul. Only Man will spend eternity with God or without Him. Living with God is eternal Life; living forever without Him is an eternal death.
To have the Life that will let us live forever, we need more than the food and drink this Earth provides--we need the food and drink that is spiritual. We need to nourish our bodies; we also need to nourish our spirits and souls.
Jesus explained this to His desciples. His words that He spoke, and that His prophets and evangelists wrote, is the spiritual nourishment we need for our spiritual life.
That is why I take such personal delight in studying Scripture--it is His Word, whether they are in red letters or black, they're all His love-letter to me.
O my Father, thank You so much for loving me so much! You know me, and yet You love me anyway! You have given me Your love-letter, and You have granted to me the intelligence and education to be able to understand so much of what You're telling us.
Thank You, Father, for allowing me to be able to share the wonderful things I am learning with others who are seeking You, also. May this missive help them to understand how wonderful and gracious You are, Father, and come to love You as I love you!
The more I learn of You and what You have done, and what You have planned for me; the more I am drawn to You. And the more I want others to know You, also.
Father, I look so eagerly to the culmination of this great Story of Scripture! I can hardly wait for all Your children to come to You and my Bridegroom/King returns to assume His Throne!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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