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I will not accept a bull from your house
or goats from your folds.
For every beast of the forest is mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills. (Psalm 50:9-10 ESV)
We have a problem here. God is telling the Israelites he won’t accept their sacrifices. First of all, he owns the things they are trying to sacrifice to him. This can be a problem. Usually when we sacrifice, we are giving up something of our own and going without it. But, it isn’t much of a sacrifice when you never really owned it in the first place. The Israelites had continued to sacrifice to God even though they weren’t really following him. It almost became a tool to make God do what they wanted him to do. The only problem is that God doesn’t work that way. What are you “sacrificing” to God because you think it is something you have to do to make him happy? It might be volunteering at the church, waking up early to read your Bible, or something else very religious. These are all good things, but not when the wrong attitude is behind them. We can become like the Israelites and think we are giving something to God that he doesn’t already have. In reality he is the one who has given us these gifts and blessings. We delight God when we give back to him with a heart of thanksgiving, knowing that he is the ultimate gift giver. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV)
Jesus spoke these words after he had finished washing the disciples’ feet. Firstly, he made it quite clear that our loving one another was not a suggestion, but a “new commandment” to men from God. This love we are to have for one another is not optional, but a required mark of the Christian. Secondly, this love is to be of the same quality as Christ’s. He implied that we would judge the quality of our love by his, “just as I have loved you”. This sentiment should be deeply rooted in every Christian then: I don’t judge my spirituality by comparing myself with others, but with Christ. When we do this there is only one possible response, repentance and humility.
Thirdly, Jesus gave the world the authority to judge our Christianity by the love we have for one another. Regarding this verse Francis Schaeffer aptly commented, “Upon His authority He gives the world the right to judge whether you and I are born-again Christians on the basis of our observable love toward all Christians. That’s pretty frightening.” This is a high calling, but it will be to the world’s good and our joy to pursue it in Christian community. This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:18 ESV)
This is an astounding text. The most humble man to ever walk this earth was brutally murdered for the accusation of blasphemous pride! So while a person may walk in Christlike humility, he or she may still be accused of arrogance. This misconception of arrogance generally stems from Christianity’s belief in the exclusivity of Jesus for salvation (John 14:6) and Christians living, thinking, and speaking in light of that truth. If Jesus, the one who came to serve and not be served (Mark 10:45), was labeled as arrogant and prideful, we almost certainly will be! Don’t succumb to false guilt when you are challenged for your arrogance (your belief in the exclusivity of Christ for salvation), but realize that true humility is submitting to the Lord and being a faithful witness regardless of man’s opinion. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:11-13 ESV)
It’s very easy when thinking about God’s plan for our lives to have the attitude: “it’s all about me.” Yes, it’s true that God cares about every intricate detail in our lives. In fact, Jesus said that even the hairs on our heads are numbered. We can also mistakenly think that God’s plan is always going to be a “feel good” plan with the intent to make us happy. Jeremiah’s message in these verses is actually radically different. He’s writing to a group of people who are being held captive, and are in exile from their homeland. He’s writing to let them know that although they’re not where they would have expected, nor where they would have asked God to place them, God has not forgotten them and He still has a plan for their lives. Even in the midst of a difficult situation, God wants them to know His plans. In the preceding verses we see that a big part of God’s plan is for them to “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile” (Jeremiah 29:7). In other words, God wants them to know that His plans are not just to benefit them personally. God’s also telling them that He’s not removing them from the situation immediately. He does promise to eventually restore them, but it’s not coming quickly (70 years out when many of them will be dead). God’s letting them know they can move forward, because in the eternal picture, God’s justice will prevail and everything will even out. Today, in the midst of difficult situations, God wants us to know He has a plan. He also wants us to know that as we submit to His plan that He desires to use us to bless the world around us. The key still remains during both good and difficult times: You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 ESV)
We look to God in times of trouble and heartache, and for some of us that’s about it. The problem is that we have too many little “g” gods. These little gods are idols that we worship and sacrifice to everyday. We do so with our time, effort, and money. These gods, i.e. status, luxury, money, things, serve a very temporary service. They save us from whatever we dread at the moment. If we dread being poor and not having things, we worship the god of money to save us; if we dread being “less important” than someone at our high school reunion, the altar of status is right around the corner. These idols promise the power of salvation, but never deliver. They are powerless, mouthless and earless (Isaiah 40:12-20). However, the good news is that there is a living God who will never forsake us and does have the power to save eternally. Working hard is not bad, wealth is not bad, but worshipping, or devoting ourselves to those idols is. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (Hebrews 11:36-38 ESV)
Hebrews 11—the great “hall of faith” chapter, as some have called it. I have meditated on the faith of Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Joseph and Moses numerous times in my life, but only recently have I stopped to ponder the significance of these verses at the end of the chapter.
Verses 33-34 tell of all the amazing things God did through men of great faith: conquering kingdoms, stopping the mouths of lions, quenching fire, and escaping the sword. Then in stark contrast verses 35-38 describe men who endured great suffering.
It is popular today in some religious circles to hear that if a Christian has enough faith they will be happy, healthy, and wealthy. So were these “others” who were so destitute they only had sheep skins to wear not men of great faith like David and Gideon? It seems very clear that by faith some men escaped the sword while others still keeping great faith were killed by the sword.
(Philippians 1:29) says, “…for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake” and John 16:33 tells us we will have trouble in this world. As a person who suffers from daily chronic pain, passages like this bring great hope. God in his sovereignty, not we and our amount of faith or good deeds, plans out the course of our life; and for some it will involve great suffering. We are only commanded to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12) as we see demonstrated by these men “of whom the world was not worthy”. These men showed the world by their faith in suffering that Jesus is worth everything, even their lives. Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:13-15 ESV)
Jesus of Nazareth is a man completely unavoidable, one upon whom all of history is hinged. Whether designated BC, BCE, CE or AD, all of man’s dating systems are split by the life of Jesus Christ. More books have been written, and more songs sung about this man than any other. He is perennially popular in the media, making appearances in cartoons, movies and countless documentaries. In short, whether a Christian or not, it seems everyone has something to say about Jesus. Today, popular thought holds that Jesus was simply a good man, a gifted teacher, or one of many prophets to grace the earth. Yet, as the commentator Matthew Henry aptly observed, “It is possible for men to have good thoughts of Christ, and yet not right ones, a high opinion of him, and yet not high enough.”
“Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20 ESV)
As we reflect upon our lives, we can probably see more times than not we have been blessed by God. Throughout the Psalms, there are praises to God for what he has done for the author. When we meet to pray, we may have a special time for sharing the good things God has done in our lives. These are all good and Biblical. Jesus had sent out seventy-two followers (Luke 10:1) and had told them to go into the harvest (Luke 10:2) and to heal the sick and bring the kingdom of God (Luke 10:9). Of course these things happened as Jesus said they would and the followers got excited like any of us would (Luke 10:17). It was probably similar to a group of individuals coming back form a mission trip to the church and sharing the amazing things they encountered. We can’t help but get excited when we get to see God move. In these verses, Jesus says something interesting. He doesn’t greet them with the enthusiasm that we would expect. He tells them that they should continue to do what they were doing, but not to get too excited about it. Instead, he says they should rejoice because their “names are written in heaven.” This is the greatest gift of all time! Let’s remember to rejoice in the best thing ever granted to us, our salvation through Jesus Christ.
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” (1 Peter 2:4-6)
From our modern perspective it’s very easy to think of the church as a building made of steel, wood, bricks, and mortar. When the New Testament speaks of the church, it is always talking about people. In fact, the earliest evidence of a house being converted architecturally into a place of Christian worship is not until approximately 241-256 AD.
In Peter’s description of the church, he describes people as “living stones” who are “built up as a spiritual house” with Jesus as the “cornerstone.” From Peter’s perspective the church is not so much a physical building or even an institution but people that God is developing and bringing together in Jesus. It’s important to remember, thought, that what makes us as “living stones” fit together in a cohesive unit is making sure that the cornerstone is in place. In the construction of a building, the cornerstone is set first in the foundation and all the other stones are positioned in reference to this stone. If the cornerstone is weak or not set in the right place, everything else in the building will be off.
How we view the church influences greatly how we approach ministry. Our goal can quickly become building bigger facilities or growing an institution instead of developing people who love and follow Jesus. The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly
I will show the salvation of God! (Psalm 50:23 ESV)
We can often look at how much or how little we give to God as to whether he will be happy with the sacrifice we make. We look at those around us with their gifts or sacrifices they give and measure our by theirs. This can be very discouraging. Fortunately God doesn’t judge our sacrifice on a weighted scale. He looks at our sacrifice with only what he can see, our attitude. The proper sacrifice is made with thanksgiving. It doesn’t depend on how much or how hard it was to make the sacrifice, but on the attitude or the heart of the person. God looks into the heart of the person as they offer their sacrifice. Look at the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). The person who offers their sacrifice with thanksgiving knows that it isn’t their time or money that they are offering. They understand that it is all a gift from God and they glorify and thank him with that sacrifice. Matthew Henry says that we should offer sacrifices of thanks-living. Our whole life should be lived with thanksgiving to God. Be encouraged today that what you give, little or big, is enough to please God. When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.” (Hosea 1:2 ESV)
In marriage, men and women can experience the lofty heights of love, mutual respect, and faithfulness. They can know what it is to both be wholly devoted to another and have that person’s devotion in return. Marriage in this fashion was intended to be a picture of God’s unending love for his bride, his chosen people. However, his people Israel had become adulterous. Israel’s sin was idolatry, or worshipping created things rather than Creator God. Hosea was charged with displaying the absolute horror and devastation of sin upon covenant relationship. Unfaithfulness is truly hideous, and there are few things that inflict deeper wounds than adultery. Hosea was obedient to use his life as a mirror for the idolatry of the human heart, for his fellows had committed “great whoredom by forsaking the Lord.” Cast down your idols, return to the God whose love is unending.
And the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.” (Hosea 3:1 ESV)
Again Hosea allows us a glimpse of God’s unwavering love for his people, his bride. An astounding facet of this love is not simply that his people are undeserving of it though, but that they are ill-deserving! The human heart seeks constant gratification, but many of us, rather than finding eternal satisfaction in our endless God find short lived fulfillment in idols. In Hosea’s day this behavior took the form of Baal worship and eating “cakes of raisins” as aphrodisiacs (Song of Solomon 2:5). In ours, it’s the endless pursuit of money, things, status, comfort, you name it. The trickery of idolatry is the turning of a good thing into a God thing. Money is not bad, we need it to provide for our families (1 Timothy 5:8). Things are not bad, we need clothing, lawn-mowers, vehicles, etc. Status is not bad, as we should live above reproach (1 Timothy 3:2). We are worshipers, and as such, we will worship. God redeems people through the perfect atonement of Jesus from the fruitless worship of idols to the glorious worship of his fathomless self.
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (John 17:16 ESV)
We live here, we walk here, we eat and drink here, but may we never call it home. The ground beneath our feet and sky above our heads are the scenery we enjoy momentarily, but they will pass away (Matthew 24:35). Our family is more than people with the same last name (Mark 3:35), as believers we are united by blood, literally the shed blood of Jesus the risen Savior. We, the family, walk as sojourners (1 Peter 2:11), as travelers, loving and serving the people around us, all the while remembering we will one day be home. A home that has been prepared for us (John 14:3), where we will live in ever increasing joy. Our lips will never again say, “It was fun while it lasted”, as the smile fades from our face. In our home there is no sorrow, there is no disease, there is no end to joy (Revelation 21:4). In our home our treasure does not fail, there is no thief to steal, no moneybag to grow old (Luke 12:33). In your heart, and in your head, where is your treasure and your home? For “there will your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34). Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3 ESV)
In John chapter 3 we find an intriguing dialogue between Nicodemus, one of the seventy-one Sanhedrin (Jewish judiciary council), and Jesus. Nicodemus was seeking clarification concerning salvation and could not at first wrap his head around Jesus’ statement that one needed to be “born again”. His thinking was stuck upon a person’s physical birth, but in his misunderstanding he can bring to our remembrance a crucial fact of life: every person, no matter how successful, famous, or renowned they may become in this life, began it in the same fashion. We each have a mother, a father, and a physical birth, period! Every person alive is born in one exclusive fashion, and as Jesus would later explain, so too is everyone “born again” in the same exclusive fashion. For Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). No matter how great or small a person is in the world’s eyes Jesus is the only way to God. Every man is alike, every person dead in their sin. Regard Jesus higher than any person, for “in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9).
And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person. (Mark 7:20-23 ESV)
When we think about ourselves, many of us tend to think we are basically good. We don’t kill people, rob banks, or trip elderly folks at the grocery store. But when it comes down to it, there is a reason that hell is a real place where millions will suffer eternally separated from God, his goodness, and his presence. In dealing with sin, God deals with the sinner because the problem isn’t all of the sin “out there”, but the sin “in here”. He did this with Jesus on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21), though Jesus himself had never sinned he did take our sin upon himself (Isaiah 53:11-12) and bore God’s wrath against sin, for “it was the will of the Lord to crush him” (Isaiah 53:10). God also dealt in a like manner with rebellious Israelites in the Old Testament (Numbers 16:35), and even those who would lie to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament (Acts 5). We are born defiled, sinning, and rebellious toward God. In fact, Jesus taught that from our hearts comes every evil we see play out on this earth. Whether sins of commission (we do something we shouldn’t have) or sins of omission (where we didn’t do something we should have), we are guilty and dirty with sin from our infancy, skilled in deceit and pride. How true then is Jesus’ statement to Nicodemus, “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person. (Mark 7:20-23 ESV)
When we think about ourselves, many of us tend to think we are basically good. We don’t kill people, rob banks, or trip elderly folks at the grocery store. But when it comes down to it, there is a reason that hell is a real place where millions will suffer eternally separated from God, his goodness, and his presence. In dealing with sin, God deals with the sinner because the problem isn’t all of the sin “out there”, but the sin “in here”. He did this with Jesus on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21), though Jesus himself had never sinned he did take our sin upon himself (Isaiah 53:11-12) and bore God’s wrath against sin, for “it was the will of the Lord to crush him” (Isaiah 53:10). God also dealt in a like manner with rebellious Israelites in the Old Testament (Numbers 16:35), and even those who would lie to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament (Acts 5). We are born defiled, sinning, and rebellious toward God. In fact, Jesus taught that from our hearts comes every evil we see play out on this earth. Whether sins of commission (we do something we shouldn’t have) or sins of omission (where we didn’t do something we should have), we are guilty and dirty with sin from our infancy, skilled in deceit and pride. How true then is Jesus’ statement to Nicodemus, “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). I have heard many such things;
miserable comforters are you all.
Shall windy words have an end?
Or what provokes you that you answer? (Job 16:2-3 ESV)
Have you ever had a friend go through a hard time and you didn’t know how to comfort them? We might quote Romans 8:28, thinking that it will make them feel better, knowing that God will make this horrible situation out for his good. We can’t stomach not having words to say to someone who is hurting or confused. We want to try to explain why their situation is happening or give them words of comfort. We might even call them daily to see if their situation is improving. Job’s friends were the same way. The majority of the book of Job consists of his friends explaining to him why his children have died, his livestock are all gone, and he has sores all over his body. We would generally agree with most of the reasons his friends give for his hurting. But, they aren’t the reasons Job has actually encountered these hardships! Their words of comfort were really words of discomfort. Sometimes God will use us to give a Biblical answer to the suffering a person is enduring, but there will still be instances when we have no idea what to say. Instead of spouting off religiously oriented phrases in these situations, we should listen, listen, and listen some more. Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.(James 3:13 ESV) Somehow in modern Christianity it has become popular to criticize other Christians, churches, and ministries who we think just don’t get it. It’s very easy to become cynical about what others are or aren’t doing without actually making a difference ourselves. We can quickly become the ministry equivalent to the Sunday afternoon “armchair quarterback.” You know the guy, he sits in his recliner on Sunday afternoon critiquing world-class athletes as they compete on the professional football field. He knows exactly what the athletes should be doing yet considers the walk to the fridge a form of exercise! James wrote that our wisdom and understanding are not ultimately displayed by our words or our critique of others, but instead by “deeds done in the humility that come from wisdom.” Anytime we see the good that should be happening and critique others, yet do nothing, we are responsible and accountable. James went on to write in chapter four, verse seventeen, that “anyone, then, who sees the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). (John 1:41 ESV)
Andrew. He told his brother this when he met Jesus and they both stopped what they were doing and began following him, living with him. It’s a funny thing to say, we have found the Messiah. As if they were searching for him, as if he was hiding. As if he didn’t show up just when he meant to.
We have found the Messiah. Did they really expect to be the ones to see him first? Were they surprised at the find, or did they always have faith that he would show? We have found the Messiah. They had sought him, looked around, prayed for him to come perhaps, turned over stones, followed leads, investigated rumors, hoped in gossip, examined their own hearts.
We have found the Messiah. I wonder if they looked in the sky for him, or if they imagined that he would be so ordinary, found under a rock. How did they recognize him? What gave the fisherman the confidence to make such a statement? We have found the Messiah. Their joy overflowed even as they questioned him, seeking to prove him. They knew what they had found, a costly pearl, a mustard seed.
We have found the Messiah. But I don’t always look for him. I wait for him to find me. I believe others are better Messiah hunters than I. Sometimes I don’t believe that I can be The One to find Him. Lord, forgive me for not searching for you in all my days, all my hours. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. (Psalm 19:1 ESV)
God’s beauty is displayed in every sunset, His renown blazes brighter than every star, His grace is sweeter than honey. The world that surrounds us declares the glory of God! As a painting dimly captures the beauty of nature, so does nature itself dimly capture His splendor. The sky is a mirror reflecting the wonder that is our God. Right now, look out the window and up into the sky; when God spoke, that’s what happened! Dwell on the grandeur of our world and all that surrounds it, let your thoughts and visions of these things lead you into worshipping the God who created such a wondrous universe. August 21 2012 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. (James 4:1-2 ESV)
Unfortunately as Christians we aren’t perfect, yet. Because of this, we tend to fight and argue on a seemingly daily basis (many times stupid things). Those who don’t want anything to do with the church will bring this up and rub it in our face. They have a hard time seeing Jesus or the church as loving when the people who are a part of it don’t even get along. We aren’t known by our love as Jesus said we should be (John 13:35). We should each read James 4:1-2 humbly to see why we are fighting. The reason we fight is because of the warring passions inside of us. It is our desires that are causing the problems. Instead of blaming somebody else for starting the fight, look inside yourself and see if it is you who is really the problem. It can be hard to admit our pridefulness. It isn’t easy for anyone. If we do this more, we will stop worrying about ourselves so often and love each other more as true disciples of Jesus. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 ESV)
Moses had just spent forty years leading the Israelites through the wilderness. He was the only man to talk to God face to face (Exodus 33:11). He was a great leader and man of God, but his time was up. He was to pass the reins to a new leader who was to lead God’s people to the Promised Land. This man was Joshua. The first 9 verses of Joshua ch. 1 is comprised of God giving him a pep talk in preparation for his task. As you read this, note that there is one thing that God mentions over and over. We see that he says this for the third time in verse 9, “be strong and courageous”. God doesn’t tell Joshua to take it slow and to pray over every little detail. He doesn’t tell him to seek the council of 5 Godly men before he makes every decision. He tells him to be “strong and courageous”. God had already set in Joshua’s heart what he was to do and he wanted him to do it.
As a Christian, we can often spend much time trying to discern God’s will for our lives. This plays itself out in us stopping at every intersection in life to cast our lots or waiting for a voice from God. How many times has God given us this pep talk and told us to be “strong and courageous” and we become timid and cowardly upon advice from those around us. Remember, Joshua was one of two men who said God could help them take the promised land while the other 10 were afraid (Numbers 13:30). God can call you to do great things as he did with Caleb. Be strong and courageous today in your walk with the Lord. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. (1 Thessalonians 2:8 ESV)
There’s a very good reason we refer to other Christians as brothers and sisters. The kinship we experience with our fellow heirs in Christ is more deeply rooted than any physical blood line or familial tie. When God saves an individual He literally exchanges their dead “heart of stone” for a living “heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 11:19). With this exchange comes transformation! Our greatest desires begin to conform to God’s desires, and ultimately, we want God’s will more than anything else. This change occurs at the core of who we are, it’s a central shift in identity.
Our newfound identity rests in what Jesus has accomplished and won, in His victory, not in any of our own. We delight in worshipping Jesus in all that we do, and we aspire to walk as He walked. While we will never be perfect on this earth we still share that foundational unity with other believers that is only found in Christ. When you gather with your brothers and sisters, dwell upon the things of life with them, and reflect upon how God’s truth and reality can be witnessed everyday. These times of fellowship are sweet and encouraging, so much so, that it is very easy to understand how Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy had become so “affectionately desirous” of the Thessalonians.And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:1-2 ESV)
A word of admonition to us all: don’t be a “wannabe” theologian! Paul was straightforward with the church in Corinth. He didn’t use philosophically charged speech or yammer on endlessly, he cut straight to the source of life, Jesus. As Christians, we should be all about Him. We should wake up with a craving to be like Jesus everyday, we should long to walk as He walked. But how exactly did He walk?
Great question.
He walked through mobs of people shouting, spitting, and jeering at Him while carrying a cross. That’s how Jesus walked, that’s how Jesus lived. He allowed Himself to be humiliated, mocked, and ridiculed all for our good. Paul realized a simple yet powerful truth: when we know Jesus, our pride should evaporate. There is no room for arrogance when you’ve met Jesus. Paul didn’t need to use impressive words or flex his vocabulary, he needed to proclaim nothing but “Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
This mindset can work in us in two different ways:
- Firstly, if we’re constantly looking to impress others with our knowledge or holiness, we’ve completely missed our purpose. The point is not us, it’s Jesus.
- Secondly, we’ve also missed it if we neglect sharing Jesus with others because we’re worried that we don’t know enough. If we do this, we’ve also missed the heart of the matter. Again, the point is not us, it’s Jesus!
Get to know Jesus, get excited about Him. The point of our lives is to point to Him.
And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45 ESV)
Just before Jesus had spoken these powerful words, James and John requested they be able to sit at Jesus’ side in Heaven, one at his right, one at his left (Mark 10:37). These were positions of power. Jesus then responded that even he, the “Son of Man”, had come to serve rather than be served. Jesus explains here that as Christians we don’t truly change the hearts and minds of the world by man’s authority or power, but through the God-honoring serving of others. There is constant talk that America simply needs more Christian politicians to turn the nation back to God, and the furthering of the idea that change only occurs from the top down. In essence, the most powerful make rules and the people within their sphere of leadership change accordingly.
However, when that ideology is compared beside the words of Jesus, we realize he was speaking of change from the bottom up. Recently, we came across a poignant thought from Bill Tibert, which we have paraphrased here: “Which will make the most change? Having 10,000 Christians standing outside an abortion clinic shaming those seeking an abortion? Or, 10,000 people taking signed petitions to their state capitol stating they will take any unwanted child, regardless of age, color, or physical condition that they may love that child in the name of Jesus?” Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the LORD heard it. (Numbers 12:1-2 ESV)
Have you ever heard that when you point at someone you have three fingers pointing back at you? Generally speaking, we ensure others understand this euphemism very well when they attempt to point our flaws in order to make themselves look better. Essentially, we simply point back at them! Moses was dealing with this very issue as he was leading the Israelites through the wilderness. Miriam and Aaron were pointing to what they considered a sin or flow in Moses in order that the people would look to them as leaders rather than Moses.
He could have easily pushed back toward them, pointing an accusing finger at their flaws and prove himself the right leader for the job. But, he didn’t. Instead he did two things we can imitate when we find ourselves in similar situations: - He didn’t respond, rather he let God answer for him (Numbers 12:3-4). Instead of defending himself and demeaning his accusers, he let God handle it.
- He prayed for his accusers (Numbers 12:13). Instead of brooding over their finger pointing and cultivating a bitter spirit toward them, he prayed that they would be better.
Remember Moses and his actions toward his finger pointers as you encounter them throughout your life. Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance (Proverbs 1:5 ESV)
Think about a person you would call wise. Does this person always give their opinion or advice on something? Do they talk too much? Probably not. The wise person tends to not think of themselves as wise and daily learns from those around them. They aren’t puffed up with knowledge or the desire for those around them to glory in their wisdom. For some of us who think we are wise, we like to let people know, but that isn’t what Proverbs says here. A wise person becomes wise by hearing. They listen more than they talk. We can all learn from the wise. If you feel like you need some wisdom, then listen to others. Then listen some more and some more. The wise don’t only learn from other wise, but from listening and learning from everyone they hear. Wisdom isn’t giving your opinion. Wisdom is listening and waiting for the right time to speak. Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Galatians 6:1 ESV
A person in the church has been found out. They have sinned against their family. They have cheated on their taxes. They have been stealing from the congregation. You name the situation and it has happened in the church. This is what Paul is addressing in this passage. We tend to think that he should solely give instructions and rebuke to the transgressor regarding how to get right with the church and God. Instead he spends the first five verses addressing the individual who will confront the brother or sister in Christ. To Paul, this could cause a sin or problem just as awful as the one committed by the fallen brother or sister in the first place. We can learn three things when trying to restore a fellow believer to keep us from sin while doing it. First, we should be spiritual, this is of the utmost importance. If we aren’t right with God and a mature believer our pride and deep rooted sin will surface. Second, we should confront the person in order to restore them and not to shame them. Third, we must understand that the roles have the potential to be reversed and we could be the one in need of restoration. Think of those who have left the church because they were hurt and shamed rather than restored when confronted about their sin. How many of those would have remained in the church if these three principles were considered? I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. (Romans 1:13 ESV) The million dollar question in many Christian circles is: What Is God’s will for my life? This can cause anguish for many Christians as they are deciding on a college to attend, a career path, or even the person to date and eventually marry. In many instances, our mind set leads us to believe we need a Damascus road experience like Paul, where Jesus audibly speaks to us and reveals our purpose (Acts 9:3-6). But, Paul didn’t always expect God to work in his life like this. He told those who he wrote to that he tried to go to them, but doors had been shut. He didn’t say I prayed and fasted and read my Bible and God never told me to visit you, so I’m not coming. No! He had a desire to visit and teach them, he acted on it, and it didn’t work. Therefore, he knew God’s will in that instance. A key to understanding this is that when we become Christians, we are made a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17), and along with the new life we live according to the Spirit, we have new, holy, and redeemed desires (Romans 8:5). Discovering God’s will is more than merely uncovering your own, but, like Paul, if we are seek to know nothing but “Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2) our desires will be Godly and Christ exulting ones. As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Luke 9:57-58 ESV) When we think of God having a plan and purpose for our lives we can easily think that somehow His plan for us fits nice and neatly in the American Dream. Maybe God’s plan for you does include a three bedroom/two bath house in the suburbs, two cars, a nice income, and a couple of kids. BUT maybe it doesn’t. -What if following Jesus meant you had to let go of your dreams and your plans or the comfort and the security you’ve worked so hard to attain? -What if following Jesus and living out His mission meant you wouldn’t have a home or even a bed to call your own? Would you still say “yes” to following Him? This man who wants to follow Jesus has heard His teaching and witnessed His miracles. He believes Jesus is the Messiah and wants to join His mission. But is he willing to give up his comfort and security to go where Jesus goes and do what Jesus does? As a believer in Jesus, our comfort and security should come only from Him. He tells us that his yoke is easy and his burden light (Matthew 11:28-30). Following Jesus is not following the American dream. It is taking up your cross daily as he demonstrated for us (Luke 9:23). Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:61-62 ESV) One of the greatest challenges for every Christian is to follow Jesus and pursue His purpose for our lives without looking back. Imagine trying to drive a car on the highway while looking the whole time in the rearview mirror; you’d be challenged to stay in your lane and avoid a collision. Jesus’ illustration of plowing a field would have made perfect sense to his listeners living in an agricultural context. If a farmer did not focus on what is ahead but was distracted by what was behind or on the periphery, it would be impossible to plow in a straight line. The ox and plow would certainly veer off course. Both positive and negative aspects of our lives have the potential to become distractions: - Past successes.
- Past failures.
- Internal insecurities.
- External circumstances.
- Comfort & security.
- Even meaningful relationships.
It’s interesting that the man who wants to follow Jesus is distracted by something that we would consider a positive: his home and family. Jesus is letting us know that even something that’s a huge blessing in our lives can become a distraction if it becomes more important than pursuing Jesus and His purpose. As we continue to seek Jesus, we must constantly be aware of the potential distractions in our rear view mirror of life. There can often be a tendency to look back and remember the good, instead of the great in front of you with Jesus.
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