June 6, 2014 What's Next?

What’s Next?

Matthew 7:24-30 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

THE sermon is over, and it’s time to go home. The congregation was “amazed” at Jesus’ sermon. The Greek meaning of amazed tells us they were “struck” with Jesus’ words. We can easily picture the church standing in awe, almost silent as they contemplated what the Living Word had just said to them. They may have said to each other, “Did you hear that? What an amazing sermon. What an astonishing teaching!”

     But here’s what I want to know. What did they do with what they heard? Did they consider the blessing of the Beatitudes? Did the men turn an adulterous eye from the pretty woman they saw on the way home? Did anyone turn the other cheek from an insult? Did they pray more often, even for their enemies? Did they rest more fully in faith, knowing God would provide for them? Did anyone live into Jesus’ sermon by doing at least one thing differently in their life?

LIFE Link: It’s not a good sermon until you live it.  

June 5, 2014 Be True

Be True

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

BE true to Jesus. Don’t go to church, pray and say, “Yes.” to the question, “Do you confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior.” if you’re unwilling to do the will of the Father who is in heaven.

     Refrain from prophesying – teaching – any words from the Bible if you want to look good or please the pastor. Stop telling God what you want done. Instead, go to do what he points you to do. Be true to Jesus, the Savior of the world.

     Be true because hypocrisy was high on Jesus’ reform list. Hear his condemnation of the “word-only” Pharisees: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.” (Matthew 23:15)

     My friends, that’s the wrath of God rebuking the sin of faithless, fruitless and useless words. If you call Jesus your Lord, you must speak it only if you are willing to live into his will.

     I know. You’re asking, “What’s God’s will for my life?” Read the Bible, and it will be clear to you. Among other things, you will read that his will is for you to be truly faithful to him through your words and actions.

LIFE Link: “Yes, Lord.”  

June 4, 2014 Nourished

Nourished

Matthew 7:15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

JESUS speaks of planting, nurturing and harvesting lasting nourishment into others’ lives. Following Jesus means we are intent to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 19:19) feeding Jesus’ life into hungry souls. How are we doing?

     I recently heard of a “love survey” at a high school. The first question was: “Do people love others to truly care for others or to benefit themselves?” About 99% of the students answered their love was self-seeking gratification. Then the second question: “Would you prefer to be loved by one who put themselves or you first?” Of course 100% of the students voted the second option.

     Do you see a disconnect? Although each student wanted to be loved by someone who put them first, no one was willing to offer that kind of love. Each person lived in the “love myself” mindset.

     Yes, we know what we want. We desire good fruit. We want people to give us authentic love into real relationships that strengthen us and help us find joy and satisfaction. We want people to pour their hearts into us. But we are too selfish to pour back. We plant bad seeds of selfishness and grab all the fruit for ourselves. We are taught to take but never to give. One day the garden will be empty.

LIFE Link: Love is tender nurturing to produce lasting nourishment in another’s heart.

June 3, 2014 One Way Home

One Way Home

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

WE can picture a busy freeway, filled with cars, buses, trucks and semi-trailers traveling on a broad highway. It seems all are going along to the same destination. At some point along their journey, though, each driver will make a decision to turn from the highway. The driver will make directional decisions until the destination is reached. Although it appeared each vehicle was going along with all the others, none really were. There was only one way home for each.

     The world overflows with religion, doesn’t it? All types of people follow all types of gods, belief systems, success strategies and achievement methods. Generally speaking all religions are guided along the highway of elevating self to a higher level of existence. “You can do it!”

     There is only one exception to the self-religion demonstrated in this: John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

     Later the Apostle Paul taught how Jesus became the one way home: Romans 5:8 God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

     I think Jesus really becomes a passionate preacher here. “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it!” He passionately warned of Satan’s lies pointing prideful humanity to seek dead and worthless gods, deceiving the world to do “what everyone else is doing”.

     Urgently Jesus speaks today to point you to himself, the one way home.

LIFE Link: Are you listening?

June 2, 2014 Golden Love

Golden Love

Matthew 7:9-12 Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

I have a sad heart when some people say, “Oh, yes, my friend sins, but Jesus loves everyone.” as if to say, “There’s no need to correct my friend. He certainly can live any way he wants because Jesus loves him.” And we know Jesus never spoke harshly to anyone or rebuked his people’s sin did he? After all, Jesus loved everyone.

     My heart is sad because this so far from our Lord’s true love. See Jesus’ words: “If you, then, though you are evil…” The Lord is a tough preacher. He holds back no words to identify the state of their spiritual depravity.

     Then, he lovingly preaches the true way out of evil with the “Golden Rule”. “Do to others what you would have them do to you.”

     This is the rule of love. Notice he tacks onto the rule, “for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Elsewhere he summarizes the law with, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…and Love your neighbor as yourself. The Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt 22:37-40)

     The way out of evil is to love God and to love others, loving them as you want them to love you.

LIFE Link: God loves us out of evil.