July 7, 2014 Faith Test

Faith Test

Matthew 10:16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.  

SCRIPTURE consistently portrays God as a good shepherd who will “lead me beside still waters” (Psalm 23) and who “lays down his life for his sheep” (John 10). Then do these words from Matthew 10:16 contradict the Good Shepherd’s care? After all, Jesus tells his “sheep” they will be among wolves. Why would a good shepherd give such instruction? Why wouldn’t Jesus destroy the predators before the sheep go out?

     We don’t know all of God’s ways, but we can begin to understand Jesus’ words when we understand that God invariably tests our faith through trial. Jesus taught, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10) and “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” (Mark 8:35)

     In these words Jesus is telling his followers, “You will face the wolves. Be ready.” The Father tested the Son in the desert and to the cross. Now the Son warns his disciples of tests to come.

     Jesus urged his disciples to face those trials by being as “shrewd as snakes”. They needed to grow in wisdom of God’s truths and to protect themselves to slip away snake-like in time of danger.

     With the phrase “innocent as doves” Jesus directs the disciples to be as holy as possible. Jesus’ disciples would be accused of many things, but they must never be accused of sin.

     Jesus knows many disciples will be martyrs. He also knows their ministry of such great faith even to the death is the beginning of drawing the world into his eternal sheep pen.

LIFE Link: Be prepared for your faith test.

July 6, 2014 The Example

The Warning

Matthew 10:15-20 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.  

A WARNING is a significant way God prepares mankind for the Holy judgment he will bring on us one day. In Deuteronomy Moses repeatedly warns Israel to remember God’s judgment on their sins in the previous 40 years so that they will not repeat those sins. Moses’ love for his people drew out great passion from the prophet for their future safety under God’s care.

     The prophetic tradition of Israel also was filled with men and women God used to warn Israel of the deadly consequences of their sin. God gave to these prophets, as he gave to Moses, a great love for their people that they would be passionate to stand against all odds to speak and warn what God would do if they disobeyed the LORD’s commands.

     Jesus, the Prophet, continued to warn. He, of course, is God made man. He is the incarnation of love speaking to his people, loving them so very, very much that he would even die to release them from God’s wrath. Jesus, the loving God incarnate, was firm, intent, passionate and persistent to tell his people, “Listen! Your judgment will be worse than the terrible destruction on Sodom and Gomorrah. They didn’t have the Gospel truth. You do! Wake up and believe me. I am patient only so long, but one day judgment will come. Repent and be saved.”

     Jesus is urgently speaking to you, too. He’s given voice to many, many people today to proclaim in holiness, his love, his wrath and his redemption. You have the Gospel before you. Do not delay in hearing it and speaking it to others.

LIFE Link: The Gospel of Jesus Christ saves.

July 4, 2014 Heart Change

Heart Change

Matthew 10:12-14 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.  

ONE great challenge in our Christian lives is that we cannot force people to confess Jesus as Lord, to receive his eternal peace. We can all list people we’d love to change and be saved. Impatiently, helplessly and hopelessly we wait for our friends and family members to say, “Yes!” to Jesus. What do we do with the unfaithful? Do we keep after them or leave them alone?

     As Jesus sent his disciples to take the peace of the Gospel into their neighbors’ and possibly families’ homes, he told them not to spend time with those who rejected their teachings. To “dust off your feet” in Jewish culture was to renounce any further connection with one considered a heathen or separate from God.

     Jesus’ instructions are definite. He told them to go and do the work, to be faithful to the Gospel, but if people reject their offers of peace, they must separate from that person and move on.

     Oftentimes we spend a great deal of time trying to convince a friend, brother or neighbor of Jesus’ eternal peace. Be careful you don’t waste your time and miss the opportunity to speak to someone who will welcome the Gospel. If you are in doubt about what to do in such a relationship, pray and seek God to show you whether or not it’s time to move on.

LIFE Link: Offer Jesus’ peace, and trust the Spirit to change hearts.

July 2, 2014 In God We Trust

In God We Trust

Matthew 10:9-10 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10 take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.

JESUS sends his disciples out just as they are. With no fund raising, planning or itinerary, the disciples are to go with only the basic clothing. There are no extra suitcases on this mission trip! Jesus’ bare-bones instructions are designed to teach his disciples a crucial truth about ministry. They are to rely totally on their Lord God to do his work.

     I refer to God here as “Lord God” to intentionally point to God’s character. “Lord” is often written as “LORD”. This is Jehovah in the Hebrew language and refers to the one “of absolute control”. “God” comes from the Hebrew Elohim, which refers to the might of the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Using “Lord God”, I am saying “Absolute Creator”.

     Now think about this meaning for the disciples’ lives. When Jesus instructed them into their “bare-bones” ministry, they were to travel, minister and trust the Absolute Creator, who had called them to himself for all things.

     Are you able to place such trust in the Absolute Creator? What has happened today that causes you to wonder, “What next?” What fear do you have about tomorrow? Are you anxious about your family, your friends, your church or any other part of your life? The word from our Absolute Creator assures us he will attend to his faithful. That doesn’t mean he won’t test your faith and even bring trials into your life. What it does mean is that he calls you to trust him through all those disturbing, hard times, even traveling empty-handed, to be at peace in him.

LIFE Link: Your life is in the hands of the Absolute Creator.

    

July 2, 2014 You Can

You Can

Matthew 10:5-8 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”

THERE are many ways to evangelize the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Seldom we preach on a street corner. Often we engage in conversations with people about their lives, so we can help direct them to Jesus. Other times we might be more direct to immediately call people to repentance.

     Jesus sent his disciples to follow his pattern. As Jesus would heal diseases and drive out demons, he would preach the coming of the Kingdom of God and the need for repentance. His serving went hand-in-hand with his preaching.

     Thus, he directed his disciples to do exactly as he did: Preach the Good News and then to “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” Yes, amazingly they were to do exactly as he did, including raising the dead and driving out demons. Freely they were to distribute what Jesus had freely given to them.

     We are to do this very same thing. We must go to people in need of the Gospel to preach the Kingdom of God. And the preaching must not be of itself. We must serve in the power of the Holy Spirit calling people to repentance through healings, resurrections and demon release.

     I know, you’re saying, “I can’t do that.” I’ll bet Jesus’ disciples thought the same thing.

LIFE Link: Yes you can in the Holy Spirit’s power.