Does rejection free you from responsibility?

Does rejection free you from responsibility? 

God is my witness how I yearn for you (all) with the affection of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:8 

The short answer is, ‘no.’  We want to think that once someone has hurt us in some way, the solution is to distance ourselves from that individual. While this may be necessary, if even for a short time, God is always looking at our heart, and with that in mind, our hearts can never ‘hate’ those who have wronged us, cp Jesus’ instructions from Matthew 5:43-48. 

We’ve all heard that ‘hurt people, hurt people.’  The pain they contain is the pain they pour out on others, and until those wounds are healed, the sore spots respond when touched. Any pain I don’t allow to righteously transform me, I transfer to others.’

We must always be careful about aligning ourselves to cultural norms and not holding Kingdom values.  God has a way to abundant life which can only be found as we submit to His divine order and obey His words. 

We come into the kingdom from varying experiences, requiring degrees of change and growth, but all with the one intent of growing up into Him, so that we may be found perfect, whole, with nothing broken, nothing missing.  Only by this can we accurately and righteously display His nature.  

The Spirit is willing, Jesus said, but the flesh is weak; pray so you don’t enter into temptation.  Temptation comes to every individual.  How easy it is to hold expectations of others that may or may not be righteous in the sight of God, but when they are not fulfilled, we consider duties failed.  Our responsibility is to align in agreement with Our Father's perception and understanding in the matter.  Prayer strengthens the heart and will.  

So I ask again, does rejection free us from responsibility?

We all have been taught to love ‘even as’ we have been loved’.  Jesus taught us to pray, ‘Forgive us as we forgive those who have sinned against us.’ Weymouth’s translation highlights forgiveness as ‘failed in duty’. 

Romans tells us to ‘owe no man anything but to love.’ Our duty then becomes keeping ourselves in the love of God towards one another.  The Apostle Paul gave us his example when he wrote, ‘The more I love, the less I am loved,’ 2 Cor. 12:15.  Though his love was not reciprocated, he was still willing to spend and be spent for another’s well-being.  

His motivation for prayer from Philippians 1 vs 8: “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you (all) with the affection of Christ Jesus” shows the strong foundation of his prayers for others.  

The ‘yearn’ looks and longs for restoration and reconciliation.  Not one of us can separate ourselves from a God-ordained relationship without first separation from God.  

Rejection in life comes to all of us.  We’ve all experienced the pain rejection brings, but as Christians, we keep our hope in God, refusing to allow others' actions to dictate our responses.  As we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lust of our flesh.  Our words will not divide or dishonour but the love we hold will cover a multitude of sins.  

How else could Jesus face the multitudes who cried ‘crucify him’ and offer so willingly his life for our redemption?  Only by holding a love that surpasses knowledge and being filled with the fullness of God.  

Help us Jesus!

More Hope

Through him  (our Lord Jesus Christ) we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Romans 5:2 

Lest we think higher of ourselves than we should, we must hold one undeniable truth; I need God.  It is by Him and through Him that we claim our existence, acknowledging without Him, we can do nothing.  Thus, we come to this profound truth found in Romans chapter five of three intertwined absolutes - faith, grace, and hope.  

Let me remind you of the Discovery Bible Word Study Notes summary on the definition of hope ~ 

Hope (1680/elpís) is active, confident waiting as God's Word in us matures (consummates) "through love" (Gal 5:6).  Hope is the "interim" period that extends from the time faith is inbirthed by God to its expression through divine love.

Biblical hope (1680/elpís) carries  God-inwrought confidence that goes with His work of faith (Heb 11:1).  Obeying faith, in the process of hope, consummates into the active expression of God's love (cf. 1 Cor 13:13).

Hope runs on God's timetable, not ours.  God first births the persuasion of His will (desire) in the believer by His work of faith (Heb 11:1; cf. 1 Jn 5:4; cf. 2307/thélēma).  This may find immediate temporal fulfillment, but this active waiting can extend into the distant future (even heaven, Heb 11:39).

In these absolutes, we begin with faith.  Faith is our trust in God that brings us into His presence in a posture of agreement and receptivity.  

We find hope that rejoices in the glory of God and rests upon our ability to access His grace by faith.  You will notice Romans makes clear it is the grace we stand in.  

Faith takes us to grace. Hebrews 4:16 is our invitation to come boldly; Gr. 3954 paresis ~ freedom, openness especially in speech, boldness, denoting a freedom to speak openly and without fear. Strongs Lexicon. 

  It is His grace we are to stand in.  Again, Hebrews 4:16 tells us we are to find grace (discover, after searching) the grace to help in the time of need that God abundantly supplies. 

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work, 2 Cor 9:8.

  Grace is sufficient for anything and everything we find ourselves facing BECAUSE it is the enabling power of God to, and for, us.  There can be no true faith operating in me if we are not moving into grace.  I might be operating in control, but faith takes me into all that God has provided in Christ Jesus. There is a God, and it is not me. I am not capable of controlling my life. You and I must have our dependency upon God. It is faith that draws us in.  There, we look for and find His power and ability; we stand in that.  

 Rejoicing in hope in the glory of God gives us assurance that we have moved by faith into grace.  My confidence is not in myself but in the grace that enables me.  

The glory of God is seen not only by God’s character manifested on my behalf but also by my reflection of His character as I stand in His grace. 

Faith, grace, and hope ~ all in and from Him.  

Good Hope

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts your hearts in every good work and word.”

2 Thessalonians 2:16,17 NASB

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church that there are three foundations on which we build our life in Christ: faith, hope, and love.  The writer of Hebrews tells us faith is the substance of things hoped for.  The danger of not holding an active and living hope is the drifting that occurs, ultimately leading to a shipwreck.  So, our admonition is to continually guard this hope through the assurance of the Word God has promised.    

Paul wrote above that this good hope by grace gives us eternal comfort, that is, to comfort and strengthen our hearts unto every good work and word.  In other words, hope keeps us actively engaged in serving God and His purpose for our lives.  We know Proverbs 29:18: ‘Without a vision, the people cast off restraint.’  As we saw last week, hope is the anchor of our soul.  So, hope is also a restraint.   

The Discovery Bible Word Study Notes summarize the definition of hope ~

hope (1680/elpís) is active, confident waiting as God's Word in us matures (consummates) "through love" (Gal 5:6).  Hope is the "interim" period that extends from the time faith is inbirthed by God to its expression through divine love.

Biblical hope (1680/elpís) carries  God-inwrought confidence that goes with His work of faith (Heb 11:1).  Obeying faith, in the process of hope, consummates into the active expression of God's love (cf. 1 Cor 13:13).

Hope runs on God's timetable, not ours.  God first births the persuasion of His will (desire) in the believer by His work of faith (Heb 11:1; cf. 1 Jn 5:4; cf. 2307/thélēma).  This may find immediate temporal fulfillment, but this active waiting can extend into the distant future (even heaven, Heb 11:39).

Every generation faces its own pressure, its own cultural tribulation designed to discourage (dis.courage) and give its hope up.   Hope relinquished is work undone.

We learn from the church in Sardis in chapter three of Revelation the danger of incomplete works in the sight of God.  Their admonition was to wake up and strengthen what remained so that it did not die.  They were exhorted to remember what they had received and heard and to keep it. {(“keep intact") emphasizes the end-outcome ("preserving to the end"), successfully presenting at the end what was guarded.  5083 (tēreō) involves "active and strenuous care to preserve, not merely watching over" (WS, 565) which ensures the final state of safe-keeping.}

This good hope is to be a living Hope.  To be good and living demands feeding upon the promises of God and resting confidently in His love to keep hope alive.  A living hope is always about the Father's business.

Hope, an anchor of the soul

“…God, desiring, even more, to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil…”

Hebrews 6:17-19

A common phenomenon occurs in our culture at the beginning of every new year.  Goals are set with great hope and determination to achieve. 

 Listening to a recent podcast, the speaker quoted stats from a recent article by Forbes Health, which stated less than 2% of resolutions would have any semblance of real change by the following year.  Most gave up within less than forty-five days.  The article went on to say the greatest deterrent to fulfilling any goal is a refusal to yield to any system, form, or pattern of accountability. 

We love this idea of change, but do we love it when it comes to the process required to achieve the change?  The children of Israel, in bondage in Egypt, cried continually to God to be delivered.  Yet the wilderness experience found them looking to go back.  The followers of Jesus loved what He promised and enjoyed what he provided, but when it came to the place of sanctification and surrender, the majority walked away, cp. John 6:67. 

Hebrews 6:19 reminds us that our hope is sure and steadfast like an anchor for our soul.  The metaphor used of an anchor stands for what holds our soul steady in our tides and storms.  It is firm, weighty, and steadfast.  It does not move.  So, for a hope that has the stability to anchor our soul, it must be found in, and on, the one who is faithful to perform what He has promised. He alone is the stability of our times. He is the rock our hope anchors onto.  Hebrews chapter six declares two immutable truths: God promises, and God does not lie.  We take refuge in this.  This is our anchor.  This is our hope, like the anchor, sure and steadfast.  When the anchor hasn’t dropped, we drift, hopeless. 

Proverbs 13:12 tells us hope deferred makes the heart sick.  How many times have my ambitions been unfulfilled, leaving me in a weak and vulnerable place? Unbelief assails my mind, and without an anchored soul, I am pulled away, listening to a lie that asks, Has God really said? When we spend and are spent engaging in our own pursuits, we build on sandy foundations subject to the winds of adversity that ultimately destroy the work. 

Jesus declared I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail.  Our work will always be met with opposition because Kingdom work always suffers violence, but the violent are continually pressing their way into the Kingdom. 

We all have things we want to achieve in life, but as we grow up into Him, we find our desires becoming more entwined with His purposes, so these goals, plans, and pursuits we hold should align more perfectly with His. Our efforts and energy should be seen as Jesus declared, I must be about my Father’s business.

God's Hope

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:27 ESV 

Have you ever stopped to think about God’s hope? We saw last week that He is the God of all hope, Romans 15:13 and that from the beginning of time, His desire was to be with man in the fullest expression of His Glory. While every created thing holds its own God-given glory, when we speak of the glory of God, we are speaking of His manifested presence.  

 Moses sought to see the glory of God, Exodus 33:18, but I would be remiss not to point out that first, He wanted to know the ways of God, Exodus 33:13.  In response to Moses' prayer, God reveals His glory and manifests and proclaims His very character ~ The Lord, The Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will be no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.   

On a side note…this ‘unrepented iniquity’ visited by God upon following generations is rooted in the propensity found in every life to hold “practices” passed on, within or from a family construct.  The father/mother, caregiver, peers, partners, spouses, mindsets and practices taught, are assumed by the learner to be normal and right.  However innocently it may come, iniquity directly opposes the will and the word of God.

 God’s desire to be ‘with’ man was seen in all the covenants and promises that He established throughout the Old Testament and on into the New.  With the appearance of Jesus, God’s word became flesh so we are now able to physically behold His glory, as the only begotten of God full of grace and truth, John 1:14.

Now, we are left to discover the riches of His glory in this mystery, Christ dwelling within us being the hope of His glory.  To continually demonstrate this very nature and character of God requires a vital, intimate, and yielded connection with Him. 

The very one who has made us His temple dwells among us in great mercy and long-suffering displayed as He continues to dwell within imperfect people made acceptable only by the blood of His crucified son, Jesus Christ.  Yet, in our imperfection, we are still His Hope.  Hope for a love that was displayed in His Son by the willing offering of His sacrificed life in submission to His Father’s will.  

As admonished by the Apostle Paul, we who have been sanctified, are continually being sanctified …..

For we are the temple of the living God as God said, 

I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, 

and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 

Therefore go out from their midst and be separate from them, says the Lord,

 and touch no unclean thing, 

then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, 

and you shall be sons and daughters to me,

 says the Lord Almighty. 

2 Corinthians 6:16-18

Thus, He has this hope for us, to us, our sanctification freely offered, that His glory would be displayed in and through our union with Christ. 

A New Year

Now may the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Romans 15:13

This is not only a good NEW YEAR’S desire, but one that we should hold every day of every year, as we open our eyes and celebrate the Author and Giver of Life. 

Jeremiah wrote, in a moment of great despair, Lamentations 3:22-24 ~ 

This is I call to mind and therefore I have hope. 

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, 

His mercies never come to an end, 

They are new every morning, 

Great is your faithfulness. 

The Lord is my portion, says my soul. 

Therefore I will hope in him. 

The Psalmist wrote,  “I would have lost heart, had I not believed I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.”  Psalm 27:13-14.


Life, throughout this year, will continually demand of us to remain steadfast in our confidence in our God.  We must remember to be mindful daily of His love and care, the working of His Holy Spirit that enables us, with His great grace, to walk in obedience- to fulfill all He has assigned.  

Remaining resolute in our confidence that God is not a man that He should lie, Numbers 23:19.   He has decreed. He will fulfill.  Our times rest in His hand, and this is the work Jesus said we must do ~ believe.  Psalm 31:15; John 6:29. 

That’s a tall order and one we must wrestle with daily as we are surrounded by the negativity in the world, the doubts within us, and pressures from others.   I’m encouraged by the reality that Jesus, tempted to doubt, as we are, never allowed doubt to drive Him to disobedience. He remains mindful that we are living in a world filled with tribulation, but assures us that our peace is found in Him, and so encourages us to take heart because He has overcome the world.  Since He has, we can too. John 16:33.

We move into 2025, purposeful to walk out all we have learned in this prior season.  To enter into what He has, by His Spirit, prepared.  The words He has given will be our bread of life in the days ahead. The presence we are mindful to maintain will keep- us vitally united with Him. United, we can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us. Philippians 4:13. Without Him, we can do nothing. John 15:5.

This will be a year filled with many opportunities for us, the church, to shine brighter than ever, as every member joins and is held together with and by Him. As each part works properly, we see her growing and building herself up in love, able to express Jesus, the head, in every way. (Ephesians 4:16).
 

Let us purpose to be those who do not give way to the pressures of life but continue a vibrant pursuit of willing obedience to Him, for it is Christ in us that is the hope of glory being fulfilled in all the earth. 

May your New Year be Filled with the fullness of His Blessings. 

Good News

“..Behold I bring you good news of great joy.. For unto you is born this day a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 2:10-11

 Each day brings us closer to the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.  

 The angel's declaration above described a new way for all of mankind to satisfy the eternity that God has set in the hearts of men, Ecclesiastes 3:11.  God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us, Acts 17:26.

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12 NIV

Coming to him believing, Romans 10:9-10, we find entrance into His Kingdom where He rules as King, Colossians 1:13.  It is a Kingdom, as he said, within us, Luke 17:21.   It is a Kingdom established in Righteousness that brings us into peace with God and consequently ourselves and others (as much as lies within us) and this results in joy unspeakable and full of glory.  Romans 14:17; 1 Peter 7:8.  There will never be peace and joy until righteousness is established within.  Jesus tells us our pursuit is to be this Kingdom and His righteousness, Matthew 6:33. 

As we live in this Kingdom, our expression is led and directed by the working of His Holy Spirit, who enables us to manifest Kingdom life (Galatians 5).

“And the Angel said to them, Fear not…”

As we celebrate this Christmas Season, we are to be mindful that we are not of this world.  We are not to be governed or held in bondage to any fear that the things of this world present, Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 4:18. 

 We are celebrating a King of glory, looking for His return, to establish in a tangible physical reality what is now within us.  

“Glory to God in the highest and on and on earth peace, goodwill to men.”  

This government rests upon you and I, members of His church who now rule through Him in righteousness, bringing this message of great joy to all!    Every spiritual blessing in Christ is to be remembered and celebrated through Advent and we call to mind not only God’s great gift but the culmination of all things with His return. 

While we wait, we proclaim.  

While we wait, we demonstrate.

While we wait, we celebrate.  

Looking for and hastening His return. 

A Very Present Help

It takes spiritual discipline to consider Jesus.  To be mindful of Him at all times is a practice of presence.  However, human nature finds us much like the psalmist expresses in Psalm 107,  'they cried to Him in their troubles (again and again.) He delivered them from their distresses because of His steadfast love.’ This passage reminds us that God’s deliverance comes because of HIS faithfulness and steadfast love.

We find the one who is a very present help in time of need.  I like the phrase, very present help, meaning help that is right here, right now.  The fact that we may not perceive it does not invalidate the truth of this declaration.

What we find throughout the Old Testament examples is its full and eternal work established in Christ Jesus. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father, ever living to make intercession on behalf of those who come to God.

Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25 NIV

We have Jesus, our high priest, who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  We find grace to help in the time of our need at the Throne of Grace, Hebrews 4:16.   

Hebrews, chapter two declares some of the greatest truths about the redemptive work and deliverance He has provided us.

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might test death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by who all things exist in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering…. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help though who are being tempted.  Verses 9-10;18.

In our times of trouble,  we are encouraged to consider Jesus,  this Son of Man, touched by the feeling of our infirmities. Because He himself has suffered when tempted, he is not only able but willing, as we see from the other verses above.  His very purpose was to destroy the works of the devil and bring us back into this wonderful relationship with God as our Father.

The Bible tells us Jesus “learned obedience from the things which He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8),  and as the source of eternal salvation, He faithfully completed God's plan of redemption.  We learn and grow as we consider and obey Jesus in the midst of trouble.  There is a what must I obey in this moment that leads me into life.   If Jesus learned obedience through the things he suffered, there is something in our troubles that we are to learn.  I submit to you it is simply the discipline to do the things we know we are to do, i.e., consider it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds because you know….James 1:2-4 it is a growth opportunity that develops character as we learn obedience by the things we suffer.   

Jesus encouraged his disciples in John’s gospel ~ I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Mindful that there is no temptation taken us that is not common to man, including Jesus ~ But God is Faithful who will, with the temptation, make a way of escape that we may bear it.  1 Cor. 10:13

He is our very present help in time of need.

True Grace

“I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!”

1 Peter 5:12 NASB 

The Apostle Peter writes his first epistle, perhaps from Rome, during a time of tremendous persecution for believers. His purpose was to strengthen them by reminding them of who they were and what they had been given, enabling them to stand firm.  The words he wrote are still filled with enabling power to the one who believes. 

I wrote last week that grace is defined as God’s enabling power at work in us, but I neglected to mention that it is also his undeserved favour.  

Peter writes to the dispersed believers building their communities throughout Northern Asia Minor. His epistle is meant to be read by both Jews and Gentiles, reinforcing the truth, ‘exhorting and testifying’ that the message that has brought them to this place is the same grace that enables them to stand in the face of all opposition, persecution, and suffering for the name of Christ.  

 Peter emphasizes grace, again and again, in his letter as a tangible reality of their day-to-day help.  Peter reminds them that this grace was prophesied ~ 

“Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.”

1 Peter 1:10-11 

Because this grace has been declared and given, we must choose to believe and receive it in order for it to help us. The Apostle Paul reminds us that whatever ‘momentary light afflictions’ we may experience, there is a far ‘greater weight of glory working, 2 Corinthians. 4:17.  We must, according to Peter, keep it all in proper perspective to receive the outcome of our faith, that is, the salvation of our souls, 

Exhorted to be sober-minded, they were encouraged to set their hope fully on the grace to be brought to them at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Peter wrote in his second epistle that grace and peace are multiplied through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 2 Peter 1:3, with the exhortation from 2 Peter 3:18, to  ‘grow in that grace and knowledge.’ 

In the midst of an adverse culture, holy conduct is necessary for the chosen generation.  As His own possession,  believers were and are called to show forth His praises by their holy conduct as an offering to the one who called them out of darkness. 

Peter wrote about the grace received, to ‘stand firm in it.’  Paul writes the same message in Romans 5:1-5 ~ 

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us…..

              Thus, we come boldly to the throne of grace.

A last thought from 1 Peter 5:10-11,

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

By the grace of God....

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 

Hebrews 2:9

A remarkable truth jumped out at me as I read this…… Jesus’ ability to suffer and taste death for everyone was accomplished through his access of the grace of God. “So that by the grace of God, he might taste death.” 

You might think this isn’t significant, but this says to me that the ability we have to do the will of God in the most difficult moments can only be achieved by accessing the grace God gives.  

Jesus, the Son of Man, has experienced every temptation we will ever be touched with so that he can be the perfect Help.  

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession, For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16. 

And, “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”  2 Timothy 2:1. reminding us,  ‘we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us’. Philippians 4:13. (I define grace as Gods enabling power at work in us.)

Our life was not given to live independently from a need for God.  

Jesus endured the cross, having worked through His own will with loud cries and supplications.  In an agony, He prayed more earnestly, so that through experience, he could become the author of salvation made perfect through that prayerfully endured suffering.  And Hebrew’s exhortation, we “have not yet resisted to the shedding of blood,” makes this a powerful reminder that where trouble abounds grace does much more abound. We have been given immeasurable riches of grace in Christ Jesus. We learn as the Apostle Paul discovered, God's grace is sufficient in these moments. 

When we examine our own lives, do we fall short of accessing this power that is to us, who believe?  This strengthening of might in our inner man by His Spirit, the Spirit of Grace, is unto love.  A love that compels.  A love that values.  A love that willingly denies self for the greater good.   Do we frustrate His workings, quench His endeavours simply by denying the grace that has made us? Grace given to enable us to do the very works ordained for us.  

Our days ahead will demand that we be Spirit-filled believers, not in name or theory but in vital practicalities. Jesus’ last instructions to his disciples were to stay in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from above. 

A ''be being filled', from Ephesians 5:18-20, shows us the very present working of our Father in the church today.  This place of worship and presence, along with the emphasis of feeding daily upon His word, is the very life that enables us to obey.

Once again, a reminder: Jesus had to access the grace to taste death, endure the cross, and bend His will tells us there are no shortcuts for us.  He has left us an example that we are to follow with the assurance that grace is always sufficient so we can endure momentary light afflictions for the greater weight of glory promised.  

Hearing and Doing

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine, and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against the house, and it fell and great was the fall of it. “

And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teachings .....’

Matthew 7: 24-28

This week we find ourselves at the conclusion of Jesus’s sermon. We find in our portion of scripture today our need to not simply hear his word but to do what he has said. This is our assurance during times of rain, floods, and winds of adversity that will beat on our house. I don’t know if this is just one storm of life or various kinds of storms, but either way the provision for remaining firm through any and all is the hearing of his word and the obedience of walking it out.

Jesus has finished realigning hearts and priorities for the individual who will choose the way He has laid out. Having now heard the words of Jesus, the people will surely be given opportunity to obey them.

We would be remiss not to encourage you to read Luke’s rendering in chapter 6:46-49 where he begins with Jesus’ question ~

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

I heard a man preaching the other day who made the comment that the difficulty with most Church adults today was the fact that they were adults in every sense of the word, proud, self reliant, skeptical, and the majority of the time not like children at all. Yet Jesus said we must become like children to enter His Kingdom. This child is humble, trusting and obedient.

Let us never confuse the reality of what Lordship truly is. Jesus said you call me ‘teacher’ and ‘Lord’, and rightly so, For so I am. John 13:13 Whether, he is our Lord and master can only be revealed in our obedience to him.

From Jesus, the parable of the soil, the sowing of the word, we learn the word sown on the hard ground is snatched immediately away by Satan. We understand that the soil conditions are representations of heart conditions. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 18 reminds us a darkened understanding brings separation from the life of God. Ignorance is simply due to the hardening of hearts. Hard hearts are the fruit of long term disobedience.

Hebrews 3:15 reminds us “today if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts...”

Jesus concludes his sermon on the mount telling us. It is the foolish man who hears the word and does not obey. This man is destined for ruin. Obedience becomes the bedrock to our lives, foundational to all we build.

The Bible has so many words that reveal to us God the Father, Jesus the word made flesh and the Holy Spirit - everything poured out for our well-being and equipping.

It begins right here with a heart that desires to please him with a hearing ear and the willing yes.

... But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 20:31

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.....”

John 14:15

False Prophets

“Look out for false prophets, who come to you under the guise of sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves.  You must recognize them by their fruits.  People do not pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles, do they?  So any healthy tree bears good fruit and a sickly tree bears poor fruit.  A healthy tree cannot bear poor fruit, and a sickly tree cannot bear good fruit.  Any tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and burned up.  So you must recognize them by their fruits.”

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will get into the kingdom of heaven, but only those who practice doing the will of my Father in heaven.  Many will say to me on the day, ‘Lord, Lord, was it not in your name that we prophesied, and in your name that we drove out demons, and in your name that we did many wonder-works?’  And then I will say to them openly, ‘I never knew you at all.  Go away from me, you who practiced doing wrong.’ ”  Matthew 7:15-23

                                   Williams New Testament

Helps study note on the ‘false prophet’ from the Discovery bible:

• 5578/pseudoprophētēs ("a false prophet") specializes in the art of misimpression to "validate" they are "commissioned" by the Lord.  In fact, they operate by self and for self.  

While the New Testament has much to say about false prophets, and all of it has increasing importance in the chaotic days we find ourselves drifting towards, none of it is more fundamental than Jesus’ own words from his passage.  

From his last statement above, we discover both his bottom line and a long-noticed ministry phenomenon. Namely, one can prophesy, exorcise demons, and work miracles and still not be right with God.  The acid test of having been touched by God is not the ability to dabble in the supernatural realm with spirits and miracles; it is to be free of practicing wrong.

I recently heard a teacher give a plausible explanation for how a minister can operate within the anointing while having sin or un-dealt with character issues in his life. This is a very real and dangerous place to be for the minister, as it seems to say to him God’s endorsement is on his life or miracles and ministry would not be bearing fruit, but this is not the kind of fruit Jesus is speaking of.  The Bible teacher made this point: in essence, God has chosen faith as man's main connection to Him. He went on to say that faith is always rewarded.  But a rewarded faith is not always the endorsement of our lives we think it is.

This is also a very dangerous place for those watching and receiving the minister.  It suggests, as the minister’s practices are observed that God is not who he says He is: namely, a Holy God.

Notice by using the word ‘practiced’ that Jesus is not saying the prophet has to be a perfect man.  There will always be places to stumble, but when we own them and confess He is righteous to forgive and cleanse us. “Practicing doing wrong,” however, is long past faults to be worked on and has become a lifestyle.   

This is the simple beauty of Jesus' point.  We are to know those who labour among us.  We must have some intimate knowledge of the planting before we can unguardedly eat its fruit.  If the plant has something growing on it that should not be there, such as thorns and thistles, you have reason to think the fruit is suffering from some unhealthy cross-pollination.   If the messenger's outward presence seems to cover a different person inwardly, you might conclude motives and agendas aren’t matched properly.  

In the picture Jesus painted for us, no one seems more surprised at the outcome than the false prophets who, supposing they could use their accomplishments to justify themselves, discovered that beyond their works, they had never found their way into an intimate relationship with the Lord.

“I never knew you at all,” accompanied with, ”Go away from me,” shows plainly there comes a day when it will be too late to find that intimacy.  We, ourselves, and those we allow to influence our walk must have more than ministry results as their badge.  We and they must bear the inner markings of knowing him.

My thanks to my husband David, for writing this week's Good Word.

Narrow Gates

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy¹ that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. 

¹ Some manuscripts For the way is wide and easy

Matthew 7:13-14

Following on last week's Good Word of doing good, we understand that the choice to do good is the narrow way, with the wide and easy way being self-cantered.  It is disturbing to note Jesus said there are many who choose the wide gate and easy path.  So, let's look at the choices we make at these gates.   I want you to remember the Lord's words about the measuring stick we use when it comes to the doing unto others as we would have them do unto us.  This choice becomes either a wide or narrow gate we enter through.   

From Matthew 7:2 and Luke 6:38, we find the principle of the what and why we give being our measuring cup for return.  Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians chapter nine that God isn’t looking for giving done in a grudging manner but rather willing and cheerful.  The amplified adds the ‘prompt to do it, giver.’    

We want others' giving to us to be willing, cheerful, and hopefully prompt, but is it the way we measure in our good deeds?   We can see how this choice becomes a very narrow entrance that leads to a hard path because it requires the denial of self and usually some type of personal sacrifice.   

 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.  For one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.  So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. 

Galatians 6:8-10

We can liken this wide and easy path to the path our flesh longs to travel.  Interesting to note the beginning of verse seven is the warning toward deception. How easy it is to deny the still, small voice, the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit when we are faced with the opportunity to do good.  This is the sowing we do to the flesh, but Paul, in Galatians, goes on to encourage us not to grow weary and to remember sowing good; we are promised a harvest in due season.   

This willing and generous heart must be pursued as a quality of character we want to possess to be as He is in this world.  As we choose the narrow way, we know and understand the personal effects of weariness and thanklessness that are sure to come.

We must choose to remember every act of kindness is a service to the Lord. Every drink of water or meal offered, every visit, and every needy person clothed should remind us that when we do it to the least, we do it unto Him…..Matthew 25:40.  Our willingness to choose to walk through our narrow gate onto a hard path will always glorify our Father and reap eternal rewards. 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17 

Do Good

Matthew 7:12-14

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.  Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy¹ that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. 

¹ Some manuscripts, For the way is wide and easy

It would be in good order to compare Luke's Gospel, chapter six, verses twenty-seven through thirty-six as we consider this scripture today.  Luke records the same portion of Jesus’ sermon, highlighting doing good in various ways. 

If we hold both Luke and Matthew as instructions, we see the dynamics of interpersonal relationship and the way they are to be exercised.  If we would do them, how much healthier we would be. Ultimately, His church would display the kind of knowledge that all men would know we are His disciples by the love we manifest.

Here, we have the main principle laid out for us from both the Old and New Testaments —doing good to all. We find this is the very nature of God, who makes His rain to shine on the just and unjust (Matthew 5:45).   

For the Lord is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made (Psalm 145.9). 

Doing good is manifested in what the bible calls ‘good works.’ 

Goodness is described in Greek as; that which, being “good” in its character or constitution, is beneficial in its effect and is a fruit displayed by the Holy Spirit at work in us.  Just as God is love, God is good.   It is through His exceeding great and precious promises that we are able to partake of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) enabling us to display various acts of goodness to all. 

The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.  Titus 3:8 

The do unto others as you would have them do unto you is the narrow way.  Jesus tells us the easy way has broad borders, encouraging us to choose our own way. The consistent dynamic about the love of God is the selflessness it displays.  Its propensity is to suffer any and all hardships for the well-being of another.  This is the way of Christ. 

The wide and easy way is the choice to preserve oneself. If you consider the times and reasonings that take place on this path, you will find they usually revolve around self, which we are assured ends in destruction.  Our ability to enter into a narrow way is simply the process of denying ourselves in the moment and choosing Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life.  

 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,  thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.  1 Timothy 6:18-19

Ask. Seek. Knock

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8

Ellicott Commentary Notes ~ “The three words imply distinct degrees of intensity. There is the “asking” in the spoken words of prayer, the “seeking” in the efforts and labours which are acted prayers, the “knocking” at the gate with the urgent importunity which claims admission into our Father’s house.”

We are mindful of the persistence of the widow from Luke 18 which emphasizes that we are always to pray and not lose heart.  We are mindful of Jesus in the garden, who encourages us to know the Spirit is willing to help strengthen us.  We are to engage in prayer lest we fall into temptation.  We can’t stop the hour that comes to us, but we can be and are prepared through our times of prayer.  

As always, I want to remind you that prayer is not a formula where we are heard by our many words that hold no heart engagement. It is not a religious exercise, but a spiritual discipline. It is an intimate fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit from whom all blessings flow.  

Our invitation to come, to ask, to seek, and knock are met with the assurance that where and what we lack, He provides ~ 

    Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent.  Matthew 7: 9-10.

The epistle of James 1:5-8 and 1 John 5:14-15 are foundational  to our method and means of prayer. Ask in faith; nothing doubting.  Ask amiss, and we do not receive.  Alignment with the Father is seen in the asking.  “Father, not my will but yours” is always our starting point.  

The seeking and searching of the scripture to know and understand His will is our responsibility.  There is a leading and revelation that comes through the Holy Spirit that assures our heart this is right before Him. 

 if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure, then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.… Proverbs 2:3-5

The knocking becomes our expression of trust.  There is none other we turn to; our eyes are on you.  Always mindful of the heavenly door that stands open and the Spirit bids us “come up here” we rest ……

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:11. 

Dogs and Pigs

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

Matthew 7:6 NASB2020

The Cambridge Commentary notes that the connection between today’s verse and the previous ones is not entirely obvious.  “It (the distinction) seems to be this, although evil and censorious judgment is to be avoided, discrimination is needful.  The Christian must be judicious, not judicial.”

As I began to study and examine various commentaries on our verse, I found the metaphors Jesus used to be interesting. He notes not only that we have holy things entrusted to us but also describes the type of people we should NOT share them with.

From Ellicotts’ Commentary -

The “dogs” and the “swine,” in their turn, represent distinct forms of evil, the former being here, as in  Philippians 3:2, Revelation 22:15, the type of impurity, the latter (as in Psalm 80:13) of ferocity

From Discovery Bible Word Helps Study -

2965 kýōn –  literally, a dog, scavenging canine; (figuratively) a spiritual predator who feeds off others.

1. "Dog" in NT days was a slang term for someone ceremonially unclean who therefore (supposedly) spread their "spiritual defilement" on contact.  Thus the use of "dog" for someone was far from affectionate and conjured up reproach (insult).

2. In Phil 3:2, "dogs" refers to Judaizers.  They identified themselves as believers (Christians), but said Jesus was the Saviour of Israel (Jews) only. They also insisted Christ's kingdom could be entered only through the religious gate of Judaism (i.e. first becoming a Jew).

Being unclean animals, dogs were used to denote what was unholy or profane. So Mt 7:6; Rev 22:15.  The Israelites are forbidden in Deuteronomy to bring the price of a male prostitute (literally 'dog') into the house of God for any vow: Dt 23:18.  The Gentiles of the Christian era were denominated dogs by the Jews, see Mt 15:26.  ). "Compare Phil 3:2. This was the term of reproach with which the Judaizers stigmatized the Gentiles as impure. Paul here retorts upon them their own epithet."

Earlier in chapter six, we saw that everyone’s heart holds a treasure. From Jesus’ perspective, he is communicating to his listeners sacred and holy truths, ‘words of life,’ which are eternal treasures that we are encouraged to lay up for ourselves. We refer to the words in this book we call the Bible as ‘Holy’  Scripture.

These words are written according to 2 Tm 3:16-17 in the AMPC

“Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Our common concept of holy is something that is pure and clean as opposed to unclean.  Yet the Greek word for Holy means ‘different.’  Clean and pure are the result of being ‘different.’

From Helps Word Studies -

   40 hágios – properly, different ("unlike"), other("otherness"), holy; in relation to believers, 40 (hágios) refers to "likeness of nature with the Lord," i.e. they are also "different from the world."

The fundamental meaning of 40 (hágios) is "different" so a temple in the 1st century was called hagios ("holy") – because different from other buildings (Wm. Barclay).  In the NT, 40/hágios ("holy") has the "technical" meaning "different from the world" because "like the Lord."

[40 (hagios) implies something "set apart" and therefore "different(distinguished/distinct)" – i.e. "other," because special to the Lord.

When we recognize the word of God as the creative power and life emanating from God's mouth, we will hold it in reverential fear.

Don’t be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honour to God. Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and inviting sacrilege.”

Matthew 7:6 MSG

The truths Jesus imparted were holy and life-giving, i.e., ‘words of life.’ Treating the holy, the sacred, as common or unclean is sin.

Our great need is learning to work with the Holy Spirit and, like Jesus, only say what we hear the Father saying.   

The ability to distinguish our audience, if you will, the dogs and swine, and to remember that we hold pearls of great wisdom gives us the occasion to learn who and what God has given us to sow. While we are instructed to sow the word, we must be aware of who we are sowing into and, thus, hopefully, discern their receptivity.   

It’s interesting to note the story in Mark 7:25-30 of the Syrophoenician Woman receiving deliverance for her daughter.

Opportunity comes to all, but Jesus knew his audience. He knew crowds from disciples and gave truth out accordingly.   Jesus knew who he had been given, John 17:6 and gave them the words of life, John 17:8, and they received and believed.

Right people, right hearts, right words bring forth fruit that glorifies our Father.  May we faithfully hold and sow that which is holy and sacred in His eyes.

More Judging

Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.  3. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4. Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5. You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.   

Matthew 7: 1-5

We learn from Jesus it is the log in our own eye which prevents us from seeing clearly.  Logs skew our perceptions.  Jesus also said in Matthew 13:14, “ever seeing never perceiving” was due to hardened hearts,  We are blinded by our own perceptions.  The danger of levelling judgment is that we can never know another’s heart.  The best we have is what we see, appearance, and appearances can be deceptive.

• John 7:24  Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

•         1 Samuel 16:7. But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance…..For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

•         Isaiah 11:3 highlights the servant of the Lord, whom we understand to be Jesus as the one walking in the fear of the Lord, “does not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.…”

Righteous judgment is required. While we may think our judgments are right and pure, they can only be found right IN GOD.  He alone is the one who is righteous and just in all His decrees.

John 8:15 ‘You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.’

ALL righteous judgment revolves around government and rule. While we understand all authority has been given to Jesus and we have been given the right to use His authority; we must know how far that takes us and to whom and what that authority governs.

Judgment works hand in hand with authority.  Where we have been given responsibility, we have been given authority.  Where we have been given authority we must recognize how far that authority extends in our government.  Again we rule under the headship of Jesus.  All authority has been given to Him.  We have nothing that has not been given to us.

Biblically, we find authority and responsibility given to husbands within the marriage covenant, Gen 3:16; parents over children Eph. 6:1; pastors over flocks; five fold ministry over His church Ephesians.4, Heb 13:17.  All these areas govern under His authority understanding they are accountable and responsible to Him for their rule and  judgments.  Each role has their own set of biblical instructions and boundaries to operate within, clearly established in scripture.

The Apostle Paul gave strong instruction to the church in Corinth as the one who was both responsible and accountable for governing the body he had birthed.  Exercising His authority, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ or under the authority of Christ or if Jesus was here this is what he would do and say, he writes -

For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 5:3-5 NLT

From 1 Corinthians 6:1-6, again Paul sets this standard. ~

Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbour, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?

In summation, we can understand from scripture that there is a time and place for righteous judgment, for oneself, in marriage, in family, and within the church.  There is always order in God.  Within the use of the authority we have been given, it must be flowing from the head, always given in the tension of knowing what we give out is measured back to us.

A PS ~ let’s not fail to remember James 2:13 as we navigate this topic.

Jesus on Judging

The complex topic of judging holds more than a few biblical contradictions when looked at as individual passages. We are going to take a fuller look at both sides of this “do not/ do” dichotomy over the next two weeks. 

As we hold the concept of judging let us remember that there is one righteous and just judge, the Lord God Almighty. Therefore judgment in and of itself can not be wrong, lest God himself be found guilty. Paul reminds us if we would judge ourselves we would not be in danger of being judged but,1Corinthians 11:32, when we are judged by the Lord we are disciplined so we may not be condemned along with the the world.

Let’s begin with Jesus’ words from Matthew 7:5 ~

Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.   

First of all, this is about our perspective and the judgment that we give and the way we give it being the judgment we would receive from the Lord.  Jesus says, don’t judge so you won’t be judged.  Jesus says there is a way we judge and a standard of measure we use to judge by.  It is both the way we judge and our standard of measure that becomes the measurement for judgment to us.  So our conclusion would be to not  engage in judgment unless we are prepared to be judged.

We must check our motivations.  Righteous instead of self righteous, proud and arrogant submitted to meek and humble, are the ways to proceed.  The standard of judgment becomes the “how much” we pour out, if you will.  Comparing Jesus sermon here from Luke’s recording in chapter six, we read verses 37-38:

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

I’m sure none of us are looking for the good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over when it comes to receiving judgment.  

Jesus tells of the self righteous Pharisee in Luke18:11-14 highlighting the injustice in him. We can not overlook the emphasis Jesus places on the hypocrisy in the way that we judge.  STRONGS GREEK definition of hypocrite reads,“hupokrinomai; an actor under an assumed character, i.e. a dissembler.” I think we can safely add the word ‘pretender’ too.  A potential danger that lies within everyone, even as a believer, is self righteousness, arrogance and pride.  With those being our ways, the measure we pour forth would be spiteful and vindictive. We would be quick to heap out unrighteous judgment.

 As Romans 2:1-3 reminds us ~ 

Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?

 The above verses make me mindful of Jesus’ scenario with the woman caught in adultery, “he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone”. 

James 2:12 reminds us ~ 

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

To be continued…..

Cure for Anxiety

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life….”

Matthew 6:25

You might want to go back to the previous Good Words to consider the context for the ‘therefore’ found here.  Jesus laid a foundation for us to avoid anxiety in life in the previous verses of Matthew 6:19-24.  As he continues his sermon in verses 25-34, He gives the cure for anxiety.  

Oxford’s online dictionary translates anxiety as ~ a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.  This is the mental health crisis reflected in our society today. 

Oxford notes this from the PSYCHIATRY viewpoint ~ 

“ a mental condition characterized by excessive apprehensiveness about real or perceived threats, typically leading to avoidance behaviors and often to physical symptoms such as increased heart rate and muscle tension.  "We are seeing more calls related to anxiety and depression.”
 

When Jesus said ‘do not worry about your life’….. we find from the Greek word in Helps Word Study the following definition ~

3309merimnáō (from 3308/mérimna, "a part, as opposed to the whole") – properly, drawn in opposite directions; "divided into parts" (A. T. Robertson); (figuratively) "go to pieces" when pulled apart (in different directions), 

3809 (merimnaō ) is "an old verb for worry and anxiety – literally, to be divided, distracted" (WP, 2, 156).  It is more commonly used in this negative sense in the NT.

1. 3309/merimnaō ("divided from anxiety") disunifies a person and robs them of God's peace (His gift of wholeness).  3309 (merimnaō) comes "from meris/merizō, meaning care or anxiety that distracts and divides" (WP at Mt 6:25), i.e. "to be distracted" (WP, 1, 376). 

Sometimes, we can be so overwhelmed with life's immediate needs that we forget that God is working to establish a purpose in everything. Whether it is the right thought or action, He has a way that leads us into the abundant life that He has prepared for us to walk in, ‘wholeness,’ if you will. 

This requires our ability to pause and consider. We need to reflect and ask before we take any further steps.  It’s not simply ‘don’t think about that.’  Jesus tells us what and who we are to think about.  You can’t serve two masters.  

Of course, sometimes, the practical does not allow that, and we operate from a purely instinctive response. Those moments do reveal what the heart carries.  

Jesus highlights anxiety being seen in our speech when he says,  “Therefore do not be anxious saying”….  Matthew 6: 31 and Matthew 12:34 Jesus says it is ‘out of the abundance of our hearts our mouth speaks.  From Mark’s gospel, he tells us it’s the ‘evil thoughts’ that have the power to defile us, Mark 6:20-21. 

The only way we can be sure of the proper responses would be by abiding.  If I abide in Him and He abides in me - well, things go better.  You know this word abide means to settle in and dwell.  It is a permanent state we live in, and within the abiding belongs the seeking.  

Jesus, in this portion of His sermon, tells us what we are to consider and why.  I have the wonderful gift of sitting at my desk and viewing the great outdoors. I see the birds, the trees, the majesty of the Pacific Ocean, the islands, and the mountains, and I am able to consider the greatness of my creator.  I am able to lift my head and consider all that Jesus exhorts in this chapter of Matthew.  OR,  I can totally overlook all this wonder and be consumed with my fears.  The choice is mine.  The choice is yours.  Obviously, the right choice is to consider Him and His word.  To lay aside every other consideration and hold my attention to the one I am to seek first. 

Jesus promises that if I will seek first His kingdom (the one that holds righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; if it lies outside of that, it’s not Kingdom), everything else will be added.  I don’t have to seek after the need.  I don’t have to solve the problem.  I have to seek first what is right and peaceable, and in obedience, I hold His joy.  

And then He assures us tomorrow will have its own issues, but for today, this was sufficient. 

Storing up

Sometimes we can be so familiar with the words of God that their power does not impact.  Jesus spoke to reveal the heart and mind of our Father, and Jesus came to give us abundant life.  Abundant life hinges on our willingness to believe and receive the bread of life.  As the word of Life, the attention we then give it provides our foundation for abundant life, so today, let’s approach his teaching from the sermon on the mount with a desire to hear what the Spirit says.  

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.  

Matthew 6:19-21

Helps Word Study notes the Greek on the word treasure: 2344 (thēsauros) is literally "a receptacle for valuables”).]A. T. Robertson, "In the ancient writers it meant ‘treasury’…. So a 'storehouse' as in Mt 13:52.  Then it means the things laid up in store, treasure in heaven (Mt 6:20), in Christ (Col 2:3). 

Do not Store up is a Negated Greek Present Imperative, and an NGP always means to Keep on refusing to do this! – and/or Stop doing this if it has already started!  The negated NT (Greek) present imperative conveys: Constantly avoid this … keep on resisting! – or Stop (if it is already happening)!  The context indicates which idea is meant or both senses simultaneously.  [This prohibition always relays ongoing action requiring (positively) continuing vigilance, enduring resistance, etc.]. THE DISCOVERY BIBLE

There are no other words in English that carry the same emphatic meaning as DO NOT. Jesus addressed prayer and fasting as a way to check our heart desires, and now, again, he is highlighting heart issues, giving us both the Do Not and the DO.

We identify the reality of our hearts by our words and deeds.  Without being lovers of truth, the Holy Spirit has a hard time overcoming our blindness to convince us of the evils that lurk within.  

Paul wrote to the Romans, warning that  hard and impenitent hearts store up wrath for the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment is revealed, Romans 2:5.

Luke's gospel records Jesus’ parable of the Rich Fool from chapter twelve, verses thirteen through twenty-one. In this parable Jesus highlights guarding against all covetousness. He concludes that the one who lays up for himself is a “fool” because he is not rich toward God.  

The following verses from James 5:1-6 bring stern cautions to believers. ~ 

“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.”

I wrote last week, “Fasting is a tool we use to ensure that our relationship with our heavenly Father is the most essential thing in our lives.”  Fasting keeps all other appetites checked and in order.   The psalmist talks about his one desire being the presence of the Lord, Psalm 27:4.  As we curtail our natural appetites and feed our spiritual ones, we find the things of the world growing dim.  

Jesus’ parables explaining the kingdom of heaven from Matthew’s gospel tell of the man who finds the hidden treasure in a field and sells all he has to buy it (13:44).  Another, in search of one pearl of great value, finds it and sells all he has to buy it (13:45).  Jesus used these stories to illustrate the greater treasure we are to find in Him and His kingdom.  

Our admonition from Him is to keep our heart in heaven, and we do this by seeking the things which are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  We set our minds on things above and not on things that are on earth. For we have died to these elemental things, and our life is hidden with Christ in God, Colossians 3:1-3.

My next Good Word  ~  September 08, 2024.