Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk.com.
In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"
He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"
Matthew 8:23-27
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
How do you respond when times of trouble arise?
That is the question at the heart of today’s scripture passage.
Jesus and His disciples got into their boat and set sail once again on the Sea of Galilee. They had traveled the sea before, successfully navigating to their destination. But this particular trip would be different.
For we read where “a furious storm came up on the lake” without warning. So strong was the storm that “the waves swept over the boat” but none of this woke Jesus who was sleeping.
The disciples became frightened and feared for their lives so much that they woke Jesus saying, “Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" Upset at their actions, Jesus criticized the disciples replying, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" And then we read that He got up and “rebuked the winds and the waves”, making conditions “completely calm”.
Well the disciples could barely grasp what they had just witnessed for they asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"
What kind of man is this?
This man is Jesus…the Lord of Lords…the King of Kings…the Almighty Christ.
Friends, how many times are we like the disciples? Our faith stays firm when conditions are good but let a storm blow in suddenly and we end up in a panic…afraid…crying out to be saved as if Jesus is asleep while we are in need.
You see, the disciples lost sight of the fact that Jesus was with them. Yes, He was asleep. So what? He was there in the boat with the disciples. Did they really think that Jesus would allow them to die while He was catching a nap? Would Jesus have called them all to follow Him only to kill them on the Sea of Galilee?
It’s little wonder why Jesus was upset at them for waking them. He wasn’t so angry that they had disturbed His sleep. No…He was disappointed that they didn’t show more faith.
I wonder how many times He feels the same way about us?
Friends, the disciples had only knew Jesus for a short time and yet they had seen the miraculous power He possessed. We on the other hand have the entire account of Jesus’ life and ministry to include the greatest miraculous act of all as he conquered death and the grave to ascend into heaven and sit on the right hand of God the Father.
We know this and yet we doubt even though Jesus is in the business of controlling and subsiding any furious storm that might blow up suddenly in our lives. We think He has somehow left us when we know He would never leave us nor forsake us. And didn’t He promise His disciples and us as well that He would be with us until the end of the age as He gave His Great Commission? (Matthew 28)
It’s time for us to stop wavering and look to the only One who is capable and willing to calm the storms of life and restore order.
It’s time to trust Jesus.
Do you know He is with you today?
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
SACRIFICE REQUIRED
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk.com.
In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When Jesus saw the crowd around Him, He gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.
Then a teacher of the law came to Him and said, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."
Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head."
Another disciple said to Him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
But Jesus told him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
Matthew 8:18-22
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
What if Jesus had ran a want ad seeking disciples? It may have read like this:
“Disciples wanted. Can be men or women. Must be willing to leave everything behind and travel long distances on foot, weathering and enduring nomadic outdoor living. Must also we willing to accept consistent persecution, even to the point of death, at any time.”
I wonder how many applicants Jesus would have received.
Indeed, there is a price to be paid for anyone who truly chooses to follow Jesus in their lives. For He demands that we sacrifice…for sacrifice is one of the qualities that defined our Savior. One only look to Calvary’s cross and the crucifixion to understand that truth.
So how far are we willing to sacrifice for the One who gave everything for us?
It’s a fair question…and one we all need to ask ourselves daily.
Are we truly committed to lay it all down for Him just as He did for us?
As we look at today’s scripture passage, we see Jesus underscoring a little of what’s required to truly be His disciple.
We read that He “gave orders to cross to the other side” of the Sea of Galilee when He had seen “the crowd around Him”. You’ll recall that He was in Capernaum which was located on the northwest part of the sea so moving to the other side meant He would head to the eastern shores.
There, we read where He was approached by a “teacher of the law” who declared, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." Knowing the hearts and minds of man, we sense that Jesus sensed that the man was not aware of the sacrifices that came with his proclamation. For He tells the teacher of the law, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head."
In other words, life with Me isn’t going to be glamorous. Indeed, Jesus, and those who followed Him, would find resistance nearly everywhere they would travel. In fact, we know that Jesus wasn’t even welcome in His own hometown of Galilee. Anyone deciding to follow Jesus needed to be aware that things would often be rough and challenging. It wasn’t, and still isn’t, for the faint of heart. Many Christians this very hour are being persecuted and killed for the cause of Christ.
Question: Are you willing to die for Jesus in your own life?
You never know when you might be faced with just that.
After the teacher of the law, Jesus encountered another disciple who was interested in following Him but with a caveat. The disciple asked Jesus to “first let me go and bury my father” to which Jesus replied, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
What? One can’t even show proper respect to their parent…their father who had invested so much in raising and rearing?
Jesus would say “No”. Why? Because it is just one of many excuses that someone can come up with to not fully lay their lives down for the One who would lay His life down for them…without reservation…without caveat.
Indeed, Christ didn’t say that He would accept crucifixion after He had a chance to do this or that. He asked for no delay. No…He accepted the wrongful judgment and the gruesome execution that came along with it. And He did it because He loved you and I that much.
So how much do we truly love Him in return? Do we ask Him if we can put His will on hold so we can love someone else more than Him? Or do we realize that He and He alone is the only One we should love with all our heart and mind and soul and strength…and respond in absolute and unquestioning obedience to His call?
Friends, the decision to follow Jesus is not to be made lightly. We must be sure of what we’re signing up for. For service in Jesus’ army is a lifelong enlistment…one that will take us onto the battlefield and in harm’s way. We must be willing to rough it with Him, get down into the trenches and sacrifice with Him.
For indeed, sacrifice is required…but it’s worth it as we look forward to the day when we share eternal life with Jesus forever.
We only have that privilege because of His sacrifice.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com
In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When Jesus saw the crowd around Him, He gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.
Then a teacher of the law came to Him and said, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."
Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head."
Another disciple said to Him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
But Jesus told him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
Matthew 8:18-22
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
What if Jesus had ran a want ad seeking disciples? It may have read like this:
“Disciples wanted. Can be men or women. Must be willing to leave everything behind and travel long distances on foot, weathering and enduring nomadic outdoor living. Must also we willing to accept consistent persecution, even to the point of death, at any time.”
I wonder how many applicants Jesus would have received.
Indeed, there is a price to be paid for anyone who truly chooses to follow Jesus in their lives. For He demands that we sacrifice…for sacrifice is one of the qualities that defined our Savior. One only look to Calvary’s cross and the crucifixion to understand that truth.
So how far are we willing to sacrifice for the One who gave everything for us?
It’s a fair question…and one we all need to ask ourselves daily.
Are we truly committed to lay it all down for Him just as He did for us?
As we look at today’s scripture passage, we see Jesus underscoring a little of what’s required to truly be His disciple.
We read that He “gave orders to cross to the other side” of the Sea of Galilee when He had seen “the crowd around Him”. You’ll recall that He was in Capernaum which was located on the northwest part of the sea so moving to the other side meant He would head to the eastern shores.
There, we read where He was approached by a “teacher of the law” who declared, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." Knowing the hearts and minds of man, we sense that Jesus sensed that the man was not aware of the sacrifices that came with his proclamation. For He tells the teacher of the law, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head."
In other words, life with Me isn’t going to be glamorous. Indeed, Jesus, and those who followed Him, would find resistance nearly everywhere they would travel. In fact, we know that Jesus wasn’t even welcome in His own hometown of Galilee. Anyone deciding to follow Jesus needed to be aware that things would often be rough and challenging. It wasn’t, and still isn’t, for the faint of heart. Many Christians this very hour are being persecuted and killed for the cause of Christ.
Question: Are you willing to die for Jesus in your own life?
You never know when you might be faced with just that.
After the teacher of the law, Jesus encountered another disciple who was interested in following Him but with a caveat. The disciple asked Jesus to “first let me go and bury my father” to which Jesus replied, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
What? One can’t even show proper respect to their parent…their father who had invested so much in raising and rearing?
Jesus would say “No”. Why? Because it is just one of many excuses that someone can come up with to not fully lay their lives down for the One who would lay His life down for them…without reservation…without caveat.
Indeed, Christ didn’t say that He would accept crucifixion after He had a chance to do this or that. He asked for no delay. No…He accepted the wrongful judgment and the gruesome execution that came along with it. And He did it because He loved you and I that much.
So how much do we truly love Him in return? Do we ask Him if we can put His will on hold so we can love someone else more than Him? Or do we realize that He and He alone is the only One we should love with all our heart and mind and soul and strength…and respond in absolute and unquestioning obedience to His call?
Friends, the decision to follow Jesus is not to be made lightly. We must be sure of what we’re signing up for. For service in Jesus’ army is a lifelong enlistment…one that will take us onto the battlefield and in harm’s way. We must be willing to rough it with Him, get down into the trenches and sacrifice with Him.
For indeed, sacrifice is required…but it’s worth it as we look forward to the day when we share eternal life with Jesus forever.
We only have that privilege because of His sacrifice.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com
Friday, March 12, 2010
DISPLAYING GREAT FAITH
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk.com.
In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering."
Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him."
The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.
When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
"He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases."
Matthew 8:5-17
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Faith.
Where would we be without it?
Well, lost for one…and I think we all can relate to those times when we allowed life’s circumstances to make us feel helpless and maybe even hopeless.
Yes…if Satan wants to launch an attack on any of God’s children, he surely knows where to start. All he needs to do is try and take away our faith…and he’s made the necessary progress to start having his way with us.
As we look at today’s scripture, we find a centurion dealing with a matter that could have easily taken him to a point of giving up and surrendering to what he might have seen as irreversible.
At the center of his anguish was one of his servants who was at “home paralyzed and in terrible suffering”. No doubt hearing how Jesus had miraculously healed the afflicted, the centurion went to Him after He “had entered Capernaum”, asking for help.
Now this centurion had already shown faith just by going to Jesus, as did the leper who was healed earlier in chapter 8. Both had reasonable expectations already that Jesus could do what they needed done before they approached Him.
Interestingly enough, Jesus must have sensed the centurion’s faith in Him and so with no question or deliberation, He simply said, “I will go and heal him." Easy as that.
Or at least it seemed easy. But look at what the centurion does next. For he had just started to display the faith that the Lord honors and expects.
For as Jesus offers to go to the centurion’s home and heal his servant, look at what the centurion says:
"Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
The centurion was all too aware of what it was like to have authority. He was in command over countless soldiers. But the authority the centurion held paled in comparison to the power in Jesus…and the centurion was well aware of it.
How do we know this?
Because the centurion knew that Jesus could heal his servant by just speaking the command. There was no need to travel all the way to where the centurion lived. And further, notice the incredible humility shown by this man of military might. For he saw himself of unworthy to even have Jesus come under his roof.
Friends, do you get the connection here?
Humility breeds faith. For unless we adopt an humble attitude and see ourselves unworthy of having Jesus enter into our sinful homes, we will never fully realize our reliance and dependence on Him and thus our need for faith in all that He is and all that He can do.
The centurion can serve as a model for us all. For he believed that a miracle would be done just by a word spoken by Jesus. He didn’t need to go and see it take place. He knew it would happen because He had faith and trusted his Lord.
Back to the scriptures…for when Jesus heard the words of the centurion, “he was astonished” …so much so that He said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” And with that, He told the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would”…and that’s what happened for the “servant was healed at that very hour.”
Question: How strong is your faith in the One through which all things are possible?
Are you like Thomas who would not believe He was looking at the resurrected Jesus unless he could place his fingers where the nails had pierced Christ’s hands and put his hand in Christ’s side? (John 20:24-29)
Or are you like the centurion who knew and believed in the awesome power of Jesus, trusting that just the mere words of His mouth could bring about healing and transformation and salvation?
Jesus has told us who He favors…the centurion…the one who displayed great faith. We should all follow suit.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com
In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering."
Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him."
The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.
When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
"He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases."
Matthew 8:5-17
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Faith.
Where would we be without it?
Well, lost for one…and I think we all can relate to those times when we allowed life’s circumstances to make us feel helpless and maybe even hopeless.
Yes…if Satan wants to launch an attack on any of God’s children, he surely knows where to start. All he needs to do is try and take away our faith…and he’s made the necessary progress to start having his way with us.
As we look at today’s scripture, we find a centurion dealing with a matter that could have easily taken him to a point of giving up and surrendering to what he might have seen as irreversible.
At the center of his anguish was one of his servants who was at “home paralyzed and in terrible suffering”. No doubt hearing how Jesus had miraculously healed the afflicted, the centurion went to Him after He “had entered Capernaum”, asking for help.
Now this centurion had already shown faith just by going to Jesus, as did the leper who was healed earlier in chapter 8. Both had reasonable expectations already that Jesus could do what they needed done before they approached Him.
Interestingly enough, Jesus must have sensed the centurion’s faith in Him and so with no question or deliberation, He simply said, “I will go and heal him." Easy as that.
Or at least it seemed easy. But look at what the centurion does next. For he had just started to display the faith that the Lord honors and expects.
For as Jesus offers to go to the centurion’s home and heal his servant, look at what the centurion says:
"Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
The centurion was all too aware of what it was like to have authority. He was in command over countless soldiers. But the authority the centurion held paled in comparison to the power in Jesus…and the centurion was well aware of it.
How do we know this?
Because the centurion knew that Jesus could heal his servant by just speaking the command. There was no need to travel all the way to where the centurion lived. And further, notice the incredible humility shown by this man of military might. For he saw himself of unworthy to even have Jesus come under his roof.
Friends, do you get the connection here?
Humility breeds faith. For unless we adopt an humble attitude and see ourselves unworthy of having Jesus enter into our sinful homes, we will never fully realize our reliance and dependence on Him and thus our need for faith in all that He is and all that He can do.
The centurion can serve as a model for us all. For he believed that a miracle would be done just by a word spoken by Jesus. He didn’t need to go and see it take place. He knew it would happen because He had faith and trusted his Lord.
Back to the scriptures…for when Jesus heard the words of the centurion, “he was astonished” …so much so that He said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” And with that, He told the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would”…and that’s what happened for the “servant was healed at that very hour.”
Question: How strong is your faith in the One through which all things are possible?
Are you like Thomas who would not believe He was looking at the resurrected Jesus unless he could place his fingers where the nails had pierced Christ’s hands and put his hand in Christ’s side? (John 20:24-29)
Or are you like the centurion who knew and believed in the awesome power of Jesus, trusting that just the mere words of His mouth could bring about healing and transformation and salvation?
Jesus has told us who He favors…the centurion…the one who displayed great faith. We should all follow suit.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com
Thursday, March 11, 2010
A WILLING SAVIOR
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk.com.
In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
“When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
Matthew 8:1-4
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As Chapter 8 of Matthew’s gospel opens, we find Jesus finished with His famous teachings known as the Sermon on the Mount.
We read that as “He came down from the mountainside” many people went after Him in “large crowds”. It hadn’t taken long for Jesus to build a following and as He proceeded, scripture tells us that a “man with leprosy came and knelt before Him”.
Leprosy was a terrible affliction in biblical times. A slow moving bacterial infection, it would effect the skin, nerves and the mucous membrane of anyone who contracted it. And as the nerves in the hand and feet deteriorated, eventually ceasing to work, the leper would end up with mutilated fingers and toes…a classic symptomatic indicator of the disease.
Old Testament law as found in Leviticus, Chapter 13, would declare a person unclean if their skin ailment persisted and worsened over a seven day period. And being stamped as unclean meant excommunication and exile from the rest of society. Lepers were outcasts…the unwanted.
So with this knowledge in mind, picture the scene painted by our passage.
Jesus is walking along with large crowds following Him when a leper comes to Him and kneels. I can only imagine the collective gasp from the people as they saw this occur. Maybe many of the people withdrew, afraid to be infected themselves by the man. Surely Jesus would know to stay away Himself…wouldn’t He?
Well, we know that Jesus was not going to turn from any affliction because there was and is no affliction today that He can’t heal with just the simple touch of His almighty, powerful hand. After all, He truly is the Great Physician!
But just this man coming to Jesus wasn’t necessarily going to result in a healing. The man had to come with the right attitude.
Note his actions and words.
For the leper didn’t run up to Jesus, grab Him and demand that he be healed. No…the man came to Jesus and He knelt…a humble expression of Jesus’ majesty and the man’s dependence on Him. This set the stage for what followed because while on his knees, the man asked Jesus, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
His words hold two important keys for all believers who wish to approach the Lord about anything.
First, we need to ask the Lord if it is His will to do what we need. Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t. We need to be prepared for either and know that if it isn’t the Lord’s will at that time, it’s because He has something even better in store for us. We only need to stay faithful, patient and wait…wait on the Lord.
Second, see how the man doesn’t think Jesus can heal him. He knows it.
Look at his words again…”if you are willing, You can make me clean”. There is no doubt in the man’s mind that Jesus can do it if it’s His will to do so.
We need to always remember this as well because the Lord can do anything at anytime when he wills to do it. This is one of the absolutes we learn from the scriptures.
Well, the stage was set. The man had shown his humble reliance on Jesus and his stalwart faith that he could be healed by the Lord if it were the Lord’s will to do so.
So what did Jesus do?
Scripture tells us that He “reached out his hand and touched the man” saying, “I am willing…Be clean!"
And with that, the man was “cured of his leprosy” immediately. Imagine the amazement that the people must have felt at what they just witnessed. If they thought Jesus taught with authority, they now noticed that His authority extended well beyond instruction. This Jesus possessed the power to heal a leper with just one touch of His hand.
Question: Do you need healed in some way today?
Maybe you have an affliction like the leper. Maybe you have been the victim of abuse and are dealing with the psychological scars left behind. Maybe you are suffering from a broken relationship with a spouse, child or family member.
Whatever your situation, our scripture sends this message to you:
There is hope.
All you need do is kneel before Jesus and mimic the words of the leper saying, “Lord, if you are willing, You can make me well again”. And when it is His will, He can and will make you well…trust in that.
Friends, this is the Lord we serve. He is always available…always willing to help at His appointed time….always able to heal…and the only One who can save.
Do you know Him today?
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com
In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
“When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
Matthew 8:1-4
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As Chapter 8 of Matthew’s gospel opens, we find Jesus finished with His famous teachings known as the Sermon on the Mount.
We read that as “He came down from the mountainside” many people went after Him in “large crowds”. It hadn’t taken long for Jesus to build a following and as He proceeded, scripture tells us that a “man with leprosy came and knelt before Him”.
Leprosy was a terrible affliction in biblical times. A slow moving bacterial infection, it would effect the skin, nerves and the mucous membrane of anyone who contracted it. And as the nerves in the hand and feet deteriorated, eventually ceasing to work, the leper would end up with mutilated fingers and toes…a classic symptomatic indicator of the disease.
Old Testament law as found in Leviticus, Chapter 13, would declare a person unclean if their skin ailment persisted and worsened over a seven day period. And being stamped as unclean meant excommunication and exile from the rest of society. Lepers were outcasts…the unwanted.
So with this knowledge in mind, picture the scene painted by our passage.
Jesus is walking along with large crowds following Him when a leper comes to Him and kneels. I can only imagine the collective gasp from the people as they saw this occur. Maybe many of the people withdrew, afraid to be infected themselves by the man. Surely Jesus would know to stay away Himself…wouldn’t He?
Well, we know that Jesus was not going to turn from any affliction because there was and is no affliction today that He can’t heal with just the simple touch of His almighty, powerful hand. After all, He truly is the Great Physician!
But just this man coming to Jesus wasn’t necessarily going to result in a healing. The man had to come with the right attitude.
Note his actions and words.
For the leper didn’t run up to Jesus, grab Him and demand that he be healed. No…the man came to Jesus and He knelt…a humble expression of Jesus’ majesty and the man’s dependence on Him. This set the stage for what followed because while on his knees, the man asked Jesus, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
His words hold two important keys for all believers who wish to approach the Lord about anything.
First, we need to ask the Lord if it is His will to do what we need. Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t. We need to be prepared for either and know that if it isn’t the Lord’s will at that time, it’s because He has something even better in store for us. We only need to stay faithful, patient and wait…wait on the Lord.
Second, see how the man doesn’t think Jesus can heal him. He knows it.
Look at his words again…”if you are willing, You can make me clean”. There is no doubt in the man’s mind that Jesus can do it if it’s His will to do so.
We need to always remember this as well because the Lord can do anything at anytime when he wills to do it. This is one of the absolutes we learn from the scriptures.
Well, the stage was set. The man had shown his humble reliance on Jesus and his stalwart faith that he could be healed by the Lord if it were the Lord’s will to do so.
So what did Jesus do?
Scripture tells us that He “reached out his hand and touched the man” saying, “I am willing…Be clean!"
And with that, the man was “cured of his leprosy” immediately. Imagine the amazement that the people must have felt at what they just witnessed. If they thought Jesus taught with authority, they now noticed that His authority extended well beyond instruction. This Jesus possessed the power to heal a leper with just one touch of His hand.
Question: Do you need healed in some way today?
Maybe you have an affliction like the leper. Maybe you have been the victim of abuse and are dealing with the psychological scars left behind. Maybe you are suffering from a broken relationship with a spouse, child or family member.
Whatever your situation, our scripture sends this message to you:
There is hope.
All you need do is kneel before Jesus and mimic the words of the leper saying, “Lord, if you are willing, You can make me well again”. And when it is His will, He can and will make you well…trust in that.
Friends, this is the Lord we serve. He is always available…always willing to help at His appointed time….always able to heal…and the only One who can save.
Do you know Him today?
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
FINDING AMAZEMENT
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk.com.
In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”
Matthew 7:28-29
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
I’ve been sick the last two days with some early stages of pneumonia. I really don’t like being ill but sometimes the Lord is sending us a message that it’s time to be still and rest. And so I have done just that, trying to catch up on some things I haven’t had time to do.
One of those things was to watch a couple of DVDs a friend gave me. Each had a message delivered by a fantastic evangelist and preacher by the name of Louie Giglio. Maybe you’ve been blessed with the opportunity to either see him in person or watch one of his messages in DVD as well.
The two messages, “Indescribable” and “How Great Is Our God”, essentially take a look at the vast universe that God created and remind us two things.
First, the works that God has done are unable to be calculated or quantified. We have no idea yet how many galaxies exist in the universe or how many stars they contain…the very stars that God made as confirmed in the following passage:
“He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” (Psalm 147:4-5)
In our limited wisdom and intellect, we can’t even begin to fathom how great and awesome God is…our God who is “mighty in power” and limitless in understanding. We also can’t fully grasp just how small we are in the big picture of God’s creation. Even the smallest dot we might be able to place on a piece of paper would still make us bigger than we really are. And yet we too often carry ourselves in a way that defies humility…as if we are bigger than the One who made us.
Need to always be in the right mindset and attitude toward the Lord? Then adopt these other words from the Psalmist as he writes:
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4)
Indeed. Why should the Lord care for such an insignificant, sinful speck in His universe like me? Why should He ever be mindful of me…of you…of us?
And yet, He loves us and sees us as fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)…each of us...all created in His own image (Genesis 1:27).
Truly, the words of the praise song ring true:
Amazing love, how can it be?
That you my King would die for me.
Amazing love, I know it’s true
And it’s my joy to honor You
With all I do, I’ll honor You.
Friends, He and He alone is worthy of our worship and praise and humble adoration…always.
The other thing we’re reminded of as we truly examine the awesome vastness of God’s mighty works is that all of it was done through His only Son, our only Savior, Jesus. Jesus was there from the very beginning. We know this through the words that open John’s gospel:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that Life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1:1-5)
Jesus would later remind us in this same gospel that “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
Indeed, the One who was present at the very formation of the heavens, Jesus Christ, is the only One through which we can enter them at life’s end. There is no other path…no other way…no other authority.
So as we look at the final two verses from Matthew, Chapter 7, it’s little wonder that those who listened to Jesus’ sermon reacted as they did.
For we read that “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” As we discussed earlier in the sermon, Jesus took what was and took it to a new level. He didn’t come to replace the Old Testament law that the Israelites were so familiar with. He came to improve and enhance it.
The people, limited in their understanding, had just experienced first had the power and authority of Christ…the One whose understanding has no limits. And so He broadened and enriched the hearts and minds of His listeners as He taught them from the mountainside…and he continues to do it to those who choose to listen to Him today.
Question: What amazes you?
Is it people who are adept at magic or illusions? Is it exceptional performances in film or music or sports? Or is it any of the world’s structures that may get dubbed as a “wonder of the world”?
Frankly, there are so many other things that are amazing but they are things we too typically take for granted.
Take nature for example. Every animal, every fish, every bird, every tree, every flower…everything in nature was created by the Lord…unique and purposeful in their own ways. Look at nature and look at the incredible craftsmanship of the Lord.
How about the birth of a baby? There are roughly 340,000 births every day in the world, each beautiful and precious additions to God’s child population…carefully and skillfully formed in the mother’s womb before emerging into the world God created. Do you ever get tired of seeing the beautiful innocence that is found in a newborn baby? I know I don’t. They are one of the Lord’s greatest miracles…one that he repeats over and over and over and over.
And again, just go out on a clear night and look up into the sky. Everything that you see…the moon…the planets…the stars…were all designed and placed there by the Lord. And there is so much there that we can’t see and will most probably never see in our lifetime. You only need to look to our universe to get a glimpse of how big the Lord is…and how very small we are.
Yes…in and all around us there are signs of the Lord’s handiwork. And as we journey together through yet another Lenten season, we head toward another incredibly amazing display of power and authority displayed by Jesus. For soon, He will be nailed to a cross for the sins of mankind, shed His blood and die, and then as He is left for dead, arise and claim victory over death and the grave…paving the way to the Father so that through Him we might follow some day.
Now that is amazing!
So again…what do you see as amazing in life?
I submit to you today that there isn’t anything more amazing than Jesus…who will always take the ordinary and make it extraordinary…now and forever more.
Choose Him and Him alone.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com
In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”
Matthew 7:28-29
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
I’ve been sick the last two days with some early stages of pneumonia. I really don’t like being ill but sometimes the Lord is sending us a message that it’s time to be still and rest. And so I have done just that, trying to catch up on some things I haven’t had time to do.
One of those things was to watch a couple of DVDs a friend gave me. Each had a message delivered by a fantastic evangelist and preacher by the name of Louie Giglio. Maybe you’ve been blessed with the opportunity to either see him in person or watch one of his messages in DVD as well.
The two messages, “Indescribable” and “How Great Is Our God”, essentially take a look at the vast universe that God created and remind us two things.
First, the works that God has done are unable to be calculated or quantified. We have no idea yet how many galaxies exist in the universe or how many stars they contain…the very stars that God made as confirmed in the following passage:
“He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” (Psalm 147:4-5)
In our limited wisdom and intellect, we can’t even begin to fathom how great and awesome God is…our God who is “mighty in power” and limitless in understanding. We also can’t fully grasp just how small we are in the big picture of God’s creation. Even the smallest dot we might be able to place on a piece of paper would still make us bigger than we really are. And yet we too often carry ourselves in a way that defies humility…as if we are bigger than the One who made us.
Need to always be in the right mindset and attitude toward the Lord? Then adopt these other words from the Psalmist as he writes:
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4)
Indeed. Why should the Lord care for such an insignificant, sinful speck in His universe like me? Why should He ever be mindful of me…of you…of us?
And yet, He loves us and sees us as fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)…each of us...all created in His own image (Genesis 1:27).
Truly, the words of the praise song ring true:
Amazing love, how can it be?
That you my King would die for me.
Amazing love, I know it’s true
And it’s my joy to honor You
With all I do, I’ll honor You.
Friends, He and He alone is worthy of our worship and praise and humble adoration…always.
The other thing we’re reminded of as we truly examine the awesome vastness of God’s mighty works is that all of it was done through His only Son, our only Savior, Jesus. Jesus was there from the very beginning. We know this through the words that open John’s gospel:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that Life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1:1-5)
Jesus would later remind us in this same gospel that “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
Indeed, the One who was present at the very formation of the heavens, Jesus Christ, is the only One through which we can enter them at life’s end. There is no other path…no other way…no other authority.
So as we look at the final two verses from Matthew, Chapter 7, it’s little wonder that those who listened to Jesus’ sermon reacted as they did.
For we read that “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” As we discussed earlier in the sermon, Jesus took what was and took it to a new level. He didn’t come to replace the Old Testament law that the Israelites were so familiar with. He came to improve and enhance it.
The people, limited in their understanding, had just experienced first had the power and authority of Christ…the One whose understanding has no limits. And so He broadened and enriched the hearts and minds of His listeners as He taught them from the mountainside…and he continues to do it to those who choose to listen to Him today.
Question: What amazes you?
Is it people who are adept at magic or illusions? Is it exceptional performances in film or music or sports? Or is it any of the world’s structures that may get dubbed as a “wonder of the world”?
Frankly, there are so many other things that are amazing but they are things we too typically take for granted.
Take nature for example. Every animal, every fish, every bird, every tree, every flower…everything in nature was created by the Lord…unique and purposeful in their own ways. Look at nature and look at the incredible craftsmanship of the Lord.
How about the birth of a baby? There are roughly 340,000 births every day in the world, each beautiful and precious additions to God’s child population…carefully and skillfully formed in the mother’s womb before emerging into the world God created. Do you ever get tired of seeing the beautiful innocence that is found in a newborn baby? I know I don’t. They are one of the Lord’s greatest miracles…one that he repeats over and over and over and over.
And again, just go out on a clear night and look up into the sky. Everything that you see…the moon…the planets…the stars…were all designed and placed there by the Lord. And there is so much there that we can’t see and will most probably never see in our lifetime. You only need to look to our universe to get a glimpse of how big the Lord is…and how very small we are.
Yes…in and all around us there are signs of the Lord’s handiwork. And as we journey together through yet another Lenten season, we head toward another incredibly amazing display of power and authority displayed by Jesus. For soon, He will be nailed to a cross for the sins of mankind, shed His blood and die, and then as He is left for dead, arise and claim victory over death and the grave…paving the way to the Father so that through Him we might follow some day.
Now that is amazing!
So again…what do you see as amazing in life?
I submit to you today that there isn’t anything more amazing than Jesus…who will always take the ordinary and make it extraordinary…now and forever more.
Choose Him and Him alone.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
WHERE ARE YOU BUILDING YOUR HOUSE?
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
"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. 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. 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. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Matthew 7:24-27
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
The news has been filled with recent major earthquakes in the world…first in Haiti and then in Chile…, highlighting the importance of structural integrity when constructing buildings. Build right and you can avoid collapse and the tragic loss that often follows. Build wrong and you end up with a building that falls in destruction and disaster.
Of course, where you build is also important, especially when you build a home. I remember an article I read several months ago about an entire housing project that was in peril because the earth the homes sat on was falling away. The company who did the construction apparently hadn’t treated the land the homes were set on properly and so once the foundations were laid and the homes built on the foundations, they soon found they were losing the ground underneath.
These homes were not set on the right foundation.
We can look at our lives metaphorically as homes. In fact, Jesus did just that in today’s scripture as He finished up His teaching during the Sermon on the Mount. Here’s what He said:
"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. 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. 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. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Let’s break this down and examine what Jesus is asking us to do.
First, He expects us to hear His words.
How can we do that?
We can start by seeking His words. That’s the only way we will find them so we can hear them.
Daily we should come before Jesus in prayer and seek His words…His guidance to us. As we ask, we then turn to listen and receive everything that our Savior wishes to impart on us. Relationship requires communication and we can’t truly say we have a relationship with Jesus is we aren’t speaking with Him regularly.
We also find His words in the scriptures. I have always like how bibles will put the words of Jesus in red…so that the reader can focus in on the exact words He spoke. Those words contain power and wisdom and instruction for us…and without them we are powerless, ignorant and lost.
But just hearing the words of Jesus, whether by listening to Him in prayerful conversation or through reading His words in the scriptures, is not enough. For unless we put His words into action, then we have not accomplished much of anything.
One thing is certain. Jesus expects us to act and put His words into practice.
He didn’t just spend all this time preaching the Sermon on the Mount for everyone to go home afterwards saying that the message was good but never carry out what He taught. I’m afraid this is what happens all too often in our church today. The Lord gives pastors a great message to deliver and the congregation sits, listens and then leaves to get back on with their worldly lives until Sunday rolls around again. Church becomes just another thing on the calendar of things to do in a week like shopping for groceries or mowing the lawn or doing the laundry.
Friends, that’s not what being a disciple of Christ is about. Jesus expects us to work for Him 24/7, 365 days out of the year. We need not wonder what he wants us to do. His words tell us. As I said earlier, we just need to seek them.
When we do seek Him and His words, we build our life…our “house”…on a solid foundation…the foundation of Jesus. And in doing so, we can weather any storm…any disaster that might threaten our lives. In Christ, we have structural integrity…our hearts and souls firmly anchored in Him.
Conversely, not seeking Jesus and His words, leaves one on shaky ground…like building on sand. All can seem fine until the storms of life come and instead of finding stability in uncertain conditions, one finds their world shifting, moving, losing bearing and eventually falling in. And in the midst of the tragic results and ruins of what once was, we can find ourselves crying out for rescue…crying out to Jesus…and hoping to hear His words.
That’s why we call His Savior. Because He rescues those who are lost and sets them on His solid foundation…now and forever.
Question: Where are you building your “house”?
For in the end translation, how can we be like Christ…or claim to be Christians…if we don’t know Him?
We can’t.
This is why it is incumbent on us to seek Him always…looking to model everything about Him. For until we feel the way He feels, act the way He acts, speak the way He speaks and think the way he thinks, we truly can’t show Him and all those around us, that our life…our “home”…is built on His firm foundation…the only foundation that can weather anything the world might bring.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
"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. 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. 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. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Matthew 7:24-27
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
The news has been filled with recent major earthquakes in the world…first in Haiti and then in Chile…, highlighting the importance of structural integrity when constructing buildings. Build right and you can avoid collapse and the tragic loss that often follows. Build wrong and you end up with a building that falls in destruction and disaster.
Of course, where you build is also important, especially when you build a home. I remember an article I read several months ago about an entire housing project that was in peril because the earth the homes sat on was falling away. The company who did the construction apparently hadn’t treated the land the homes were set on properly and so once the foundations were laid and the homes built on the foundations, they soon found they were losing the ground underneath.
These homes were not set on the right foundation.
We can look at our lives metaphorically as homes. In fact, Jesus did just that in today’s scripture as He finished up His teaching during the Sermon on the Mount. Here’s what He said:
"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. 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. 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. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Let’s break this down and examine what Jesus is asking us to do.
First, He expects us to hear His words.
How can we do that?
We can start by seeking His words. That’s the only way we will find them so we can hear them.
Daily we should come before Jesus in prayer and seek His words…His guidance to us. As we ask, we then turn to listen and receive everything that our Savior wishes to impart on us. Relationship requires communication and we can’t truly say we have a relationship with Jesus is we aren’t speaking with Him regularly.
We also find His words in the scriptures. I have always like how bibles will put the words of Jesus in red…so that the reader can focus in on the exact words He spoke. Those words contain power and wisdom and instruction for us…and without them we are powerless, ignorant and lost.
But just hearing the words of Jesus, whether by listening to Him in prayerful conversation or through reading His words in the scriptures, is not enough. For unless we put His words into action, then we have not accomplished much of anything.
One thing is certain. Jesus expects us to act and put His words into practice.
He didn’t just spend all this time preaching the Sermon on the Mount for everyone to go home afterwards saying that the message was good but never carry out what He taught. I’m afraid this is what happens all too often in our church today. The Lord gives pastors a great message to deliver and the congregation sits, listens and then leaves to get back on with their worldly lives until Sunday rolls around again. Church becomes just another thing on the calendar of things to do in a week like shopping for groceries or mowing the lawn or doing the laundry.
Friends, that’s not what being a disciple of Christ is about. Jesus expects us to work for Him 24/7, 365 days out of the year. We need not wonder what he wants us to do. His words tell us. As I said earlier, we just need to seek them.
When we do seek Him and His words, we build our life…our “house”…on a solid foundation…the foundation of Jesus. And in doing so, we can weather any storm…any disaster that might threaten our lives. In Christ, we have structural integrity…our hearts and souls firmly anchored in Him.
Conversely, not seeking Jesus and His words, leaves one on shaky ground…like building on sand. All can seem fine until the storms of life come and instead of finding stability in uncertain conditions, one finds their world shifting, moving, losing bearing and eventually falling in. And in the midst of the tragic results and ruins of what once was, we can find ourselves crying out for rescue…crying out to Jesus…and hoping to hear His words.
That’s why we call His Savior. Because He rescues those who are lost and sets them on His solid foundation…now and forever.
Question: Where are you building your “house”?
For in the end translation, how can we be like Christ…or claim to be Christians…if we don’t know Him?
We can’t.
This is why it is incumbent on us to seek Him always…looking to model everything about Him. For until we feel the way He feels, act the way He acts, speak the way He speaks and think the way he thinks, we truly can’t show Him and all those around us, that our life…our “home”…is built on His firm foundation…the only foundation that can weather anything the world might bring.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
WILL THE LORD KNOW YOU?
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
"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. 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?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' “
Matthew 7:21-23
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
I think there are three primary categories of people in society when it comes to the Lord.
First, there are those who just choose to not believe in Him no matter what. To them, claiming there is a Lord who is alive and yet unseen, leading, guiding, caring and protecting His people is pure folly. They feel they are intellectually superior to anyone who might hold such a narrow world view. They hear about the Lord but have no interest in getting to know Him on a personal level.
Then there are those who truly believe in the Lord and show it in the way they live their lives day in and day out. They can’t get enough of the Lord’s word whether found in scriptures or in prayer with Him. And they see themselves as nothing without Him and so they cling to Him with all their might, confident in the assurance of eternal hope He promised.
Finally, there are those who claim to be in the Lord but their words are just that…words. This is because their actions don’t reflect that they are willing to surrender anything in their lives for Him, no matter how hard He seeks to convict them. They evoke the word of the Lord to make it appear they are in full relation with Him and yet reject His will consistently in exchange for their own.
It’s that last category of people that Jesus is talking to in our scripture today. For He expects that all believers should be prepared to lay down everything for Him surrendering their life fully to Him, just as He laid His life fully down for us.
What’s the risk if they don’t? Let’s look at the scriptures.
For Jesus clearly says that “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.”
Jesus is essentially saying that words are just that…words…and it takes a lot more than words to enter the kingdom of heaven. It takes action to go along with the words.
That action needs to be consistent with the Lord’s will. We need not worry where to go because He’ll lead us. All we need to do is follow Him in obedience. Do that and we can be assured He will know us because we have been partnered with Him all along.
One thing is certain. None of us should ever want to hear Jesus say, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoer!' “
By drawing ever near to Him every day, we can make sure we don’t hear that but rather these words:
“Well done, good and faithful servant. With you I am well pleased.”
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
"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. 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?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' “
Matthew 7:21-23
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
I think there are three primary categories of people in society when it comes to the Lord.
First, there are those who just choose to not believe in Him no matter what. To them, claiming there is a Lord who is alive and yet unseen, leading, guiding, caring and protecting His people is pure folly. They feel they are intellectually superior to anyone who might hold such a narrow world view. They hear about the Lord but have no interest in getting to know Him on a personal level.
Then there are those who truly believe in the Lord and show it in the way they live their lives day in and day out. They can’t get enough of the Lord’s word whether found in scriptures or in prayer with Him. And they see themselves as nothing without Him and so they cling to Him with all their might, confident in the assurance of eternal hope He promised.
Finally, there are those who claim to be in the Lord but their words are just that…words. This is because their actions don’t reflect that they are willing to surrender anything in their lives for Him, no matter how hard He seeks to convict them. They evoke the word of the Lord to make it appear they are in full relation with Him and yet reject His will consistently in exchange for their own.
It’s that last category of people that Jesus is talking to in our scripture today. For He expects that all believers should be prepared to lay down everything for Him surrendering their life fully to Him, just as He laid His life fully down for us.
What’s the risk if they don’t? Let’s look at the scriptures.
For Jesus clearly says that “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.”
Jesus is essentially saying that words are just that…words…and it takes a lot more than words to enter the kingdom of heaven. It takes action to go along with the words.
That action needs to be consistent with the Lord’s will. We need not worry where to go because He’ll lead us. All we need to do is follow Him in obedience. Do that and we can be assured He will know us because we have been partnered with Him all along.
One thing is certain. None of us should ever want to hear Jesus say, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoer!' “
By drawing ever near to Him every day, we can make sure we don’t hear that but rather these words:
“Well done, good and faithful servant. With you I am well pleased.”
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
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