Week 18, Day 5: Bad Choices
Today’s Reading: Hebrews 1:1-2:18
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
We all make bad choices. One of the worst decisions ever made was made in Matthew 27:15-26. Pilate offered to release one man to the crowd–Barabbas or Jesus. Barabbas was insurrectionist and a murderer. Jesus they had handed over because of envy. Evidently, it was not a very difficult decision for these Jews to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be crucified. This tells us just how strong of an emotion envy can be!
These people had a choice to make. This is the choice that is presented to us (with much less important, at least in the world view, consequences). It is the choice between good and evil. We often have to choose whether we are going to do what is right, or do what is wrong. How often are we hard on the Jews for their decision, and yet in effect we do the exact same thing? We have the opportunity to choose good, and yet we choose to do evil. We end up in the same situation as these Jews, which is the same situation that everyone in the world ends up in: In need of the sacrifice of Christ!
We need to work to train ourselves to make good decisions. If we commit ourselves to God, then we should have an easier time making the right decisions. If we make the larger commitment to be faithful, then the smaller, individual decisions should come easier. We have set in our minds the standard by which we will make all of our choices! We should ensure that we are focused on doing what is right, and then we will be able to make the good decisions when choices have to be made.
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Week 18, Day 4: The Flesh is Weak
Today’s Reading: Matthew 27:1-28:20
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
In Matthew chapter 26, Jesus was very close to being taken to be crucified. In fact, He was in the garden of Gethsemane, where He is praying to God about the imminent events that would lead to His death. With Him were 3 of the apostles: Peter, James and John. Jesus separated Himself from these men, and prayed to God. Then He returned to find Peter, James and John sleeping. When He returned, He said to them, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
I think this reflects what often happens with us as Christians. We are willing in spirit, but we are weak in the flesh. We have a desire to serve God, but the flesh and its corruption overcomes us. We give in to the temptations that are brought about by being in the flesh: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:16).
The only way that we are going to put these types of weaknesses away from us is to truly focus on that which is spiritual. We are told that we must “seek first the kingdom of God” if we are going to have the kind of spiritual life that we want and need (Matthew 6:33). Just like the apostles in the Garden of Gethsemane, we must “watch and pray.” We need to be watchful for those things that would be a temptation to us, those things that would trip us up and cause us to forsake the Lord or our service to Him. We need to pray, so that we maintain a good relationship with God, and remember our obligations to Him. If we cease to watch or cease to pray, then it will not be long before we lose our strength and will no longer be serving God.
Let us make sure that we keep our spirit strong, so that we remain faithful to God. The flesh will always have an element of weakness. Let us strive to grow our physical side, to bring it under the control of the spiritual so that we are God’s faithful servants!
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Week 18, Day 3: Acting Like Pharisees
Today’s Reading: Matthew 25:1-26:75
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
It is a popular criticism in the Lord’s church today to call someone a “Pharisee”. I have noticed that this is often in response to a person demanding strict adherence to scripture and sound principles of Bible authority. It is also a common accusation among many who insist that we must decide between lawful practice and emotional fulfillment (such as loving the brethren). Such an application completely misses the point of the condemnation that Jesus gives against the Pharisees. For example, in Matthew 23:23-24 (see verses 13-36 for the broader context) Jesus condemned the Pharisees for their attitude of tithing every little thing, but then leaving greater things undone. He did not tell them not to tithe the mint, anise and cummin. Rather, He told them to continue in that, as it was what the law demanded, and then make sure to not leave the other things undone! Jesus’ instructions to the Pharisees was to make sure and follow every detail of the Law, just as they had been taught.
There are certainly occasions that we act like Pharisees today, but not in the way that many speculate today. Very often we continue in practices that are required of us, but then we let less obvious things (and yet perhaps more important or “weightier) slip by us undone. I wonder what Jesus would say to us today? Perhaps it would be something like: “You continue to worship on the first day of the week, and you partake of My supper, but you are not showing love toward your brethren. “ Or maybe He would say, “You continue to sing without instruments just as I intended, but you are not teaching the lost.” We could continue with several examples, all of which could characterize our failure in continuing with first century Christianity. The solution is not to stop doing the things that we do right, but rather to keep doing those and add to them the rest of what we are lacking!
It seems that many have come to believe that adherence to the strict Law revealed for us through Christ and His inspired writers is relatively insignificant. We don’t really have to follow the specifics of work and worship revealed in the New Testament, as long as we have what we determine to be the right attitude. This seems to be much more like the Pharisees condemned by Jesus than what is often condemned as being “Pharisaic” today! We need to do what we have been doing (if it is substantiated by principles of Bible authority) and add to it those things that God has instructed us to be doing, but that we may not be faithfully participating in. We certainly should never misuse Jesus’ condemnation of the Pharisees as an excuse to stop doing what is commanded!
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Week 18, Day 2: Clearing the Temple
Today’s Reading: Matthew 23:1-24:51
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
In Matthew 21:12-13 we get to see “the other side” of Jesus. In the religious world today (and increasingly in the Lord’s church) we are seeing a picture of Jesus painted that only tells half of the story. We hear about how loving Jesus is, and how compassionate He is. Jesus certainly has those characteristics, but that is not the whole story of His character. Often we overlook the rest of Jesus’ character because it simply does not fit with what we like to think of Him. But, He is willing to be harsh and judgmental as well!
When we imagine this scene, I am afraid that we don’t see it for what it was. We don’t think about the force that would have been necessary for Jesus to successfully drive the money changers from the temple. They were there to make money, and they weren’t going to leave just because Jesus came and asked them nicely. He didn’t go to them in a “meek” manner (as we often think of meekness). Jesus’ intent was to ensure the purity of the temple!
Sometimes we think that we must never raise our voices, or never show any kind of anger. Jesus was angry at the way that these men were treating His Father’s house, and He did something about it! This was not sinful for Jesus, and it is not sinful for us either (Ephesians 4:26). John reveals a similar instance in which Jesus’ actions are referred to as being “zealous” (John 2:13-17). We too need to be zealous, defending what we know to be the truth. When we are willing to stand and defend what the scriptures say, it is not mean, it is not “being ugly” and it is not being “argumentative.” It is doing what is required of us!
We do need to be more like Jesus, as so many people say today. But, we need to know what Jesus was like. We don’t need to be like the Jesus that most people have developed in their own minds, but like the Jesus that is revealed to us in the New Testament. Sometimes, that is going to mean that we are going to raise our voices, and be blunt and perhaps harsh with those that would contend against the truth. Those that are committed to doing what is right will respond to truth. Those that are not will go away angry, just like those that left Jesus when He was harsh with them.
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Week 18, Day 1: Marriage and Divorce
Today’s Reading: Matthew 21:1-22:46
Some thoughts from Friday’s Reading…
If you are a loyal reader, you will know that I did not post on Monday the way that I was supposed to, so I will be posting two entries today to catch up. Somehow, after 17 weeks of loyal posting, I let it completely slip my mind yesterday. I guess I was in “day off” mode, and never got on track! I am setting the time stamp so that it will appear that this was posted on Monday, but those who keep up know I messed up!
Now on to some thoughts from the reading…
Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 19 is perhaps one of the most difficult in the New Testament to put into application, at least for some people. Unfortunately, because it is difficult for many to put into practice, there are many preachers and teachers who are changing the teaching to make it softer and easier for people to accept. That is not going to do any good, for if we convince people in adultery that they are fine, they will not change, and Paul is clear that there is no place in heaven for adulterers (1 Corinthians 6:9).
We are not able to do an in-depth study of this passage in this format, but the teaching of Jesus is not as difficult as many are trying to make it out to be. Jesus makes it clear that He intended for people to get married and stay married. He gives one exception for one who has a mate that cheats on them, allowing them to divorce for that cause, and then have a right to another mate. However, He is also clear that once a person marries, if they are put away, or if they put away their mate for a cause other than sexual immorality, they have no right to ever marry again. We can play semantical games if we want, but when we do we spiritually endanger those that we teach, and ourselves! When we spend so much time trying to find loopholes in Jesus’ teaching just to allow a person the right to remarry following a divorce, we are playing the same game as those who try to find a loophole in Jesus’ teaching on baptism!
This doctrine is so important because of the prevalence of divorce and remarriage in the world today. Statistically, you have a higher chance of getting a divorce than you do to stay married. This makes it hard for many to accept the gospel message. But, we still have to teach it just as Jesus taught it. We may “convert” more people by softening this message, but we are certainly not converting them to Christ! We certainly are not helping them secure an eternal reward if we justify their sin and allow them to continue in it!
I have great respect for those who are willing to make the sacrifices that Jesus demands in this passage. There are many who have decided that they will be “eunuchs for the kingdom of Heaven’s sake” just as Jesus teaches. That is not an easy decision to make, and it is not an easy commitment to keep. However, the reward is fantastic! Whatever sacrifice is demanded now is worth it when we consider the eternal home we will gain by our obedience to Christ!
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Week 17, Day 5: Faith Healers?
Today’s Reading: Matthew 19:1-20:34
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
In Matthew 17:14-21, Jesus is approached by a man who had brought his son to the apostles to be healed, but they had failed to do so. He asked Jesus for His help, and Jesus responded with an interesting response: “O faithless and perverse generation…” (Matthew 17:17). If we were to listen to the “faith healers” today, we would think that Jesus must have thought that this man didn’t have enough faith to have his son healed, or perhaps his son didn’t have enough faith to be healed. After all, that is the number one reason given by these “faith healers” when they are unable to heal a person of some affliction. But, as we continue through the context, we find that it was the disciples who did not have enough faith! Jesus was rebuking them for their lack of faith, and their failure in the healing process.
The disciples came to Jesus, and asked Him why they were unable to heal, and Jesus very clearly states that it was because of their unbelief! If they would have had even faith as a mustard seed, they would have been able to move mountains. So, it was clearly their failure that this man’s son was not healed.
This should stand out to us as a great contrast to what we see in the religious world today. Those who believe that healings do take place today are often hampered by the unbelief of the one who was to be healed. If they would just have a little more faith, they could be healed. I wonder if they ever considered that the person had enough faith to come to them in the first place! Unfortunately, it is unfounded, and misplaced faith. These people have no power to heal today, and they are deceiving hundreds, and thousands of people. More people should challenge them, and point out that their failure could really be their own unbelief! But, we know that God has said that He would not continue the miraculous after the completion of the revelation (1 Corinthians 12-13). So, we shouldn’t put our faith in any such faith healer. Let us trust God, and put our complete faith and trust in Him!
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Week 17, Day 4: Too Easily Offended?
Today’s reading: Matthew 17:1-18:35
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
It is sometimes amazing how many people get offended at the least little thing. Of course, we are not speaking of biblical offense, as that has to do with making another sin. But, rather, this type of “offense” is where we get our feelings hurt. Often, it is based in something that ends up being relatively unimportant. It seems to me that far too many people wear their feelings out on their sleeves, and are just waiting for someone to do something to them so that they can be offended! This is symptomatic of a very selfish (me first) type of generation.
Jesus, in Matthew 15:21-28 had an encounter with a woman who was a Gentile. Her daughter was demon possessed, and she was begging for Jesus’ help. His first response was that He was only sent to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel”, meaning the Jews. Since she was not a Jew, it would seem that she had no hope of help from Jesus. But, she continued to beg for His help. Jesus’ second address is even more harsh (Matthew 15:26). Jesus in effect called this woman a dog!
How many of us would use this as an excuse to be “justifiably offended”? People today have felt justified in their offense over much less than Jesus’ words here! This woman was just the opposite. She realized that Jesus had what was needed, and continued to ask for His help. Jesus graciously conceded to her, and healed her daughter. But, how many of us would have gone away angry instead of continuing to seek for the truth? That can be answered by how many people leave the church because someone offended them! They are offended because brother so-and-so didn’t shake their hand, or because sister so-and-so didn’t speak to them. Sometimes it is over the sermon that was preached, or because someone else got called on for more prayers. Or maybe it is because the church didn’t like a suggestion that was made, and chose someone else’s plans over mine. Whatever the case, people are often far too easily offended. Those who would walk away from the Lord over such silly things would never have survived in the first century. They would have been offended by the teaching of Jesus, or Paul or Peter. They would have fled at the first sign of persecution because it just wasn’t nice.
We need to take a close look at ourselves. Are we offended too easily? Are we offended when the preacher preaches on things that we need to hear? Are we offended when someone says something to us (even when it is obvious that they had no malevolent intent)? Are we offended when there is some perceived slight against us? If we are, we need to refocus our attentions on spiritual things, and leave the fleshly, selfish lusts behind!
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Week 17, Day 3: The Thorny Ground
Today’s Reading: Matthew 15:1-16:28
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
In Matthew chapter 13, Matthew records the beginning of a series of parables that Jesus would use to teach His disciples and the crowds that would listen to Him. One of Jesus’ most famous or popular parables is found in this passage: the parable of the sower. One aspect of this parable is especially important to those who are Christians. In Matthew 13:7, Jesus spoke of the seed that fell among the thorns. The thorns came up and choked the plants that had sprung up. The explanation of this verse is found in Matthew 13:22. The seed fell on soil that would bear fruit, but the thorns (the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches) grow up and choke out the viable plant.
This is perhaps one of the greatest tools that Satan has in his arsenal for use against the faithful. We are susceptible to the worries of this world, and we are often endanger of falling to the deceitfulness of riches! We may be doing just fine as a Christian, when we are suddenly distracted by some financial problem that arises. How often are we distracted from what we should be doing in the Kingdom of God because some unexpected expense arises and we begin to worry about how we will take care of it? Maybe we start using our time to try and make more money. Maybe we start making poor decisions about the use of our money, detracting from our ability to serve God more fully. Whatever the case, we end up getting “choked out” because we become more concerned about the cares of this world than the things that await us in the next life!
These issues can be very difficult for us to block out of our minds. Satan knows that this is the case, which is why he is so effective in using these tools against us. We need to do our very best to focus our minds on the goals that we have set for ourselves as Christians. The goal of eternal life should be our top priority. Anything that interferes with that goal should be cast by the wayside. We need to remember that success (as defined by the world) will not save us in the end. We need to be more concerned about whether we are doing God’s will than whether we are famous, or rich, or popular in this life!
Don’t let the common “thorns” choke out your service to God. Put God first, and everything else will fall into place (Matthew 6:33)!
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Week 17, Day 2: Be Careful Little Tongue…
Today’s Reading: Matthew 13:1-14:36
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
James, in his epistle, warns us about the use of our tongues. He tells us that the tongue is one of the hardest parts of the body to control (James 3:1-12). In Matthew chapter 12, Jesus also addresses the use of the tongue. Considering the difficulty that James relates to us, the words of Jesus should cause us to be very cautious with our tongues. In Matthew 12:33-37, Jesus told the Pharisees that a person is made known by the way that he speaks. What comes from our mouths is the product of our hearts. We reveal our true selves by the things that we say, and the way that we say them. Jesus told the Pharisees that if they were evil, they could not speak good, and the opposite is true as well. If we are truly righteous, how could we use our tongue for evil? The good man brings forth the good things in his heart through the words that he uses. The evil man brings forth the evil that is in his heart through the words that he uses.
The most thought provoking part of Jesus’ instructions comes in verse 36, where He tells us that we will be judged by every idle word that we speak. That should make us seriously consider how often we are flippant or careless with our tongues. How often do we say things that are not reflective of righteousness, but rather of evil that is truly in our hearts? How often are we careless in the way that we talk with or about others? How often are our tongues used to express empty words, profanity, euphemisms or other language that is not indicative of righteousness? James was certainly right about how difficult it is to control the tongue!
Jesus went on in verse 37 to remind us that our judgment will be based on what comes out of our mouths. Of course, actions will also be a part of our judgment, but the emphasis in this passage is on the use of the tongue. Jesus said that we will be justified by our words, or condemned by our words. If we are going to be judged based on what comes out of our mouths, how can we not be more careful about the use of our tongues? Let us keep this concept in the front of our minds, so that we will work even more diligently to expel the evil communication from our lives. We want to be able to stand before God in the day of judgment with confidence that He will say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
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Week 17, Day 1: The Harvest Is Plentiful!
Today’s Reading: Matthew 11:1-12:50
Some thoughts from Friday’s reading…
In Matthew 9:35-36, Matthew tells us that Jesus was “moved with compassion” for the people that He encountered as He was going through the cities and villages teaching and healing the sick. Often, Jesus’ compassion was shown through his healings, but this time, Matthew tells us that Jesus was moved with compassion because of the spiritual situation that these people were in. They were “weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” The reaction to this was that He told His disciples that the harvest was plentiful, but there were few laborers. He told the disciples to pray that the Lord of the harvest would send laborers into the harvest (Matthew 9:37-38).
I wonder what Jesus would say if He were speaking to us about opportunities today? Certainly the harvest is plentiful today as well, perhaps even more so than in Jesus’ day! There are hundreds of thousands of people in our area, and millions of people across the world that are in need of hearing the message of the gospel. Unfortunately, the problem today is the same as it was in Jesus’ day–there are not enough laborers heading out into the harvest. We should be doing our part to make sure that the Word of God is spread in our own area! We shouldn’t just pray that God sends someone else into the harvest, but that we can do our own part as we go into the harvest. Every single Christian should be busy about teaching the lost so that they might share the same hope of eternal salvation that we enjoy.
So, are you doing your part in the harvest? And, are you praying for other laborers as they are going into the harvest with you?
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