Tag Archives: Matthew

The snare of indifference and discontentment

Posted on January 14, 2014 by | Comments Off on The snare of indifference and discontentment

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Yesterday afternoon, as I left the community college campus, I got a good look at the inside of my car.  As I was putting my things in the back seat, a pen fell out of my book and onto the floorboard and that is when it hit me how dirty the interior of my car had gotten.  A soda bottle in the floorboard, small leaves and grass, and small pebbles and dirt nearly completely cover both the back and front floorboards. Dust covers the dashboard, a thin layer of film covers the inside of the windshield, and the ashtray is full of pennies.  I hadn’t realized that I had let the car get so bad until that moment.  And then, I began to realize that the problem was not the cold weather or the lack of time to keep the car clean – the problem was I had lost perspective.

Yes, the car I drive is a 2003 Ford Taurus.  It’s a stock model, nothing fancy – but it is the car that God provided for me when I needed it.  It may not have been my first choice, the color, or even the type of car I wanted; God didn’t provide for my wants but provided more than adequately for my needs. The apostle Paul has even told us about the bountiful grace of the Lord Jesus Christ: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). God promises us that he will meet our needs when we depend upon his provision. The apostle Paul also wrote Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5) and But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content (I Timothy 6:6-8). What more should I have wanted? I had God’s promise that he would provide for my needs, that he would remain beside me, and he has remained faithful to do those things, yet I willingly chose to treat his provisions for me with a careless attitude.

During the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, he even taught those who were willing to listen of their importance in the eyes of God: Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things (Matthew 6:26-32).

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Posted in Chrisitian Philosophy, Contentment, Our relationship with God

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Personal evangelism: it is that important

Posted on January 8, 2014 by | Comments Off on Personal evangelism: it is that important

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On Sunday, at my church’s morning worship service, Pastor Alan Ramsey delivered a message called, “Rediscovering our call to go” where he discusses some reasons why older Christians are reluctant to share the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. All through the service I thought of the verse, The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise (Proverbs 11:30). I have always found that verse interesting for several reasons but during yesterday’s message, I began it see this verse in a very different light. As I began drafting this devotional, I began thinking of all the people I came across in 2013 and asking myself a simple question: of all those that I met last year, which ones am I content to allow never to hear the gospel message – which people am I content to watch slide into a Christ-less eternity into Hell?

A few years back, I visited a church where the pastor was trying to encourage his congregation to witness to others.  He told them not to worry about those outside their comfort zone, but to focus on presenting the gospel to those who they felt most comfortable with.  Unfortunately this is not only unscriptural, this is also very bad advice for several other reasons. When Jesus gave the command to go, the book of Matthew records it as Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19).  No where in this verse does it say to stay within one’s comfort group.  In fact, this verse says just the opposite – to teach all nations – not just the ones we have the most in common with.  This idea is also present in the gospel of Mark where the Great Commission is also recorded: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). At the time of the writing of the gospels, the concept of a nation-state is not what it is today; a nation referred to what we would now consider as ethnic identity – so, we are to go and teach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to all people, regardless of their ethnic identity – a far cry from just witnessing within our comfort zone!

The fourth chapter of John has one of my favorite Bible stories. It is the woman at the well that, after admitting her sins, accepts the gift of salvation – the Living Water – Jesus offered her. Without any sort of Bible college training or even a Saturday soul winning seminar, she did what comes natural to anyone that has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior: The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him (John 4:28-30).  She wanted others to experience the saving grace of salvation that only the Lord Jesus Christ can bring. Without any thought of being embarrassed about what others would say or being rebuked by her family and friends, she simply went out and told others. As Jesus’ disciples questioned him for even speaking to the woman, he gave them a strong rebuke: Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together (John 4:35-36).

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Posted in Christian Responsibility, Discipleship, Personal Evangelism

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God’s absolute judgment

Posted on January 3, 2014 by | Comments Off on God’s absolute judgment

Gold Lady Justice, in Brugge, Belgium.

Across our nation, there is a statue that adorns many courthouses across the land – the statue, Lady Justice – is seen as being the perfect representation of the ideals of American jurisprudence. She is blindfolded, and in one hand holds up a balance, while holding a sword in the other. Our nation takes great pride in the dispensation of justice.  Phrases such as “justice is blind” and “equal protection under the law” are taught in nearly every high school civics class across the country.  Recently, I heard some people in my community talking about various local judges; one was considered a “good judge” because he was deemed as understanding, cared about people and always tried to find a way to give them a second chance.  The other judge was seen as evil, wicked and uncaring because he does not give second chances and always gives the criminal the harshest penalties that the law allows.

Just as the three people were discussing the implementation of man’s idea of justice, we have all come across people that try and view God’s implementation of justice in similar fashion.  The world (and some so-called “Christian” denominations) have the idea that God weighs your good and bad deeds and as long as your good deeds outweigh the bad, then you’ll get into Heaven.  This is far from the truth; in fact, Jesus taught against this very thing: And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions (Matthew 19:16-22).

Overall, this young man was what the world would be considered a decent, good man.  It was not his great deeds, his good and wholesome lifestyle, or even his great wealth that would keep him from eternal life.  The thing that would keep him from gaining eternal life was his lack of obedience and faith – the young man loved his wealth and the prestige and security that comes with it.  Instead of depending upon the Lord Jesus Christ and the promise that even the apostle Paul understood, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19), this young man took great comfort in relying on his own works, his own hands, and his own understanding. He didn’t want to hear the teachings of Jesus: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:19-21).

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Posted in Christian Living, Our relationship with God, Standards

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