Does "this" (this being whatever or whenever) benefit/strengthen/grow the Kingdom of God?
Are my actions glorifying the Kingdom of God?
How can I be blatantly obvious that I believe and follow Jesus?
How can I share the hope of Jesus with others best?
How can I lead people to accepting Jesus?
What distracts me from these things?
What really matters in this life on earth?
What gives me unending joy?
Sunday, March 3, 2013
The children and Jesus
In Matthew 19:13-15 (also in Mark 10:13-16 and Luke 18:15-17) Jesus shares a moment with children. News that Jesus was in the area and people were bringing the babies for Jesus to touch.
The disciples stepped in and tried to put a stop to it. The disciples thought they had the best interests of Jesus in mind because they didn't want everyone only coming to Jesus to be touched and used as an attraction.
The scriptures say that none of the children were suffering from any various ailments. However, their parents thought it would be good if Jesus was able to touch their children and have Jesus bless them.
Jesus intervened and said,"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
What do children do/say that allows them to enter the kingdom of God?
The term "child-like" faith is used as to the type of faith one must have in Jesus. Children don't think to hard or over-analyze the situation. They believe in things and don't ask too many questions. Jesus can be referring to this type of faith being needed to enter God's kingdom.
The disciples stepped in and tried to put a stop to it. The disciples thought they had the best interests of Jesus in mind because they didn't want everyone only coming to Jesus to be touched and used as an attraction.
The scriptures say that none of the children were suffering from any various ailments. However, their parents thought it would be good if Jesus was able to touch their children and have Jesus bless them.
Jesus intervened and said,"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
What do children do/say that allows them to enter the kingdom of God?
The term "child-like" faith is used as to the type of faith one must have in Jesus. Children don't think to hard or over-analyze the situation. They believe in things and don't ask too many questions. Jesus can be referring to this type of faith being needed to enter God's kingdom.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
2 men praying
Jesus tells the story of two men at the temple praying in Luke 18:9-14. One of the men was a Pharisee and one was a tax collector.
Did the Pharisee have a job or was he only known as a Pharisee? And what about the tax collector? He was obviously labeled by his job. Many times in life, we are known by others by what we do or possibly by what we have done.
The Pharisee began to pray. He stood as he prayed and prayed about himself. Jesus said that the Pharisee prayed,"God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get."
We are all sinners so as the Pharisee compared himself to others, he was basically saying to God, I am sinner but I think I am above these other sinners. Fasting and tithing are great things in the spiritual life but why would the Pharisee need to tell God this? Doesn't God already know if the Pharisee fasts and tithes?
The tax collector was also praying but as he prayed he stood at a distance. He wouldn't look up to heaven as he prayed but instead took physical pain out on his chest as he beat his breast. He asked God to have mercy on his soul because he was a sinner.
Jesus said that the tax collector, not the Pharisee, went home justified.
Jesus finishes the story with a declaration: For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
This is the key to finding life before God, we need to come with a humble heart and allow God to fill us with his joy and encouragement. When we need Jesus in our lives, he is able to give us life. When we feel the need isn't there, death and destruction is imminent.
Did the Pharisee have a job or was he only known as a Pharisee? And what about the tax collector? He was obviously labeled by his job. Many times in life, we are known by others by what we do or possibly by what we have done.
The Pharisee began to pray. He stood as he prayed and prayed about himself. Jesus said that the Pharisee prayed,"God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get."
We are all sinners so as the Pharisee compared himself to others, he was basically saying to God, I am sinner but I think I am above these other sinners. Fasting and tithing are great things in the spiritual life but why would the Pharisee need to tell God this? Doesn't God already know if the Pharisee fasts and tithes?
The tax collector was also praying but as he prayed he stood at a distance. He wouldn't look up to heaven as he prayed but instead took physical pain out on his chest as he beat his breast. He asked God to have mercy on his soul because he was a sinner.
Jesus said that the tax collector, not the Pharisee, went home justified.
Jesus finishes the story with a declaration: For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
This is the key to finding life before God, we need to come with a humble heart and allow God to fill us with his joy and encouragement. When we need Jesus in our lives, he is able to give us life. When we feel the need isn't there, death and destruction is imminent.
The widow of persistence
The story of the persistent widow is shared by Jesus in Luke 18:1-8. The reason Jesus shared this story was to teach his disciples of prayer and never giving up.
There was a judge who didn't fear God or have any care for people. This man must have had quite the hardened heart to not care about people. I guess he had many experiences that led him to this current state.
The widow of the story came to the just and wanted justice to be given to her from the judge against her adversary.
The judge refused the widow's request initially but eventually gave in because he didn't want to be worn out by the widow's continued request. Besides being weary, why did the judge give in?
Jesus then goes on to tell the disciples,"Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
God will see that justice is given to those on the earth but Jesus asks if he will find any faith among the people on earth when he returns. How connected is justice and faith?
We all have 'enemies' in this life. Jesus taught us to love our enemies and if we are wronged by these enemies, it is up to God to bring justice and judge their actions.
There was a judge who didn't fear God or have any care for people. This man must have had quite the hardened heart to not care about people. I guess he had many experiences that led him to this current state.
The widow of the story came to the just and wanted justice to be given to her from the judge against her adversary.
The judge refused the widow's request initially but eventually gave in because he didn't want to be worn out by the widow's continued request. Besides being weary, why did the judge give in?
Jesus then goes on to tell the disciples,"Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
God will see that justice is given to those on the earth but Jesus asks if he will find any faith among the people on earth when he returns. How connected is justice and faith?
We all have 'enemies' in this life. Jesus taught us to love our enemies and if we are wronged by these enemies, it is up to God to bring justice and judge their actions.
The coming of the Son of Man
In Luke 17:30-37, Jesus shares a few glimpses of what it will be like when he returns to the earth a second time. He notes that if someone is working on the roof, they won't go down into the home to retrieve any personal belongings. Likewise, if someone is out in the field, they won't go back home to get anything.
When Jesus returns, we aren't going to say,"please let me grab my cell phone first or my i-Pad on the way out the door."
Jesus makes a reference to remember Lot's wife because she looked back at Sodom as it was being destroyed. She immediately turned to a pillar of salt.
The comparison to Lot's wife is important because she tried to upstage the direct commands from God about not looking back. Jesus exclaims,"Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it."
The fact that Lot's wife looked back could be an indication that she wasn't quite ready to leave the town (or that life) behind.
On the night Jesus returns, there will be two people in the bed and one will be taken and one will remain behind. Also, two women will be grinding grain and one will stay behind as the other is taken.
The people asked Jesus where and he replied,"where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather." Any time you see a dead animal on the road, there are usually birds flying over top of it wanting to get lunch. This statement of the vultures gathering could be a sign that Jesus is preparing to return.
When Jesus returns, we aren't going to say,"please let me grab my cell phone first or my i-Pad on the way out the door."
Jesus makes a reference to remember Lot's wife because she looked back at Sodom as it was being destroyed. She immediately turned to a pillar of salt.
The comparison to Lot's wife is important because she tried to upstage the direct commands from God about not looking back. Jesus exclaims,"Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it."
The fact that Lot's wife looked back could be an indication that she wasn't quite ready to leave the town (or that life) behind.
On the night Jesus returns, there will be two people in the bed and one will be taken and one will remain behind. Also, two women will be grinding grain and one will stay behind as the other is taken.
The people asked Jesus where and he replied,"where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather." Any time you see a dead animal on the road, there are usually birds flying over top of it wanting to get lunch. This statement of the vultures gathering could be a sign that Jesus is preparing to return.
Being aware compared to the days of Noah and Lot
Jesus continues about where we put our faith and being aware of things to come in Luke 17:26-29. He talked about the days of Noah where people were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage all the way up until the time Noah entered the ark. The rains came and flooded the earth and everything and everyone but Noah, his family, and the animals on the ark were destroyed.
Jesus compares this time with Noah to when he comes again. Were there people that wanted to get on the ark with Noah but felt the ridicule and possible disowning of the other people wasn't worth it? I can imagine as the waters rose up around the ark, there were many people pounding on the outside of the boat begging desperately to be let in.
The story of Lot is also shared. Lot lived in Sodom, a town known for all sorts of wickedness. Angels from heaven came and rescued Lot and his family before fire and sulfur rained down and destroyed the town. I can't imagine the intense heat and intense smell the city must have been in.
Jesus said the people of Sodom were just going about what they normally did and had no idea about the destruction to come. I feel like when the fire and sulfur came, it was immediate unlike the flood waters that steadily rose.
However, in both stories, the people around those being rescued were totally unaware of their destruction. This destruction of the world around us will come again when Jesus returns. This is why it is of utmost importance to share the good news and saving gospel of Jesus with others so they don't have to experience this destruction.
Jesus compares this time with Noah to when he comes again. Were there people that wanted to get on the ark with Noah but felt the ridicule and possible disowning of the other people wasn't worth it? I can imagine as the waters rose up around the ark, there were many people pounding on the outside of the boat begging desperately to be let in.
The story of Lot is also shared. Lot lived in Sodom, a town known for all sorts of wickedness. Angels from heaven came and rescued Lot and his family before fire and sulfur rained down and destroyed the town. I can't imagine the intense heat and intense smell the city must have been in.
Jesus said the people of Sodom were just going about what they normally did and had no idea about the destruction to come. I feel like when the fire and sulfur came, it was immediate unlike the flood waters that steadily rose.
However, in both stories, the people around those being rescued were totally unaware of their destruction. This destruction of the world around us will come again when Jesus returns. This is why it is of utmost importance to share the good news and saving gospel of Jesus with others so they don't have to experience this destruction.
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