Be Better, Just As We Know We Can Be

Matthew 5: 33 - 48

Jesus is still speaking to the crowd and laying out His way, the way of a changed and renewed heart and mind, not the way of rule making and rule breaking.  Jesus goes into talking about how society of the time spoke of promises as made to each other or to God.  He wants our word to be what makes our promises right.  He wants us to be true to our promises, to uphold our duties, to be true to what we say, not try to qualify or quantify our words and duties with extra words and hollow promises.  Be people bound by our word.  Do things because you know they are the right thing to do.  Be the people we know we can be.

Ok, we aren't too bad on that one then He has to talk on vengefulness and retribution.  Hmmmm, this is a little more that we wanted to get into, wasn't it?  I can keep my word, I can be a dutiful person, but I've got to swallow my pride, hold my temper and be docile?  Jesus is talking about the old traditions that told the people not to take more retribution than they are due.  They were taught to pay back in a manner in how they were wronged - "An eye for an eye"...Don't drop a bomb on someone if they have hurled a firecracker at you.  Don't curse at someone who looks at you wrongly.  Ok, that is against our human nature, but turn the other cheek?  Did you see just how hard I was hit, Jesus?  This is one that me as a principled person really struggles with.  Sometimes, I see evil done or people wronged, and I want to strike back, I want to speak up.  I want to unwrong the wrong they have done.  But Jesus speaks to us differently.  If someone hits you, let him hit you again.  If someone curses you, let it go.  If someone maligns you, let it pass.  He goes on to speak of giving more to those who take from you than even they want.  Jesus then tells us to go the extra mile.  This too, is as so many instructions in this chapter illustrative of who we are to be in Christ and how we are to show Him to the rest of the world.  Love our enemies?  Pray for those who persecute us?  Just what do we have to do to get it right?  We have to step out of our fleshly desires and wants and step into the spiritual framework of Christ.  We have to realize as a part of His body that we cannot strike a brother and bless another at the same time.  Jesus is wanting us to get a perspective on what really counts.  After all, if we are just loving and serving those who look like us, think like us and act like us, are we not just serving ourselves?  Are we not just loving those who are just like us?  Is this love or self worship?  We need to realize that this is the temporal.  These things we are getting protective of, mad over, insulted by are just dust in the wind of time.  Invest in what is eternal.  Take what the earth considers your "duty", your "mission", your "reaction" and turn it upside down.  Take a smack upside the head, catch an insult or two.  Get taken advantage of and get beaten in an unwise deal.  This too shall pass.  And by investing our time and effort into living as Jesus would have us live, we shall see the eternal reward and peace that He is pointing out to us through living as He would have us live.

33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the LORD.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

38 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Tough Talk About Tough Subjects

Matthew 5:27 - 32

Jesus is still speaking on our responsibilities as Christians in our world.  He continues to speak on how we should be on the inside, not just a practicer of ritual on the outside.  Everyone He is speaking to knows that adultery is wrong, and many of them probably pulled out their mental notebooks and thought, "Well, I can check that one off - I know I'm not an adulterer!  But wait a minute, looking lustfully is adultery?  I better get out the eraser now.  I thought I was ok, but hmmmmm..."

Looking at a woman lustfully is being considered heart committed adultery.  That's a big one there.  Jesus is telling us here that motive matters, that we can't consume our thoughts with ideas that might lead us astray because our minds can lead us down the slippery slope of sin and can cause us to break many a commandment.  He is wanting us to "guard the gates". To protect the eyes from what can lead us wrongly.  To protect the ears that can be enticed into straying places we don't need to be.  To protect our minds from spiralling into dark thoughts that don't belong in our Christian being.

We are then instructed with some pretty harsh words from Jesus considering our eyes and our hands.  Our eyes, the windows to our hearts and minds and our hands, the very thing that we perform actions with are mentioned here I think to show us something of huge importance.  What we perceive and what we do are extremely influential in who we are and who the world sees when they see us.  If we are taking in things that we shouldn't, it would be better for us to be blind than to continually be brought down by what we see.  If our actions are other than serving God or performing non-godly actions, it would be better not to have hands.  Better for us to be physically unwhole than for us to be spiritually missing what it takes. 

Jesus then speaks of divorce, and as a divorced person, I had to read and re-read this a couple of times to pull out the meaning.  I still don't know if I am getting it right, but I can tell you after some reading what it means to me.  From what I have read, Jesus was not condoning nor condemning divorce itself as much as he was speaking to a common practice of His day.  From my understanding, a common practice of the day was for a man to divorce his wife for no cause, take up with a mistress, live as a single person and partake in all sorts of immorality, then re-marry his divorced wife.  Kind of playing the law to his advantage.  If he is no longer married, why be faithful?  If he has full control over his wife, why not play the field, then take her back when she is in no position to be taken by others?  Jesus is again looking at laws and outward images versus the heart and inward motives.  He is saying, don't skirt the legalities of things and call yourself "in the clear" when your motives are to do whatever you can to appear still ok as society would see you. 

So, Jesus is still talking of his heart standards versus the world standards.  We might can follow rules all day long and skirt issues and appear to be as white as snow on the outside, but our hearts can be as black as coal when our true motives and actions are defined.

27 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

31 "It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

Personal Relationships

Matthew 5: 21 - 26

Jesus has instructed us on how we are to be light and salt to the world; He has given us instructions on living the law in our hearts and then He goes deeper into what is expected of us as believers.  He reflects back to the law - "Do not murder."  We all feel pretty good about that one.  Ok, Jesus, we can clear that hurdle.  We are feeling pretty good at that point, when then we hear - anyone angry at their brother will be subject to judgement.  Wait a minute, does Jesus realize the people I have to deal with day to day?  Has He seen traffic lately?  How can we not be angry?  Looking deeper into the passage, it can be seen what He is speaking of.  Jesus is talking of the anger that comes within us that writes people off, that considers them less than human, the anger that makes us self-righteously consider ourselves better than others.  Don't let yourself be taken over by unrighteous anger.  We are instructed in other places in His word - "Be angry, but do not sin"  Giving people a "worthless" or "hopeless" label is casting people into judgement of your own - a job not left up to us.  Jesus is telling us to be careful not to let our anger make people less than worthy of our love.  We all are not worthy of His love, yet we still are loved.  In dealing with others, do the same.  Don't look to what they do or have done for or to you.  Look to their worth as a child of God and love them unconditionally too.  Jesus wants our love to extend to others without conditions, just as His love extends to us.  He then goes into getting things right with others prior to going to the altar to get things right with God.  This passage brings to mind others we have heard....judge not or you will be judged.....forgive us as we forgive others....don't let the sun go down on your wrath.  Jesus is telling us to get right with our brothers so we can truly get right with Him.  As a parent, I can see what he means in this.  If my oldest child comes to me to sit down and have a meal, but he has his younger sibling in a headlock while he sits at the table, it will tend to make me as a parent not want to feed him.  Jesus is giving similar instructions - you are welcome at my altar of forgiveness.  I unconditionally love you, but I know that you cannot fully receive My best for you if you have uncleared wrongs against others when you come to commune with me.  Forgive others and in this you can receive your full forgiveness.  I think another part of this is Jesus knowing as Christians others are always looking at us, seeing how we live outside the walls of our church.  If we are at His altar of forgiveness on Sunday and bowing to altars of bad business practices, shading living and treating others badly Monday through Saturday, we are not giving the world the picture of Christianity that it needs to see.  We then get help in how to handle adversarial dealings with others.  Handle problems quickly and one on one when possible.  Do not let things get out of hand and get past reconciliation so that you will have to be brought before others to receive punishment for your wrongdoings.  Deal with your friends and receive their "judgement" instead of being brought before others who may not be as ready to treat you as lightly.  Dealing with others is always something we have to do, and no one enjoys dealing with others when conflict arises.  Be the one to take on Christ's teachings - be the one to humble yourself.  Be the one who realizes that pride destroys and love builds.

21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, ' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. 25 "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-20

Jesus is continuing his speaking to the people.  He is covering much and is hitting all the points for our instruction in Christian life.  He tells us that we are the salt of the earth.  Have you ever noticed food without enough salt?  Nothing else seems to have its full savoriness and taste unless properly salted.  Even many of the sweetest cookies and cakes have salt in them to bring out the full flavor of the dish.  Such is our place in the world, without the love and influence of Christians, the world is a flavorless place, a botched recipe, something unappealing and tasteless.

Light to us has become a common place commodity with electricity and a flip of the switch, turn of the remote, etc.  Imagine the value of light at night to the people to whom Jesus was speaking.  Imaging just how dark their world was at night.  Take in the stark difference between their nights and days, then realize the stark difference Christ is calling us to display if we are to be His messengers to a dark world.  And to carry it further, Jesus doesn't just tell us to be a light - he tells us to be a light that is seen - seen from miles.  He wants us to be seen from afar and wants us to be a light that spills out into the street and illuminates others.  He goes further to say we are to be a light by the way we live, the things we do.  He wants us to live in a way that others see Him and want to know what we have that they are missing. 

Jesus continues speaking about His role in this and God's plan for our lives.  He has come to fulfill the law, not abolish it.  God has become flesh to complete what He started in Genesis.  He has come to fill our hearts, to change our lives, to transform us into those who don't look to laws to learn to live, He wants us to live so that we will show the truth and the benefits of following the law in our lives.  Jesus wants us to be doers of the law, not parsers of the law.  Anyone can learn things - He wants us to live it!  He then goes on to wrap up the passage instructing us to be an instructor of God's commandments here on earth - a true teacher by example is what I think He is wanting of us.  He has seen the empty shallowness of the Pharisees of His day and wants to see His word lived and not performed for show to those who would be impressed by piety and false holiness.

One would look at this passage and think it jumps around somewhat, but I think it is all related together in a woven pattern.  Christ wants us to be the flavor that makes the world work, that makes life savory and preserves what is right.  He also wants us to be the light for others in a dark, dark world.  He wants us to be salt and light in how we live, in what we believe, not in a rote manner of customs and laws, but in a lifestyle that will be seen as complete and desired by those who are not followers of Christ.  Anybody can stand up and act, but it takes a true follower to be seen as authentically different.

13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Christ-like Attitudes

Matthew 5: 1-12

Jesus is teaching with his disciples close at hand. Teaching the masses, but also informing his closest friends and helpers. Jesus begins laying out the blueprint for what we are to be if we are to be Christ-like, Christ in a world that so needs the benefits of changed and transformed people.
The poor in spirit. What is poor in spirit? To me, it's the person who has Christ and knows of our spiritual poverty if we are to draw upon ourselves and not God. It' s the person who knows that they don't know it all, or act that way. The people who strive to fill their impoverished faith with the Spirit only Jesus can give. What does he say of them? Theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Only if we realize our constant, forever longing for the growing and increasing of God in us can we bring God's kingdom into our lives and the world we touch each day.

He states next that those who mourn will be comforted. Mourning doesn't seem like much of a positive, motivational lifestyle, but Christ is telling us - mourning is a human emotion. Mourn for what counts - mourn for those who do not know Christ. Mourn for those who suffer living out of God's will, mourn for the people who are hung up on the temporary and don't invest in the things eternal. Have a mournful heart for all the people that are not getting the best Christ has to offer. This concern and compassion for others enacted into showing others Jesus will comfort us as we go about our lives.

The meek - the humble lowly Christian that takes on the spirit of a simple child, with unwavering trust and faith in God's work, serving others will inherit the earth. How do we inherit the earth? By working for others - not for our gain, but for the advancement of God. We place the focus in our lives at putting others first and all else follows. Seek first God, love others and literally, the best of life will be yours. Not an easy life, but a blessed life of future and promise.

How many of us really hunger and thirst for righteousness? To seek this so much that you would starve to death without it? The promise with this one is simply - you will be filled. Seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened....Jesus reminding us that all we have to do is ask and we will receive. We sometimes make this a lot harder than it should be. So, how do we thirst and hunger for righteousness? Righteousness is simply us being made right with God. To be made right by the grace of Jesus Christ; something that we can't do ourselves. We have to come to God's table he has before us and have our hunger and thirst conquered through His endless supply of love and grace. Seek that which we have to have to sustain us in a life in and through Christ.

The merciful will be shown mercy. How many times does God show us this principle in scripture? Give and it shall be given to you. Bless and you will be blessed. Forgive and you shall be forgiven. Serve and you will be served. God has such a neat way of knowing just what we need and has created us and all around us with an order, a systematic arrangement of action/reaction, cause/effect, mistakes/ consequences. Do you want to be shown mercy? Show mercy to others. One of the parables Jesus speaks of tells of the man pleading to be forgiven of a huge debt from a lender. The lender relents and releases the man from his debt. Sometime afterward, the "debt-free" man approaches someone who owes him money, demands payment and throws the man in prison for not paying him. When the original lender hears of the man's action, things don't go very well....Be merciful, show love. Not to get back things, but to live our lives as to show Christ to others.

The pure in heart. Anyone out there pure in heart? Can we be? These will be the people who see God. I think where it is going here is not saying we have to be "sin-free" or we will not see God. Again, I feel it goes back to so many things Christ spoke of - motive. People with pure hearts don't have impure motives. We do slip up and sin, we do things we shouldn't or don't do things we should, but our daily motive is not to get up and sin boldly each day. People with pure hearts don't have thoughts of manipulating for their gain, cheating to get things, using their friends and co-workers to satisfy their prideful needs. When we clear our hearts of the impure motives, we can truly look past those things and see God.

Anybody a peacemaker? I wonder if this applies to a parent of more than one child? What can you do except be a peacemaker when you battle sibling rivalry? Anyway, being a peacemaker, to me shows an active lifestyle of making sure you convey peace around you. You don't wait for a battle to build up and occur and then step in to moderate peace. You instill peace in the daily things you encounter by putting others before you, buy trusting God more and by just taking that extra step of being a tolerant, joyous spirit that exudes peace everywhere you go.

Have you ever been in a crowd, heard or seen something that totally went against your grain as to knowing what is right and what God would have done? Have you spoken out, only to be looked down upon or cast out from the group due to your stand? Welcome, you are the persecuted based on your righteousness. It isn't easy to stand at times in front of your buddies, boss, co-workers and colleagues when you see injustice and speak up. Bless you my child, you are blessed and you bring the kingdom of heaven here on earth. You bring to earth the thoughts and actions of heaven.

Blessings again can come to you from above when you are reviled for Jesus. This is kind of a continuation of the verse above. When we are righteous in Jesus' name, people see it as different, unworldly, supernatural to be exact. Where most of the world will go when they see this is into the worst behavior as possible - they will insult you, persecute you, lie about you and do evil things to bring you down. All because they don't understand and because the dark cannot stand the light. Keep up the faith, the blessings are there and you will be victorious in your strife. Find a way to see the future promise for the present discomfort and keep your head high, serving Christ instead of converting to the world and its ways. You are in good company, Jesus says - you will be in the high esteem of the prophets who have blazed a trail ahead of you.

1.
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,
2.
and he began to teach them, saying:
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"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
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Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Getting To Work, God's Way

Matthew 4: 23 - 25

Jesus has called those who are following close to him. They have dropped everything to follow and with them at His side, their tasks begin. Jesus begins teaching, preaching and healing.

He goes straight to where the people currently go to learn and be instructed - the synagogues. He starts preaching obviously in a way not heard of before. Most likely, He's telling them - the structured rules that are impossible to follow have been supplemented with His love and grace. He lets them know that God doesn't want legalistic people concentrating on rules, He wants sincere people who love their neighbors, who care for others, who show God's love here on earth. He is telling them of how to bring heaven's love here. He wants followers who live the rules, not just know how to quote and abide with the laws. Also, note that He is healing every disease and sickness among the people. Can you imagine the uproar, the stories, the excitement? Word quickly spreads to other areas and as a result, people from all over are bringing the ill and ailing to Him. What does He do then? He heals them too. Talk about a stir to get a ministry going! And what do the people do - they follow Him.

We can learn much from this small passage. We are to be Christ here on earth and allow His love to abide here and make God's kingdom here. We are to go to our places of work, shopping and places of worship, teaching and learning and looking to heal everything. A big job, yes. A big God to make it happen, oh definitely yes. Look around at the world you touch everyday and realize that there are so many that need God's love, God's grace and God's healing and use Christ in you to heal EVERYONE! Not for our glory or fame, but for His glory and for bringing others into His kingdom. Oh how the world can and will change as we are Christ to the world we touch each day. And as we do follow Jesus, so will the world.

I challenge everyone, everywhere you go - go out, teach, learn and heal those who need Christ's touch and healing.

Matthew 4:
23.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
24.
News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.
25.
Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

Calling the Ordinary to Extraordinary Tasks

Jesus has heard that John was out of commission in telling the tale of repentance and the Kingdom of God. So, Jesus comes into his own, preaching and teaching the Good News to others. Once He starts his ministry, He builds His support team. He first finds two sets of brothers and calls them and they follow. They leave their jobs to take on the heavenly mission that Christ has for them.

I think there are many pertinent facts to this that can be overlooked if you just read the story on the surface. First, Jesus realizes that even though He is God Himself, He needs others. He goes in search of His crew of men that He will use to catch souls. And where does he go? To the synagogues, to the palaces, to the universities, to the philosophers? No, he goes to the fishermen. He chooses those familiar with loss, familiar with hard work, familiar with God's creation. He chooses men who are rugged, hard working (probably smelly) guys who have seen life and walked the road of commoners. Once again, God uses the simple and plain to accomplish the glorious.

Secondly, Jesus called them just where they were. As they were working, at just this time in their life. That's where He's calling us - just where we are, just as we are, just when He needs us. How many of us think, when I get married, I can serve God better. When I have children, I'll go to church. When the children are older, I'll get more involved. When the children are gone, I'll get close to Christ then. Jesus is saying - come to Me now. Serve Me where you are. Quit making plans and make your way to Me.

Finally, the men themselves show us the enormous sacrifice they make to follow Jesus. Jesus knows the future and what will be coming, but without knowing, these four drop everything and follow. They don't go get a change of clothes, they don't wait until the slow season of fishing, they don't wait even until the end of their fishing day. They go. And go they do. This group of commoners with Christ's help and the power of the Holy Spirit turn a world upside down and started what we all can enjoy and participate in today.

So, I ask myself and you. What's keeping you from serving? Drop the nets, shut off the computer, turn off the TV, put down the video game controller, let go and let Christ lead you. I know that your life will never be the same again.

Matthew 4:

12.
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee.
13.
Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali--
14.
to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
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"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles--
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the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
17.
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
0.
The Calling of the First Disciples
0.
4:18-22pp -- Mk 1:16-20; Lk 5:2-11; Jn 1:35-42
18.
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
19.
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
20.
At once they left their nets and followed him.
21.
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them,
22.
and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Making it God's Way

(Matthew 4: 1-11 below)

Jesus is baptized, God speaks His favor of the event and immediately, Jesus is carried into the wilderness. A little aside here....Have you ever noticed when you are really trying to do your best to follow Christ, the most ridiculous, trying, ungodly temptations, trials and stresses enter your life? Satan knows we often tie our feelings and emotions to our faith, and if the devil beats on us enough, he knows we might give up. Take heart, if the devil isn't trying to bring you down, he's already got you and knows he doesn't have to stress you.

Jesus is in the wilderness and the devil tempts Him in the most basic ways. Feed your flesh. Feed your need for immortality. Feed your thirst for power. Who doesn't want to be fed? Who doesn't want to live forever? Who doesn't want to have power and influence? Let's look closer into what Jesus is rejecting in the devil's temptations.

Satan finds a hungry, 40 day fasted Jesus. Satan tells Him - if you are who they say you are, let me see you "do your stuff." I know you're hungry, there's no food - make some food so you can eat. I know you can. Jesus knows that He can make the food, but He looks deeper into what is going on. Jesus tells the devil - I don't need food, I need the word of God. My body doesn't need food, My Spirit needs nourishment! Later in the New Testament, we hear further from Jesus: Seek first the Kingdom of God and everything else will be added to you. He gets the priorities right and doesn't abuse the power He has.

When the devil sees the temptation of the flesh won't work, Jesus is tempted to try the word of God. To tempt God, as it would be. How many times have many people we known or heard of been brought low by thinking they can participate in or be involved or entrapped into the ways of the world? Jesus sees the danger in the tempting of fate, the sampling of the devil's ways and doesn't tempt His soul with the suggestions of the evil one. In the Lord's prayer, we see lead us not into temptation - do not put yourself where you do not belong. Christians have no business dealing with the devil's playthings.

Then when the great liar sees he's about to lose, he gives Jesus the ultimate ultimatum - give up who you are, your being, your connection to God; worship the devil and everything will be given to Jesus. No way, not today, not tomorrow. Jesus doesn't trade today's power for eternity's promise.

So let's do as Jesus did. Let's face the evil one and the evil of this world with fasting and prayer. Know the Word of God and the promises of the Word. Feed your soul and your other needs will be fulfilled. Do not play around with evil, don't even be led toward temptation. The body is weak as many writers have said. Lean on the truth of God and follow His ways. And finally, keep your eyes on the eternal prize. Don't give up forever placing all your hopes on today and its futile, temporary promises.

1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'[a]"
5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'[b]"
7Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'[c]"
8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'[d]"
11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Making God Proud

(Matthew 3: 13 - 17 below)

As I had written in my last posting, people were all coming out to John, showing repentance and being cleansed by baptism. Jesus goes out to His cousin to get the same baptism. Isn't this peculiar when you think of it? God in the flesh who needs no purification, no washing, no cleansing asks for baptism - the outward sign of a cleansed heart that is willing to repent. Why did He do it? I think it was to show that although He was God, at this moment, He was a man, and as any man needed to show His responsibility in the faith - to show the outward sign of cleansing. To show us that rituals and rites do have meaning. To link a physical action with a godly reason. To bring an activity on earth and connect it to a heavenly purpose. You see, I don't think Jesus was saying - I need the baptism to make me pure, He was saying, I need the baptism just as any man would that is to continue in the work of God. John is as humble as always when it comes to Christ - John states that not only is he not fit to baptize Jesus, that Jesus needs to baptize him. Jesus, knowing His calling and also knowing John's purpose, says no, Jesus must be baptized. And what happens when he does? He receives immediate fatherly approval from God. Not only does He receive approval, He gets the affirmation that what He was called to do is what God is pleased with.

We all have callings from God everyday to do things to link earthly action into heavenly purpose. I have not read the book, but it's out there entitled "Every Bush is Burning". From what I understand it's a metaphor of all the places, times and things that God uses to get our attention and call us for His purpose. What bushes have you seen lately that are burning? What things have you seen that God pulls you to so that you can pull the ordinary into the supernatural, the worldly into the godly, the earth into heaven? Let's all look around for those callings, doing those things that tie us to eternal servant hood to God. And we will find, God's spirit settling on us like a beautiful dove and hear His voice stating His love and approval to us. What better way to live can we find than in serving others in a heavenly purpose and hearing God say that He is pleased.


13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
15Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Calling Out to You

(Matthew 3:1-12 below)

John the Baptist, First Baptist, no less....Sorry, couldn't resist. John was Jesus' first cousin. Nothing is said of their relationship prior to their adulthood. Sometimes I wish we had more fill in the blank info on the years not recorded in scripture. John and Jesus had to have known each other growing up. In John's adulthood, he has either been called by God and/or seen who Jesus really is and has gone forth to notify the world of the impending ministry of Jesus. John has seen who Jesus is and John knows what he must do. As so many who come face to face with Jesus and so many that have come to Jesus since, John has to tell, John can't keep quiet, John wants EVERYONE to know.

John is in the desert. People have to come out to him, away from their homes. They are told to make straight paths for the Lord. I think this is quite telling. We are told to come to Jesus, leave our earthly ways, venture into an area where we are totally dependent, a desert of sorts, void of our earthly comforts. The story is telling us, pull away from the things holding you, come out to an area of total dependence, one where you aren't the provider, one where God provides.

Let's look deeper at John. He's one of a long list of Biblical misfits - those that society wouldn't see as significant, intelligent, having any purpose to attract any attention, except maybe scoffing and stares. God does with John as he often did in the Bible and in our day today. He calls John out to speak for Him. Calls him right where he is. Just as he is. John is probably one of the original granola and spring water folks. Not looking for attention, fame, fortune - just looking to do what God called him to do. And do it, he did. John called out for people to repent and be baptized. Called them to make a straight path for the Lord. Give God a straight path to their heart. The people confessed their sin and were baptized. Washed clean on the inside with an outward show of faithfulness.

The religious leaders came out to see what was causing people to go into the desert. John sees them, knows their purpose, maybe he can feel that they and their like are afraid of a personal, faith driven belief, not a belief on laws, regulations, connecting all the dots to favor with God. John has most likely grown up around these legalists and sees their teachings connected to the Law as a soon to be way of the past. He calls them a brood of vipers. A family of snakes. A community that breeds evil, a system that drives people away from God, a method of self dependence, not God dependence. John strikes right at their faith - don't rely on your past, your heritage, your rules of living. Instead John tells them, they must produce repentant fruit, fruit that is aligned with living a Godly life, not following stringent rule based religion. John then tells them that the ax is going to fall on their system of belief, their years of structure and law. He goes on to let them know that they aren't special. If God wants children who are "dumb as rocks", He will raise up the rocks to be "children of Abraham". What a blow this must have dealt to the religious leaders of the day. Can you see that in today's church? Let's see how it might go: The head of the administrative council goes to the pastor and states, "You know, our family, two generations ago started this church. We have always been here every Sunday, tithing faithfully, teaching Sunday school, why if it weren't for us, Sunday nights and Wednesday night services wouldn't even exist. But you know, our family has always been the owner of xyz, inc. and our largest client is the establishment you preached against on Sunday. Our family can't have you down talking our money source - you understand, don't you?" Now, just as then, the true faith in God will be the divining rod, the standard by which life will be measured. Jesus is coming to cut down the legality and emptiness of their religion and plant seeds of love, seeds of grace, forgiveness and joy. Jesus will be doing away with the hollow existence and live with us.

John goes on to say that his water baptism will be replaced by baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire. A baptism that will not only cleanse the repentant person, one that will set afire with the Spirit of God to serve and follow Jesus - the Spirit that will change the world. John relegates himself as a lowly servant not worthy to carry Jesus' sandals. A humble gesture to point to the true saving power, not to himself. John then states that Jesus will be harvesting the wheat and burning up the chaff, an uncomfortable picture, but one of accuracy as to the final judgement that we all will face.John has announced Jesus' coming. The common people have recognized the need for repentance and the "religious" ones are scoffing at the possibilities of this message that John is bringing. We are all searching in a wilderness for that "God shaped hole" that is in us all. Let us find Jesus, count ourselves as humble servants and continue to change the world with Jesus working through us.

1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' "[a]
4John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11"I baptize you with[b] water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Out of Egypt

(Matthew 2:19-23 below)

We don't know exactly when this happens, it states that Jesus is still a child. Herod has died and his plan of doing away with Jesus has failed. God sends and angel to speak to Joseph again - twice to be exact. The angel lets Joseph know that all is well, you can go back. Upon arriving in Israel, Joseph is told of danger since Herod's son is ruling in his former area. Under advisement from the angel in a dream, Joseph settles in Nazereth.

Nazereth - the Nazarene people - what is particular about this? Once again, God takes what people thinks should be and turns it upside down. Jesus, the King of the Jews is to be raised in Nazereth, a place that the Jews looked down upon as a poor area and thought that the people were not “pure” Jews. Jesus’ father was a carpenter. His family was not rich. Once again, God is showing - it's not where you're from, it's not who you know, it's not what you do, it's what you allow God to do with you, just where you are, as who you are and in all you do.

Joseph also shows us once again the value of listening to God. Joseph most likely didn't want to go to Egypt. He sees later the value in God's leading. He then most likely doesn't want to go to Nazereth, yet seeing Jesus grow and mature there speaks volumes of God's plan to Joseph.

We see here an often repeated refrain in God's Word. God leads us to places we don't understand, puts us places that aren't overly glamorous and God usually turns the world on its ear when it comes to choosing who, when and where His work will be done.

Is God leading you somewhere today? Does it not seem to make sense? Look backward at times of stress or difficulties you have survived in your life. Do you as I see deliverance in ways that we couldn't have even imagined to pray for? That's God's plan - God's working in us. Let us look forward with the same amount of trust in God's future for us as we have in knowing how He has successfully led us through our past.

19After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."
21So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."

Letting God Rule

(Matthew 2:13-18 below)

The wise men have left Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The gifts have been delivered and after the wise men have witnessed the Savior, they proceed home, interestingly by a different path. They have seen God on earth, realized Herod's attempted deception and in their wisdom have realized that this "King of the Jews" was no threat, He was a blessing. God comes to Joseph again in a dream. First God entered Joseph's dreams to tell him to keep Mary, change his plans to do away with her. The next time God speaks to Joseph, God tells Joseph to up and move from their home, to take refuge in another country. Joseph must think - you know, if I quit sleeping, maybe God can't keep changing my plans! But once again, good reliable, faithful Joseph does as commanded by God. He takes his family and flees to protect Jesus. Herod flies into an envious power hungry rage - no one will take his kingdom from him! He takes the gruesome path - kill all the boys in the Bethlehem area who are less than 2 years old. Imagine the fear, imagine the carnage. Just as in the days of Moses childhood, a self-centered, egotistical maniac leader murders innocents to get his way.

The story is a tragic one, one that makes you wonder how, why, what in the world is happening. Imagine the fathers and mothers, older brothers and sisters of the day seeing toddlers and babies murdered. Imagine Joseph and Mary, once in Egypt realizing that they have been delivered from the carnage in Bethlehem. What can be learned from the story?

We can see the pure rage and barbarianism that lies in us all if our goal is to be the ruler of our lives instead of Jesus. Sure, we wouldn't have children killed, but our misplaced rule of our lives plays out in different ways. We waste our time on the clock with non-productive activities; we get a friend to clock in for us when we're running late; we look over at someone else's paper because we don't quite know the answer; we take the extra $10 in change and don't say a word. All of these things are against what we know is right and what God's plan is for us. But we're not that bad, right? Bad is bad, wrong is wrong and we're looked at as Christians to be a reflection of Christ. If we rule instead of Jesus, our self-centered selves take over and we're seen, our actions don't perform to honor Christ and we fail.

What else can be seen from this? God does have a plan. God came to Joseph in a dream and told him what to do. Joseph surely realizes later what their fate would have been if he didn't listen. From Egypt, he surely holds Mary and Jesus close and thanks God that he was in tune enough not to doubt and to listen.

Two glaring distinctions are shown in the passage. Live as though you are God and the ruler of your life and the worst products of jealousy and rage will be the outcome. Live open and listening to God and let Him rule and safety, rest and a future is before you. Let us live as to let God rule. After all, it takes a lot of pressure off of us, to say the least.

13When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." 14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."[f]
16When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."[g]

Great Gifts

(Matthew 2:1-12 below)

Jesus - even those who don't know of Him get the notice of His arrival. The wise men stop and pursue the king of the Jews. Right away, jealousy and ulterior motives enter the story. Herod is disturbed. If Rome knows that the Jews have a king, Herod might lose his power. If the Jews have a king, they won't need Herod. If the Jews have a king, Herod might be liked less than Jesus. Herod feared that which he did not understand. Note also, all of Jerusalem is disturbed too. King of the Jews? Jerusalem doesn't want their apple cart upset either. Herod meets with the leaders and finds out where Jesus was to be born - Bethlehem. Herod gets the Magi to tell him of the time of arrival of the star that they followed. He traces back the dates and figures out the age of the child. Then, his ulterior motives kick in - find the child, let me know where he is so that I can worship him (sacrifice the child, actually.) The Magi find Jesus with His mother and they give Him the gifts and worship Him. Gold was given for His royal position, frankincense is said to represent life and is often used by Judaic, Christian and Islamic faiths to anoint infants and youth entering different phases of their lives. Myrrh - a substance used in embalming. Mary had to be confused with the variety of gifts. God comes to the Magi in a dream and they don't return to tell Herod where Jesus is. They leave by a different route than by which they arrived

Jesus has come to the world. Those who don't even worship Him are notified of His arrival. A king and all of Jerusalem are troubled by the threat to the status quo. Gifts are given, a mother is perplexed. God comes to wise men in a dream. What does this mean?

Jesus comes into our world everyday we awaken. We can be the star that notifies the non-believers of His birth into our lives. Will people have threats to their status quo about seeing Jesus in us? You bet they will. Can we give Jesus gifts by bringing others to Him? Yes. Will people look at the gifts given to Jesus in saved souls and be perplexed? Yes, God often takes what the world sees as unfit to perplex society and show His power. Once we help others see and accept Jesus and they give their selves to Him, they too will leave by different routes than by which they arrive.

Let's shine bright as stars to notify others of Jesus' birth into our lives. Let us be a gift everyday to Jesus. Let us bring others to Him to help His Kingdom thrive here on earth. If we can all love and share the Lord with our finite world we touch each day, the entire world can be changed, small worlds at a time. And many will return truly home by paths laid by salvation in Him.

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east[b] and have come to worship him."
3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ[c] was to be born. 5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'[d]"
7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east[e] went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Think You've Got a Rocky Past?

1A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jaob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, 4Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, 6and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife, 7Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, 8Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, 9Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, 11and Josiah the father of Jeconiah[a] and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. 12After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, 14Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Eliud, 15Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, 16and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.

Let's see the hall of fame for Jesus's lineage: Jacob, the liar, the deceiver, stealer of the birthright. Rahab, a prostitute that helped Isaraelite spies. Ruth, a foreigner, an outcast to the Jewish faith. David, an adulterer, a murderer. Solomon, a bigamist.

I can see it now, Jesus, although He is the son of God states: I can't do ...... because they know my past. They know from whence I come. My family is so out of touch, that I can't ever be good enough to serve God.

I'm glad He didn't succumb to the pressures we often claim as excuses not to serve. Do you have a dark past? Do you have things you've done wrong that can't be explained in church? Do you do things that if they came to light, you'd be embarrassed? Well, welcome to the club. We all are imperfect, dark creatures that only can show God's light by forgetting our past mistakes and relying on Him. Step out, get over yourself and your past and give it all to a God who knows nothing other than your forgiven state in His son, Jesus. You see, we look heavenward and can't see how God could love us. God looks down through Jesus' grace and can't see how we don't know He's there for us all the time. Step out, forget your past and serve the ever loving, ever forgiving God. You'll be surprised at how much you can do with Him at your side.