Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

How many times do we have a conversation in our heads with words we wished we would have said AFTER we leave a situation in which a person or persons who were saying and doing things to us that were not good or appropriate at the time?  We are so much the wiser after the attack, right?  But when we are surprised and blindsided by an attack, we lose all sense of wisdom and sputter out statements and questions of disbelief that it is even happening to us.  “What are you doing?”  “What are you talking about?”  “I didn’t do that!” “When did I do anything to you?”  “Why are saying that?” “Why are you doing this to me”? “Can I explain?”  “Can we talk about this?”

Jesus knew what was going to happen.  Nothing was as surprise.  Jesus knew how it was going to happen.  He had just prayed to His Father to change the mission only if it was His Father’s will.  Jesus knew the suffering He would face.  Jesus also knew that He could call on thousands of angels to come down from heaven and rescue him while destroying His false accusers.  He could have—but He did not.  Why?  Because of His great love for us.  That’s why!

Matthew 26, The Message

With Swords and Clubs

^47-49 The words were barely out of his mouth when Judas (the one from the Twelve) showed up, and with him a gang from the high priests and religious leaders brandishing swords and clubs. The betrayer had worked out a sign with them: “The one I kiss, that’s the one—seize him.” He went straight to Jesus, greeted him, “How are you, Rabbi?” and kissed him.

^50-51 Jesus said, “Friend, why this charade?”

Then they came on him—grabbed him and roughed him up. One of those with Jesus pulled his sword and, taking a swing at the Chief Priest’s servant, cut off his ear.

^52-54 Jesus said, “Put your sword back where it belongs. All who use swords are destroyed by swords. Don’t you realize that I am able right now to call to my Father, and twelve companies—more, if I want them—of fighting angels would be here, battle-ready? But if I did that, how would the Scriptures come true that say this is the way it has to be?”

^55-56 Then Jesus addressed the mob: “What is this—coming out after me with swords and clubs as if I were a dangerous criminal? Day after day I have been sitting in the Temple teaching, and you never so much as lifted a hand against me. You’ve done it this way to confirm and fulfill the prophetic writings.”

Then all the disciples cut and ran.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

There were no after thoughts of what Jesus wish He would have said when the soldiers came to arrest him with roughness.  He said to Judas exactly what should have been said to let Judas know, He knew.  Jesus completely and courageously fulfilled every detail of what God to the prophets, centuries earlier, said would happen.  Jesus, Son of God, had the power and authority to change the mission—but He did not.  When Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane that night before the soldiers came, He knew what must happen to save us from all our sins.  “Not my will, but yours, Father.”

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

Jesus knew Judas would betrayed him with a kiss.  Jesus knew the rest of the disciples would cut and ran for safety.  He prayed they would.  Jesus stood ready to peacefully be arrested though falsely accused.  He knew he would be humiliated, spat upon, beaten beyond recognition, then nailed to a cross.  He who never sinned became our sin so our sins could be removed from us forever. 

The perfect Son of Man who felt every blow to His body took our place of punishment that we deserved while His Father looked the other way while our sins were on His shoulders.  Even as He suffered excruciating pain, He could have cried out for an end to all the pain.  He could have—But He did not. Love held Him there.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

Jesus knew He was the only One who could do this—and He did! 

And we are eternally grateful that He did!!

Lord,

Tears flow in grateful praise for what you did and what you still do for us/me and in us/me.  There are not enough words to tell you how much I love you.  You are everything to me.  You not only saved me, you make me whole by daily teaching me, speaking truth to my heart, whispering comfort when I am perplexed, giving wisdom for living in your ways.  You cleanse our hearts and remove all that offends you when we ask.  We find you quickly as we call out to You.  You renew our minds, refresh our souls, and restore the joy and peace of your salvation work that continues in and through.  There is no one like you!  Yes, I’m yours.  I trust you with my life.  I love you with all that is in me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

As parents of small children, we all understand that they are not fully formed in their rational thinking or skilled in their subsequent behaviors.  Toddlers spill things. They make messes of all kinds.  They are a mess.  We expect it.  They tear down, tear up and take things apart.  They throw temper tantrums when they don’t get their way.  They love greatly but can turn on a dime when you say no or tell them they cannot do something right now.  Yes, these little ones take on the world with a confidence, if you are nearby, that assures them they can do anything.

But then they take a fall, cry mournfully until you pick them up, dust them off, bandage their wounds while consoling, forgiving, and loving them back to health. Toddlers make messes in the learning processes of life.  We know that.  They do not.

Jesus tells his disciples who have followed Him through good times and bad, that they are about to fall apart, run away, and make a mess because of what is about to happen to Him.  They try to grasp what He is saying but their spiritual thinking is still being formed.  Their confidence in “what is unseen” will be tested beyond what they can handle in the moment.  Jesus’ warning just cannot be fully grasped.  But Jesus knows that.  Jesus loves them beyond our wildest thinking no matter what. 

Jesus will still love them when they fall apart, run for cover, hide out for a while. Bold, impetuous Peter will even deny he knew Him.  But because of this deep abiding love, Jesus will still lay down His life for theirs—and ours, taking on all the sins of the world then and now.  “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8-10) Meditate on that thought for a moment.

I am weeping at the thought.  I have read this passage many times—today I marvel at our Savior’s love before, during and through all my messes and falling apart as a result.  Jesus knows when I will fall apart when life is hard and challenging—before I know it. Yes, Jesus knows.  I do not.  And Jesus knows just what I need when I need it most.  And Jesus loves me, still.  Wow.  

Matthew 26, The Message

Gethsemane

^31-32 Then Jesus told them, “Before the night’s over, you’re going to fall to pieces because of what happens to me. There is a Scripture that says,

I’ll strike the shepherd;
dazed and confused, the sheep will be scattered.

But after I am raised up, I, your Shepherd, will go ahead of you, leading the way to Galilee.”

³³ Peter broke in, “Even if everyone else falls to pieces on account of you, I won’t.”

³⁴ “Don’t be so sure,” Jesus said. “This very night, before the rooster crows up the dawn, you will deny me three times.”

³⁵ Peter protested, “Even if I had to die with you, I would never deny you.” All the others said the same thing.

^36-38 Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, “Stay here while I go over there and pray.” Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he said, “This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay here and keep vigil with me.”

³⁹ Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, “My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?”

^40-41 When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, “Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.”

⁴² He then left them a second time. Again he prayed, “My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I’m ready. Do it your way.”

^43-44 When he came back, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn’t keep their eyes open. This time he let them sleep on, and went back a third time to pray, going over the same ground one last time.

^45-46 When he came back the next time, he said, “Are you going to sleep on and make a night of it? My time is up, the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the hands of sinners. Get up! Let’s get going! My betrayer is here.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Embrace the mess and allow God to turn the mess into a message of His love, mercy, and grace.

The scripture said it would happen this way, Jesus said it would happen.  But they could not comprehend for they were not fully formed or filled with His Holy Spirit to help them.  Their confidence was in the one standing right in front of them.  Confidence turned to fear when Jesus was taken away.

The agonizing sorrow of our Lord overwhelmed Him so He prayed to His Father.  “Your will—Your way”, Jesus prayed. This sorrow could have been the thought of His Father turning his face from Him as Jesus took on all the sins of the world upon Himself.  God cannot and will not be where sin is.  Jesus, part of the Trinity of God, knows that.  More on this later…

We agonize over what we cannot handle until we place it at the feet of Jesus who understands exactly what we are going through, what messes need cleaning up, with what lessons we will learn in the process.  Jesus knows just what we need and delivers us at just the right time and place—all for His glory!

We make messes.  We fall apart.  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”—but His love for us never changes.  Because of God’s great love for us, He forgives us our sins, and the messes sin leaves behind, completely, when we come to Jesus, our Advocate, Savior and Lord, and ask for forgiveness with a sincere heart. 

God’s Word also says, our sins are forgotten—as if they never happened!  Wait, what!?  Yes!  So, stop asking Him to forgive you for the same thing over and over.  Praise Him in gratitude!  It is finished, done, forgiven, once and for all!  “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more …” Isaiah 43:25. And … “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12

So, let us turn our messes into His message of redemption so others will know they can be saved, too!  Paul explains it best—

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31-39, NLT, Emphasis mine}

Oh Lord,

What a message of love you have given us today—again!  Over and over, you help us grow and mature through all the failures, missteps in judgement, that cause messes that need to be cleaned up in all kinds of ways.  So, cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls with your new mercies fresh each day, and restore the joy and peace of your continual salvation work in us.  We cry out for your wisdom, insight and understanding.  But even if or when we do not understand fully, we thank you for loving us through it all—no matter what!

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen!

Because I am not God, I am always surprised, (sometimes shocked) when betrayal by loved ones, those who whom I have worked side by side in ministry.  We get so busy in the work to show the way to Jesus as we “go and make disciples” of Jesus, that we can miss it.  We want to think the best of people, not the worst.  So, we miss the motives that drive some in the work to do it for selfish reasons.   We miss that some have their own agendas for change in the system to their advantage.  We overlook those who seek fame and fortune in the work as their end goal. 

But soon the “traitor” within the ranks is found out when behaviors do not match what they say they believe.  God sees it first.  God knew all along.  No surprise to Him because He knows what’s inside all hearts.  God intervenes and calls them out.  God protects what He has ordained.  God provides forgiveness to betrayers and traitors.  They have the choice to repent and accept His mercy and grace.  But some do not.  They hang themselves by the end of the rope they themselves have created.

But, don’t miss this!  Jesus, Son of God, keeps moving forward in the mission God gave him to do.  This is so important to learn from our Teacher, Savior, and Lord!  The betrayer in the group will not hinder what God has given Jesus to accomplish—For God so loved the world…

Matthew 26, The Message

The Traitor

¹⁷ On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare your Passover meal?”

^18-19 He said, “Enter the city. Go up to a certain man and say, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near. I and my disciples plan to celebrate the Passover meal at your house.’” The disciples followed Jesus’ instructions to the letter, and prepared the Passover meal.

^20-21 After sunset, he and the Twelve were sitting around the table. During the meal, he said, “I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators.”

²² They were stunned, and then began to ask, one after another, “It isn’t me, is it, Master?”

^23-24 Jesus answered, “The one who hands me over is someone I eat with daily, one who passes me food at the table. In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures—no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man—better never to have been born than do this!”

²⁵ Then Judas, already turned traitor, said, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?”

Jesus said, “Don’t play games with me, Judas.”

The Bread and the Cup

^26-29 During the meal, Jesus took and blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples:

Take, eat.
This is my body.

Taking the cup and thanking God, he gave it to them:

Drink this, all of you.
This is my blood,
God’s new covenant poured out for many people
    for the forgiveness of sins.

“I’ll not be drinking wine from this cup again until that new day when I’ll drink with you in the kingdom of my Father.”

³⁰ They sang a hymn and went directly to Mount Olives.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Judas walked with Jesus, saw the miracles, knew that this Son of Man could have the ability to bring about revolutionary change against their oppressors that he had hoped for in his lifetime.  Assigned as the treasurer of the group, Judas grew greedy and knew he could even make money off the miracle work of a popular preacher. 

Judas went along with the traditional religious practices as part of the group, but that last incident when expensive perfume was spilled out by a woman who wanted to honor Jesus angered him.  This act of love repulsed him the more he thought about how that perfume could have been sold and the money added to his coveted treasury that he was probably skimming from to line his own pockets. 

So, before coming to The Passover Table of the Lord, he sold Jesus out to those who wanted Jesus killed.  30 pieces of silver was the price paid for his betrayal of Jesus—from the religious leaders!

Judas, whom Jesus had washed his feet to show the full extent of His love, served him the wine and bread, was finally exposed for the man he had become. (See also John 13)  Truth rose to the surface as it always does.  Judas knew enough to be bitterly sorrowful that his ruse was over but not enough to ask for Jesus’ forgiveness. 

This is my Body. This is my Blood–God’s new covenant poured out for many people for the forgiveness of sins.  Believe, repent and be saved for eternity!

Jesus said, “Don’t play games with Me.”

Lord,

Forgive us when our human motives override your spiritual intent.  We betray you and the mission when selfishness gets in the way.  Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who betray us.  Your ultimate goal is that no one perish.  Your love is still so amazing to me in the way you serve those who are becoming enemies of the mission.  Thank you for your example. Thank you for the help of Your Holy Spirit that gives us discernment and wisdom to keep moving forward in your will and purpose for our lives.  I don’t want to play games with you!  You always win!  And I am grateful you do!

In Jesus Name, Amen

What kind of love is this
That gave itself for me
I am the guilty one
Yet I go free
What kind of love is this
A love I’ve never known
I didn’t even know His name
What kind of love is this

(Music and Lyric by Bryn and Sally Hayworth)

Her teenager had lost her way in a world that drew her into self-medicating and self-satisfying.  She was all about self.  She demanded control and thought she could take on the world all by herself.  Her mom loved her dearly and told her daily.  She wanted God’s best for her child.  But all the love and help she offered to her daughter was met with eyerolls, sarcastic put downs or ignored altogether.  The daughter left home one day with a few bucks in her pocket.  She was not heard from by your family for a couple of years.  But her mom never stopped praying for her girl.  She prayed for her daily, asking God to protect her. 

Eventually the teen came to the end of her resources, the end of what she could do to save herself.  She had sold herself to others so many times she was now ragged, tired, and without hope.  She wondered if her mom even remembered her.  She finally borrowed a phone and called her mom.  The mom heard weeping before the voice of her lost daughter said, “Mom, I’m sorry. Do you still love me?” and “Can I come home?”  The mom didn’t tell her what she would have to do, how she would have to clean up her act, or what rules must be followed.  The mom simply said, “There is nothing that you will ever do that will stop me from loving you, come home.”

Revolutionary Love.

What kind of man is this
Who died in agony
He who had done no wrong
Was crucified for me
What kind of man is this
Who laid aside His throne
That I might know the love of God
What kind of man is this

Matthew 26, The Message

Anointed for Burial

^1-2 When Jesus finished saying these things, he told his disciples, “You know that Passover comes in two days. That’s when the Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over for crucifixion.”

^3-5 At that very moment, the party of high priests and religious leaders was meeting in the chambers of the Chief Priest named Caiaphas, conspiring to seize Jesus by stealth and kill him. They agreed that it should not be done during Passover Week. “We don’t want a riot on our hands,” they said.

^6-9 When Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper, a woman came up to him as he was eating dinner and anointed him with a bottle of very expensive perfume. When the disciples saw what was happening, they were furious. “That’s criminal! This could have been sold for a lot and the money handed out to the poor.”

^10-13 When Jesus realized what was going on, he intervened. “Why are you giving this woman a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me. You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives, but not me. When she poured this perfume on my body, what she really did was anoint me for burial. You can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she has just done is going to be remembered and admired.”

^14-16 That is when one of the Twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the cabal of high priests and said, “What will you give me if I hand him over to you?” They settled on thirty silver pieces. He began looking for just the right moment to hand him over.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We know that Jesus came to earth to demonstrate the revolutionary love of God fully and completely.  This love is revolutionary because it changes the way mankind thinks about love that is without conditions or condemnation.  This love is so revolutionary that many do not accept it or understand it, feeling the need to work for it—but most people want it.  The woman who came to Jesus to anoint his feet with her expensive perfume oil understood this love enough to sacrifice what she had in an offering to Jesus.  This special oil was probably purchased and saved on the shelf in her home for her own burial.  This was the custom in that day, a “burial policy,” if you will.  Her only thought was wanting to give of her best for her Master, the One she loved greatly because He loved her first in a way she had never known. 

Jesus, who knew her heart, understood her motive to love Him back in this way and allowed her to anoint Him.  Imagine the scene.  She would have had to break the seal of preservation and spill out this precious, perfumed oil used in embalming practices, knowing that once it was broken and spilled out, it could not be put back.  What kind of love is this?  Revolutionary!

Judas, the treasurer of the group, along with the other disciples surely did not “read the room!”  They only thought about the price of the perfume—not the sacrificial love bestowed on the One who would soon sacrifice His body for their sins—our sins—all the sins of the world because of His sacrificial love.  We will read and meditate on more acts of Jesus’ revolutionary love as recorded in Matthew.  Jesus will soon demonstrate, even to Judas, just how revolutionary His love is.  But for now…

“There is nothing that you will ever do that will stop me from loving you, come home.”

By faith I have been saved
It is the gift of God
He destined me to be His own
Such is His love
No eye has ever seen
No ear has ever heard
Nor has the heart of men conceived
What kind of love is this…

Lord,

Thank you for your sacrifice, and most of all, for your love that held you to the cross for my sins. Help me to love without conditions like you love me.  I love you with all that is in me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

There is this thing in all humans, called “herd mentality,” which is the tendency for people’s behavior or beliefs to conform to those of the group to which they belong. Herd, mob, or pack mentality describes how people can be influenced by the majority.

TRUE STORY:  Here is a great example of herd mentality in action: 

ISTANBUL, Turkey – January 13, 2015.  First one sheep jumped to its death.  Then stunned Turkish shepherds, who had left the herd to graze while they had breakfast, watched as nearly 1,500 others followed, each leaping off the same cliff, Turkish media reported.

In the end, 450 dead animals lay on top of one another in a billowy white pile, the Aksam newspaper said. Those who jumped later were saved as the pile got higher and the fall more cushioned, Aksam reported.

“There’s nothing we can do. They’re all wasted,” Nevzat Bayhan, a member of one of 26 families whose sheep were grazing together in the herd, was quoted as saying by Aksam.  The estimated loss to families in the town of Gevas, located in Van province in eastern Turkey, tops $100,000, a significant amount of money in a country where average GDP per head is around $2,700.

“Every family had an average of 20 sheep,” Aksam quoted another villager, Abdullah Hazar as saying. “But now only a few families have sheep left. It’s going to be hard for us.”

“All we like sheep…”  In the Bible, we are described many times as the “sheep of His pasture” with the Lord as our Shepherd.  But sheep are dumb. My grandpa raised sheep so I observed their behaviors many times.  Sheep follow the one in front of them when the Shepherd is not around—we got that from the story above!  One day, one sheep decided to see what it was like to jump off a cliff.  Can you imagine what the momma sheep might have said, “Baa, just because he jumped off a cliff…”  But I digress—and I’m smiling out loud.  One big sweater at the bottom.  Okay, I’ll stop.

As we read what Jesus says about sheep and goats, describing the behaviors of what a heart for Jesus looks like; we understand more why we are called the “sheep of His pasture”.  Our Sheperd loves it when the “herd” loves Him back, follows Him as He leads, and obeys when He calls them to come and does what is right and good so all will go well for them.

But that’s not all, this perfectly translates to us as followers of our Shepherd, Jesus.  As we obey the Leader of the “herd” as the Greatest Influencer of our lives, we begin to imitate what He does.  We begin to love like Jesus.  We serve like Jesus.  We look not to our interests but beyond ourselves to what others need and then do what we can to help while always pointing the way back to Jesus!  Jesus says when we do something in His Name to help others in need, it is the SAME as doing it for Jesus, Himself!  Wow!

I may be a dumb sheep at times, but I certainly do not want to be a goat!  Wait, what!?

Matthew 25, The Message

The Sheep and the Goats

^31-33 “When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.

^34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

^37-40 “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

^41-43 “Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—

I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’

⁴⁴ “Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’

⁴⁵ “He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’

⁴⁶ “Then those ‘goats’ will be herded to their eternal doom, but the ‘sheep’ to their eternal reward.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“Choose this day whom you will serve,” Joshua 24:15. I think of the stand that Joshua boldly took when God’s people came face to face between two factions—God or the Enemy.  We daily make a stand on our journey here on earth by how we behave.

We have only two choices.  We can choose the One who gives life eternal OR the one who leads us to jump to our death.  It’s our choice.  We must daily choose wisely and prayerfully who will influence us.  We can be dumb sheep who follow whoever is in front of us, or we can follow and imitate the Shepherd, the One and Only who loved us so much He came to save us from our sins. 

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)

Know God—by reading what God says.  Believe in His Son who saves us from death.  Learn what Jesus did to help people in need and reconcile them to God. Then love Jesus back by doing what Jesus did.  By the power of God’s Holy Spirit living in us, we can become influencers for Jesus!

Don’t be a goat-like!  Know that this herd mentality is a psychological phenomenon that significantly impacts human behavior. It occurs when individuals adopt the beliefs, behaviors, or attitudes of the majority in a group, often at the expense of their own judgment or individuality. This behavior can be observed in various aspects of daily life, from fashion trends to investment decisions and even political affiliations—but most of all, we must consistently evaluate how society affects our walk with God. 

Do we affect society or does society affect us individually and as believers in the “herd” called church?  Mmm…

Understanding the principles behind herd mentality can empower us to better recognize and avoid its impact on our lives, helping us to make more informed choices. When we recognize and understand the influence of herd mentality, we can more easily turn from the herd of the world and lean into our uniqueness with Jesus Christ for we are “a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9, NLT

As His sheep, we are sent from Jesus to love and imitate what Jesus did. 

“Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side.  The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were awestruck. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.”  John 20:19-21

“Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3 NIV

May Jesus be the One who influences our lives!

Lord,

I am a sheep who loves her Shepherd.  Thank you for teaching me that with you, “I lack nothing.”  Thank you for “making me lie down in green pastures, leading me beside quiet waters as you refresh my soul.”  Thank you for guiding me along the right paths for His name’s sake.”  “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

“You prepare a table before me right in the presence of my enemies!  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  (Adapted from Ps 23)

In Jesus Name, Amen

It isn’t always easy to partner with God but it is always the most rewarding way to live!  He will lead us to places that will build our faith and resolve as we follow Him.  If I have learned anything at all from walking with God, partnering with Him in all of life, I have learned that where He guides—He provides.  If we see only what we have in our bank accounts while evaluating our resources as we try to budget God’s will and purpose; then most of us will humanly say the risk is just too great. 

Jesus showed and told his followers (and us) stories of real-life examples of risk takers many times.  I am reminded of the widowed woman of low means who Jesus observed at the Temple one day as the rich people filed by to noisily dropped their offerings into the big brass buckets for public attention. They were heard all right, but what got the notice of Jesus was this one woman…

“As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”  (Mark 21:1-4, NIV)

People who partner with God are risk takers with great faith invested in God.

Matthew 25, The Message

The Story About Investment

^14-18 “It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money.

^19-21 “After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’

^22-23 “The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master’s investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’

^24-25 “The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’

^26-27 “The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.

^28-30 “‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

I love how The Message tells this story describing the investors as becoming partners with God!  We learn that when we invest what God has given to us to manage and multiply to the best of our abilities, we become partners with God!  The possibilities are then endless and limitless!

If we are partners with God, the Creator of all, above all and in all, who guides us to His will and provides for His plan, what do we have to lose?  Nothing.  There is no life invested for His Kingdom that is wasted is the greater answer! 

God notices risk takers of great faith. God loves a cheerful giver who is a generous soul the scriptures tell us.  Our obedience is an expression of our deep love for God.  “Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7, MSG) Great faith comes from a sincere heart for God!

Partnering with God isn’t just about money, it’s about investing our very lives as an offering to God, giving all that we are to all that He is. It’s also about all the resources He has given as ways and means to do His will. Paul writes: “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”  Romans 12:1-2, MSG

Partnering with God changes us from the inside out.  God brings out the best in us—His holy character traits—the fruits of His Holy Spirit.  As God invests in us, we in return, reinvest all He has given to us and is doing in us to help others in His Kingdom work of pointing the way to salvation in His Son, Jesus Christ! 

THIS is an investment that is worth all the risk!  Partnering with God is a sure thing!

Don’t bury and hide what God has given to us!  Don’t let fear bridle or hinder us!

Lord,

There is more than meets the eye in our first reading of this story!  You invested your very life in us.  It is only right thing to do but reinvest your love, mercy, and grace to others so that they can invest!  This is our great commission—go and tell!  We get it.  We love being partners with You.  I believe.  I love you with all my heart, mind, and soul.  Thank you for guiding and providing me all my life!  You have changed me and you continue to transform until I can be all you intended for me to be—bringing out YOUR best through me.  Thank you, Father. Thank you, Jesus.  Thank you, Holy Spirit.

In Jesus Name, AmenHide it under a bushel—NO!  I’m gonna let it shine

Growing up in Oklahoma that lies in the corridor of damaging tornadoes, we knew to be ready in case the power went out.  We had a special place for working flashlights with good batteries.  We also had lamps filled with oil that could give us light when the power failed us.  If you are prepared, then it’s not a problem.  If you are not prepared, you will be amazed with how really dark the world is when there is no light at all.  Feeling your way around, groping for the familiar and not finding it, creates anxious moments filled with fear.

Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Give me oil in my lamp, I pray
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Keep me burning ’til the break of Day

This chorus of my youth popped into my mind as I read Jesus’ story to His followers. In fact, Jesus tells us a series of stories so we can get a better understanding of Kingdom of God thinking and living.  Jesus, the Master Teacher, uses specific stories in which His audience can relate to further explain what will happen when He comes back to earth a second time after dying for our sins and rising again to defeat death forever. 

This information must have been a lot to handle for the followers of Jesus because He has yet to go through the suffering, terrorizing, mocking, and crucifixion—being nailed in our place of punishment to save us from all our sins!  This “coming back” is promised after He rises from the grave in resurrection power.  Rising again in power gives us Hope and assurance for this second coming of Christ that is forever! 

Matthew 25, The Message

The Story of the Virgins

^1-5 “God’s kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. Five were silly and five were smart. The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. The bridegroom didn’t show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep.

⁶ “In the middle of the night someone yelled out, ‘He’s here! The bridegroom’s here! Go out and greet him!’

^7-8 “The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. The silly virgins said to the smart ones, ‘Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.’

⁹ “They answered, ‘There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.’

¹⁰ “They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked.

¹¹ “Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, ‘Master, we’re here. Let us in.’

¹² “He answered, ‘Do I know you? I don’t think I know you.’

¹³ “So stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Consider Jesus’ audience…

The perspective groom of a Jewish family would make his love known to a prospective bride.  During the “engagement” He would then build a home for them, most likely an addition to his father’s home. A wedding ceremony in that day had two parts. First, the bridegroom and his friends would go from his house to claim the bride from her parents. Then the bride and groom would return to the groom’s house for the marriage feast. Ah, now we understand the implications of Jesus’ story, right?

God’s Holy Spirit reminds me that there’s even more to think about as I prepare!  Jesus is preparing a forever home for me and for you—all who believe!  As written later in John, Jesus relates,

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”  John 14:1-4, NIV

The Groom is preparing a room for His Bride—all who believe in Him and are prepared to move into His Kingdom!

So, the question I must grapple with is, “Am I prepared?” 

Will Jesus, upon His coming back for His own as His final mission, find me waiting, watchful, obedient, serving, loving, learning, yearning to be where He is? 

Most of all, will I be prepared, packed, and ready to go at a moment’s notice when the Groom appears?

It depends…Do I really believe what God says really real?  This is the beginning of readiness. To all believe in Jesus, is knowing to wait with expectation for the return of the “Groom” who is coming for His Bride to take us to our forever home that He is preparing for us.

Our behaviors now will reflect what we really believe in our hearts, minds and souls.  God knows.  Nothing is hidden from God.  May we prepare our hearts by asking for the cleansing that only Jesus can provide.  Don’t wander in the dark when the Light is readily available.

Lord,

Thank you for your stories that clarify what you intend for us to be and do. Prepare my heart for your coming. Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, refresh and feed my soul, remove all that offends you, and restore the joy and peace of your salvation work in me daily.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  As for me, I’m staying alert!  I believe!

In Jesus Name, by Your Power, for Your Glory, Amen!

Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the King of kings
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna, to the King

What an awesome moment ( and not memory) in time when we saw our son get off the plane with hundreds of other military people after his first long deployment overseas. “I think I see him!,” the kids frequently shouted but they did not really see him—yet.  We watched with our son’s wife, his kids, his two sisters and their families.  Yes, we all came to the air base with homemade signs to greet this returning loved one who was greatly missed! 

We waited, not so patiently, for a first glimpse of our returning airman among the crowds of people also waiting to see their loved ones.  Suddenly, his wife shouted, “There he is!”  Once we looked in the direction of her pointing fingers, we saw him, too.  “Yes, it’s him, it’s really him!”  When he was close enough to touch, hugs, excited laughter, along with pure joy mixed with tears of emotion greeted this son of ours who came home.

WYKYK— (When you know, you know) When you know who you are looking for, you will most likely be the first to see Him.

Matthew 24, The Message

The Arrival of the Son of Man

^23-25 “If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, ‘Here’s the Messiah!’ or points, ‘There he is!’ don’t fall for it. Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and bewitching performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. But I’ve given you fair warning.

^26-28 “So if they say, ‘Run to the country and see him arrive!’ or, ‘Quick, get downtown, see him come!’ don’t give them the time of day. The Arrival of the Son of Man isn’t something you go to see. He comes like swift lightning to you! Whenever you see crowds gathering, think of carrion vultures circling, moving in, hovering over a rotting carcass. You can be quite sure that it’s not the living Son of Man pulling in those crowds.

²⁹ “Following those hard times,

Sun will fade out,
    moon cloud over,
Stars fall out of the sky,
    cosmic powers tremble.

^30-31 “Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies—no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same moment, he’ll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God’s chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.

^32-35 “Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer’s just around the corner. So it is with you: When you see all these things, you’ll know he’s at the door. Don’t take this lightly. I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out.

³⁶ “But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven’s angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.

^37-39 “The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah’s. Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark. They knew nothing—until the flood hit and swept everything away.

^39-44 “The Son of Man’s Arrival will be like that: Two men will be working in the field—one will be taken, one left behind; two women will be grinding at the mill—one will be taken, one left behind. So, stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. But you do know this: You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to prevent the break-in. Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up.

^45-47 “Who here qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day. Someone the Master can drop in on unannounced and always find him doing his job. A God-blessed man or woman, I tell you. It won’t be long before the Master will put this person in charge of the whole operation.

^48-51 “But if that person only looks out for himself, and the minute the Master is away does what he pleases—abusing the help and throwing drunken parties for his friends—the Master is going to show up when he least expects it, and it won’t be pretty. He’ll end up in the dump with the hypocrites, out in the cold shivering, teeth chattering.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

• We learn that Jesus is coming back someday soon to claim His own. 
• Only God knows when.
• Live each day in great expectation of His arrival!  Could be today!
• In the meantime, faithfully keep doing His will for His purposes with our eyes on the skies!
• When He comes, may He find us loving God, loving others, while in obedient service to Him as He leads and guides us.
• May He declare, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”  Let’s go home.

Wow, just wow.  What a Day that will be…when my Jesus I will see…

Lord,

We will know, yes, we will ALL know, when you come in all your glory!  There will be no mistake that it is you!  I cannot imagine the emotions of pure, inexplicable, ecstatic joy that will overwhelm us when we see you and shout, “there He is!”  “Until then, my heart will go on singing, until then my joy will carry on…” all because of your amazing love, the gift of grace, and new mercies fresh each morning.  Oh, how I love you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

I listen to the trumpet of Jesus
While the world hears a different sound
I march to the drumbeat of God Almighty
While the others just wander around
I’m a member of the Holy Ghost traveling band
We’re moving on up to a better land
I hear the voice of the Supernatural singing
Like only those who know Him can…

(Trumpet of Jesus, by Russ Taft)

Behold He comes, riding on the clouds
Shining like the sun at the trumpet’s call
Lift your voice, (it’s) the year of Jubilee
Out of Zion’s hill, salvation comes…

(Days of Elijah)

There’s No God Like Jehovah!

Some of us are easily impressed by the massiveness of architectural structures by mankind. Some of us are impressed with the great natural wonders of the world and try to imagine and explain how they formed. Some of us are impressed with incredible medical advances that now save lives not possible a few decades ago for our parents and grandparents. 

We are impressed with new inventions of technology that make our lives easier in the kitchen, in our workplaces and even in our vehicles.  (However, this new tech needs a pro tech to repair it!) We are impressed with all the knowledge now poured into our children and grandchildren in the same amount of time that we had in school.  Mm, how does that work? Yes, we humans are easily impressed with what we have not seen before but see and experience right now.  We seem to be impressed only by what we see.

The real question of importance, the difference between life or death, is this: 

Are we merely impressed with Jesus as a great prophet and teacher or is He truly our Savior and Lord of all we think, say, or do?  It depends on what we believe.  What we believe in our hearts is acted upon in our daily lives, without thinking about it, when pushed into a corner of the challenging complications of life. 

So, do we really believe what God says to be really real?

Read how Jesus will draw his disciples closer still to explain the difference between merely being impressed with what they can see, to being sure of what is to come with only the eyes of faith, trust, and hope in Him.  We will take this in two parts.  This is part one.  Truth speaks.

Matthew 24, The Message

Routine History

^1-2 Jesus then left the Temple. As he walked away, his disciples pointed out how very impressive the Temple architecture was. Jesus said, “You’re not impressed by all this sheer size, are you? The truth of the matter is that there’s not a stone in that building that is not going to end up in a pile of rubble.”

³ Later as he was sitting on Mount Olives, his disciples approached and asked him, “Tell us, when are these things going to happen? What will be the sign of your coming, that the time’s up?”

^4-8 Jesus said, “Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, ‘I am Christ, the Messiah.’ They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming.

^9-10 “They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name. And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other’s throat, everyone hating each other.

^11-12 “In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.

^13-14 “Staying with it—that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.

The Monster of Desecration

^15-20 “But be ready to run for it when you see the monster of desecration set up in the Temple sanctuary. The prophet Daniel described this. If you’ve read Daniel, you’ll know what I’m talking about. If you’re living in Judea at the time, run for the hills; if you’re working in the yard, don’t return to the house to get anything; if you’re out in the field, don’t go back and get your coat. Pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. Hope and pray this won’t happen during the winter or on a Sabbath.

^21-22 “This is going to be trouble on a scale beyond what the world has ever seen, or will see again. If these days of trouble were left to run their course, nobody would make it. But on account of God’s chosen people, the trouble will be cut short.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus teaches us:

• There will be no sign of His coming with the end of all we know now.
• Be watching. Be alert. Be ready.  Expect trouble.
• Avoid lying preachers who tell you only what you want to hear.
• Avoid doomsday predicters—no one knows, not even Jesus!  Only God knows.
• Expect people to hate Jesus-in-you because they do not know Jesus themselves.  Love them anyway.  Pray for them to be saved.

Jesus tells us how to respond:

• Run from evil.  Seek the Light of God’s Presence.
• Stick with Jesus as Savior and Lord. “Staying with it—that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved.”
• God is merciful to His people who are not merely impressed with Jesus and what He can do, but truly believe in Jesus, as Savior AND Lord in every aspect of their lives. 

Lord,

I love you Lord with all that is in me.  I worship you alone for you have shown me who is real and what is real.  I have lived long enough to know you are with us always.  You are Savior and Lord who guides us to what is right and always good. 

Your Holy Spirit who lives in us comforts, warns, guides, encourages, teaches as we seek you with humbled believing hearts.  Thank you for leaving an impression on me that grew in to a devoted awe of you.  All I am and hope to be I give to you.

Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, refresh my soul, and restore the joy of your salvation at work in me.  I’m yours.  Keep me alert, ready to do your will.   

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

For real…Sing with me—”The Goodness of God”

I love You, Lord
For Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I’ve been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In the darkest night
You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a Father
I’ve known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God (yeah)

And all my life You have been faithful (oh)
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God (yeah)

‘Cause Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
With my life laid down
I’m surrendered now
I give You everything
‘Cause Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me (oh-oh)

‘Cause Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
With my life laid down
I’m surrendered now
I give You everything
‘Cause Your goodness is running after
It keeps running after me

And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I’m gonna sing of the goodness of God
(I’m gonna sing, I’m gonna sing)

‘Cause all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I’m gonna sing of the goodness of God
Oh, I’m gonna sing of the goodness of God

(Songwriters: Jason Ingram / Brian Johnson / Ed Cash / Ben Fielding / Jenn Johnson)

“If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy” is a phrase I knew well and experienced as a child and young adult growing up in a Christian home.  Before I understood the motive for discipline, I would merely do just enough to avoid making mom or dad mad.  (The organic form of people pleasing.)  As a child, I was compliant just enough to avoid trouble as I obeyed the “rules of engagement” set before me for living under their roof.  It never occurred to me that I broke their hearts because of their relentless love for when I disobeyed, wanting the best for me.  Dumb, really dumb.

But then I married and soon became a mom.  When the first child came, I thought how can I love anyone more (besides my husband)?  Our love for this child and two more to follow changed all our thinking with new life perspectives.  This love for a child drove us to protect them at all costs, provide for all their needs so they could grow healthy and strong in all ways.  We wanted to give them experiences that would teach them.  We gave them the story of Jesus and His love.  We tried to live the gospel of salvation and forgiveness out loud in front of them, not perfectly, but showing them the perfect love and forgiveness that Jesus offered.  So, it broke our hearts when they didn’t obey.   

Yes, it wasn’t until I became a parent that I fully understood why it broke my parent’s heart when I disobeyed, totally avoiding what was best for me.  My parents who had the love of God in them loved me deeply.  When you love your children unconditionally, you correct behaviors that might hurt their ability to reconcile to God as they function in the world with others.  Mom and Dad were prayer warriors, asking for wisdom for their inner nature rebellious children. “You just want me to be good so you look good to others” was my battle cry as a child—until I became the parent and discovered it wasn’t that at all. 

Looking back, I learned that my parents loved me enough to confront me in areas that could cause me to crash later—truly for my own good.  They corrected and disciplined me because they loved me and wanted the best for me which was to mature in the love of God and in His ways.  Truth telling was at the top of their chart for behavior.  “Lying just puts off and denies what should have been done in the first place.”  “Lying makes you miserable and weakens your resolve, knowing that you have to work harder to cover up the lies.”  “Telling the truth upfront is easier to deal with and live with in the long run.” “Fake it ‘til you make it” was not ever a part of my parent’s belief system or vocabulary. 

Matthew 23, The Message

Frauds!

¹³ “I’ve had it with you! You’re hopeless, you religion scholars, you Pharisees! Frauds! Your lives are roadblocks to God’s kingdom. You refuse to enter, and won’t let anyone else in either.

¹⁵ “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You go halfway around the world to make a convert, but once you get him you make him into a replica of yourselves, double-damned.

^16-22 “You’re hopeless! What arrogant stupidity! You say, ‘If someone makes a promise with his fingers crossed, that’s nothing; but if he swears with his hand on the Bible, that’s serious.’ What ignorance! Does the leather on the Bible carry more weight than the skin on your hands? And what about this piece of trivia: ‘If you shake hands on a promise, that’s nothing; but if you raise your hand that God is your witness, that’s serious’? What ridiculous hairsplitting! What difference does it make whether you shake hands or raise hands? A promise is a promise. What difference does it make if you make your promise inside or outside a house of worship? A promise is a promise. God is present, watching and holding you to account regardless.

^23-24 “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but on the meat of God’s Law, things like fairness and compassion and commitment—the absolute basics!—you carelessly take it or leave it. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required. Do you have any idea how silly you look, writing a life story that’s wrong from start to finish, nitpicking over commas and semicolons?

^25-26 “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You buff the surface of your cups and bowls so they sparkle in the sun, while the insides are maggoty with your greed and gluttony. Stupid Pharisee! Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something.

^27-28 “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You’re like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it’s all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh. People look at you and think you’re saints, but beneath the skin you’re total frauds.

^29-32 “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You build granite tombs for your prophets and marble monuments for your saints. And you say that if you had lived in the days of your ancestors, no blood would have been on your hands. You protest too much! You’re cut from the same cloth as those murderers, and daily add to the death count.

^33-34 “Snakes! Cold-blooded sneaks! Do you think you can worm your way out of this? Never have to pay the piper? It’s on account of people like you that I send prophets and wise guides and scholars generation after generation—and generation after generation you treat them like dirt, greeting them with lynch mobs, hounding them with abuse.

^35-36 “You can’t squirm out of this: Every drop of righteous blood ever spilled on this earth, beginning with the blood of that good man Abel right down to the blood of Zechariah, Barachiah’s son, whom you murdered at his prayers, is on your head. All this, I’m telling you, is coming down on you, on your generation.

^37-39 “Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Murderer of prophets! Killer of the ones who brought you God’s news! How often I’ve ached to embrace your children, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you wouldn’t let me. And now you’re so desolate, nothing but a ghost town. What is there left to say? Only this: I’m out of here soon. The next time you see me you’ll say, ‘Oh, God has blessed him! He’s come, bringing God’s rule!’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“How often I’ve ached to embrace your children, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you wouldn’t let me…” expresses the love God has for us!

If you have ever prayed the challenge prayer, “God, break my heart of those things that break your heart,” only then can you read with understanding Jesus’ lament against the frauds who teach and live fake lives among His People.  Recalling a parent’s love for their children gives me a greater perspective.  God is our Father who loves us beyond our ability to think or imagine.  He loves all His created.  He loves people so much it breaks His heart when people block others from seeking and seeing Him in full view.  Those who require people who come into God’s church to be and act just like us to be acceptable—also breaks God’s heart.  Jesus, who is God in the flesh, come down to save us and teach us what God’s love is, makes it all crystal clear; Fakes and frauds break the heart of God.  He wants to bless while frauds make a mess!

PAUSE TO REFLECT AND PRAY…

Am I roadblock or a door opener to God’s Kingdom thinking and living?

Do I point people to Jesus as the standard for living or to me?

Do I THINK before I speak?  The acronym teaches us to filter our speech as follows:

This thinking filter comes from knowing God for God is Love.  The fruits of His Holy Spirit are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) These holy fruits are the characteristics of God, that through discipline, He develops and matures in us!  

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”  James 1:19-25

Lord,

I would rather be blessed than be responsible for making a mess.  So, I confess my messes and pray that you would turn my mess to a message of blessings—of growing and maturing in your love and in your character.  I love you with all my heart, mind, and soul.  Help me to love others like you love me.

In Jesus Name, Amen