Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

“Teacher, so, do I just have to be good to go to heaven?”  This was the question asked by one of the six-year-olds in my Sunday School class one day.  I was busy preparing their craft pieces to hand out to them.  I had a lesson planned that day and just about ready to deliver it when asked this important question.  “Everyone tells me to be good but is that all?” she went on to ask.  The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and led me to stop the previously planned lesson and put the brakes on what I thought would be a good lesson.  Jesus reversed my thinking.  “This child wants to know Me and you need to tell her” I heard Him whisper to me in that still small voice.

I explained salvation in first grade language.  The Holy Spirit had already prepared her heart.  We prayed together, first me by example then her.  She had the faith of a child who was ready to believe, accept, and follow Jesus as the One who made her “good” enough by forgiving her of all her sins while helping her by His Spirit living in her with the hard stuff of life now with praise and rejoicing later with Him in heaven.  She understood and could not wait to tell her mom and the rest of the church!  She ran to tell them all!

When we come to Christ, our thinking is reversed from thinking selfishly like the world.  We seek to do life more and more like Jesus taught and lived.  We turn to God first to see what HE wants us to be and do each day of our new lives of relationship with Him.  Kingdom of God thinking is the opposite of what our enemy would have us think.  This is what Jesus calls the Great Reversal in our passage today.

“Let the children come to me…” –Jesus

Matthew 19, The Message

To Enter God’s Kingdom

^13-15 One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus intervened: “Let the children alone, don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.” After laying hands on them, he left.

¹⁶ Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

¹⁷ Jesus said, “Why do you question me about what’s good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you.”

^18-19 The man asked, “What in particular?”

Jesus said, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.”

²⁰ The young man said, “I’ve done all that. What’s left?”

²¹ “If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.”

²² That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go.

^23-24 As he watched him go, Jesus told his disciples, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God’s kingdom? Let me tell you, it’s easier to gallop a camel through a needle’s eye than for the rich to enter God’s kingdom.”

²⁵ The disciples were staggered. “Then who has any chance at all?”

²⁶ Jesus looked hard at them and said, “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.”

²⁷ Then Peter chimed in, “We left everything and followed you. What do we get out of it?”

^28-30 Jesus replied, “Yes, you have followed me. In the re-creation of the world, when the Son of Man will rule gloriously, you who have followed me will also rule, starting with the twelve tribes of Israel. And not only you, but anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields—whatever—because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life. This is the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

It is natural for us to want to be first, be the best, clamor for attention while pushing and shoving our way to the top.  Is it hereditary of environmental, (the great debate) that causes a first grader to run, knocking down anyone who gets in their way, to be the first in line to go anywhere?  As a public school teacher of first graders, my observance of this behavior daily caused me to grieve over all the ways these little ones did that caused harm to each other—just to be first in line.  It didn’t matter where we were going, the fight was on at the sound of the bell—like Pavlov’s dog!  They were conditioned to fight for position! 

But, isn’t this act by six-year-olds just a microcosm of what the world teaches and demonstrates to us daily?  We are bombarded with phrases such as “Be you, be the best, be the leader, do it your way, have it your way, be first, listen to no one but yourself, you know what is best for you”—and worst of all—”follow your heart.”  God says our hearts deceive us so that is not a good choice at all!  (Jeremiah 17:9-10, Proverbs 4:23, Romans 14:13)

The Great Reversal of thinking is to seek others interest ahead of your own.  Wait, what?!  Yes!  See Philippians 2 for the Greatest Example of Reversed Kingdom of God thinking and behaving.  Here is a portion…

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
    he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians 2:3-8

Follow God’s heart!  For only God is good!

Matthew, Mark, and John all quoted and they expounded this “first shall be last and last shall be first” teaching of Jesus!  So, it’s probably pretty important for us to learn, moving away from what is natural, hereditary and environmental to what is spiritually healthy and appropriate for Kingdom of God living!

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”—Jesus

 (Matthew 20:28) See Matthew 20, Mark 10 and John 13 for the complete parable describing yet again the great reversal of thinking and behaving that will become a part of all who believe and follow Jesus by giving all of ourselves to Him. 

The little girl who came to Jesus that day in Sunday School would later suffer a few months later from a pain in one of her legs that would not go away.  Her parents took her to the doctor.  Through many tests for validity, they would discover an aggressive, fast-growing cancer in that leg.  From the knee down that leg was amputated to prevent the death of this precious child.  She would go through months of chemo, losing her long beautiful hair, going to school and church faithfully while weakened by the chemicals in her body used to fight the disease. 

She fought fearlessly, for she had Jesus—her Savior and Lord.  Everyone who met her, remarked about how courageous she was, always smiling and joking as she went through a time of suffering that would have tested the faith of a person much older than she was.  I admired her and told her with every visit.

Let the children come to Me, says Jesus, “God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.”  

Ah, The Great Reversal!  The Kingdom of God is made up of people with childlike faith!

Jesus changed the mind of his disciples but did not change the mind of the rich man.  Has Jesus changed your mind?  Think about it, I am.  Let’s take all the time we need to evaluate how we think with how our thinking affects our behaviors.

EPILOGUE

I recalled Jesus’ words one day as I watched my first graders clamor for position to be first in line.  I didn’t say a word, but just waited until the scrambling was done.  First graders notice more when you are silent than when you are reprimanding repeatedly.  So, I just stood there.  I calmly took the hand of the victor of first place in line and said, “Follow me.”  I turned the line around putting the first at the back with the order reversed.  I then said, “the first will be last and the last will be first today.”  “Let’s go.” 

Nothing more was said.  They got it.  There was less shoving and pushing to be first because they never knew when I would do the great reversal of line order. 

However, after a while, some would fight to be last—just in case.  Ugh.  Teaching and learning never ceases.  None of us have arrived.

Lord,

Thank you for never giving up on us, always teaching us by your example.  We are not perfect but we certainly perfectly forgiven.  Thank you for showing us what it means to love fully, serve cheerfully, and give all we have joyfully. This reversal of thinking brings me peace.  The Greatest Reversal trading hopelessness and helplessness for the Hope and Help I have in You!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  And thank you for all the experiences of life, good and bad, that teach us and draw us even closer to You.  We see what you doing here…to prepare us for eternity with you.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

Love will keep us together
Think of me babe, whenever
Some sweet-talking girl comes along, singing her song
Don’t mess around, you’ve just got to be strong, just stop
‘Cause I really love you, stop
I’ll be thinking of you
Look in my heart and let love keep us together…

I have been married for fifty-two years to a man of God who always has my back because of His love for God first which has enhanced his love for me.  This next passage bothers and challenges many people.  How it affects people depends on the what they think love and marriage is.  Although the Pharisees are actually baiting Jesus with a Mosaic law passed down through the ages to allow for the protection of those divorced and left behind without help, Jesus brings them back to God’s original design and thought about “two becoming one” in a union of all that is holy—“holy matrimony”.

What is our aptitude about marriage?  My husband, who counseled many before the marriage ceremony as a former pastor, would ask questions that required deep thinking.  The responses he would hear readily showed their aptitude and knowledge of a real, authentic marriage of grace as they put the other’s interests ahead of their own.  Most often, two people come together with two different ideas and expectations of each other.  In counseling, the two people in front of the pastor will adamantly declare that no matter what, our love alone will keep us together…as the Captain and Tennille sang many years ago. But the deeper question is, what kind of love are we talking about?  What is our aptitude about love in marriage?  Our behaviors will immediately reveal the kind of love we have in our hearts when finances become challenging, disagreements over leaving dishes in the sink arise, along with the plethora of other life stuff that demands our immediate attention.  Will that love truly keep us together?  Do conditions arise that affect the depth of our love for each other?

God designed the union of two becoming one with Adam and Eve.  From the beginning of that first union, Satan entered with a goal to break this union apart.  Anything that comes between God and mankind desecrates what God intended as holy.  Temptations will always be presented in our lives, married or not, that will distract us from God and His love, mercy, and grace. 

Read and listen to how Jesus deflects the rule of divorce discussion and redirects them to talking about what a Godly marriage looks like. “Not everyone is mature enough to live a married life. It requires a certain aptitude and grace. Marriage isn’t for everyone,” says Jesus to the crowd and to the baiting Pharisees who miss the point of most discussions with Jesus.

Matthew 19, The Message

Divorce

^1-2 When Jesus had completed these teachings, he left Galilee and crossed the region of Judea on the other side of the Jordan. Great crowds followed him there, and he healed them.

³ One day the Pharisees were badgering him: “Is it legal for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”

^4-6 He answered, “Haven’t you read in your Bible that the Creator originally made man and woman for each other, male and female? And because of this, a man leaves father and mother and is firmly bonded to his wife, becoming one flesh—no longer two bodies but one. Because God created this organic union of the two sexes, no one should desecrate his art by cutting them apart.”

⁷ They shot back in rebuttal, “If that’s so, why did Moses give instructions for divorce papers and divorce procedures?”

^8-9 Jesus said, “Moses provided for divorce as a concession to your hard heartedness, but it is not part of God’s original plan. I’m holding you to the original plan, and holding you liable for adultery if you divorce your faithful wife and then marry someone else. I make an exception in cases where the spouse has committed adultery.”

¹⁰ Jesus’ disciples objected, “If those are the terms of marriage, we haven’t got a chance. Why get married?”

^11-12 But Jesus said, “Not everyone is mature enough to live a married life. It requires a certain aptitude and grace. Marriage isn’t for everyone. Some, from birth seemingly, never give marriage a thought. Others never get asked—or accepted. And some decide not to get married for kingdom reasons. But if you’re capable of growing into the largeness of marriage, do it.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

One of the most heartbreaking responses Randy received in counseling a couple was, “Don’t worry, we know if this whole marriage thing doesn’t work, we can just divorce and move on with our lives.”  Randy’s response?  “Then don’t get married.  Going into marriage with that attitude shows you probably don’t have the maturity it takes to stay married.”

Isn’t this what Jesus is really saying here in this passage?  “Not everyone is mature enough to live a married life…it requires a certain aptitude and grace.”

But if you’re capable of growing into the largeness of marriage, do it.”

Growing into the largeness of marriage depends on the love we have for God.  We don’t really know love unless we know God who is love.  (See 1 John 4) Two people who have committed themselves to God, who believe Jesus died for their sins, who follow His Holy Spirit voice in obedience to God’s will, and who are growing in the realization of the depth of love God has for each one of them separately are more apt to understand the “largeness” of a growing, thriving love in “holy matrimony”. 

What is holy matrimony?  Marriage becomes holy matrimony when people focus on honoring God and serving the other person at the same time.

What I have learned through the years of my own marriage is;

• The closer I am to Jesus, the closer I am to Randy. 
• The more I realize the depth of love God has for me, the more deeply I love Randy. This is the “largeness” of marriage!
• The greater my gratitude is to God for His love, mercy, and grace, the more I am apt to give love, mercy, and grace to my beloved husband.

Marriage, “holy matrimony”, is about our aptitude, attitude and gratitude toward God with a love that grows to bear the holy fruits of God’s character growing within us.  See Galatians 5 for the “list”.  Divorce isn’t the issue.  How to get out of a relationship isn’t the issue.  What God intended for our best is the real issue based on a love that goes beyond our wildest imaginations.

Lord,

Thank you for your love for both of us individually and as a couple. Thank you for loving us through all kinds of circumstances that challenge the strength, tenacity and depth our love.  Thank you for teaching us your love so that we might love better still.  Thank you for daily cleansing our hearts, renewing our minds, feeding our souls, and restoring the joy of your salvation at work within us—all because of your relentless, unconditional, great love for us.

In Jesus Name, Amen

I love you—to infinity and beyond!  My husband and I try to race each other to saying this catch phrase taken from a kid’s movie, Toy Story.  It’s a fun way to express our love for each other.  (When our grandkids were younger, this movie was on a loop in our home!)  This phrase reminds us of the love we have for each other that is infinitely everlasting. 

Even on challenging days, with Jesus at the center of our being, our love never changes and does indeed go beyond infinity!  Possible?  Yes!  This kind of love “covers a multitude of sins” and disagreements we might have in our marriage.  This love prompts us to quickly forgive, no matter what, an infinitely number of times.  This love goes beyond our wildest dreams and imagination at times when we see God at work in us—building His character inside us that goes to infinity and beyond!  We are both a work in progress.

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:8-10

Before Peter wrote the passage above, while still in “training”, he asked Jesus about the act of forgiveness.  Impetuous, speak first-think later, bold Peter got the nerve to ask Jesus, “How many times do I have to forgive?”  Jesus replied, “To infinity and beyond”!  Okay, He really said, “Seventy times seven” but it implies the same attitude. 

Peter learns a valuable lesson that will stay with him, transforming his small thinking to greater than thinking as he lives to please Jesus.

Matthew 18, The Message

A Story About Forgiveness

²¹ At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?”

²² Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.

^23-25 “The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn’t pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.

^26-27 “The poor wretch threw himself at the king’s feet and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.

²⁸ “The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, ‘Pay up. Now!’

^29-31 “The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ But he wouldn’t do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.

^32-35 “The king summoned the man and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn’t you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?’ The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that’s exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn’t forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Forgive as God has forgiven you. 

“Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.”  Ephesians 4:32 MSG

“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11

Here’s what I’m learning about the righteous act of forgiveness:

• Forgiveness sets us free to love to “infinity and beyond,” God helping us.
• Forgiveness helps us see life from a different, life-giving, perspective.
• Forgiveness restores the joy of Jesus’ salvation at work within us.
• Forgiveness builds character.  An unforgiving heart tears down what Jesus is trying to build in us.
• Forgiveness renews our minds and transform our whole being.
• Forgiveness is obedience to the One and Only we love the most because He loved and forgave us first!  He is the One who supplies all we need to forgive freely and ungrudgingly—Jesus.
• The more quickly we forgive the faster peace returns.
• I have more to learn to reach infinity and beyond!

Want to be like Jesus?  Peter, who learned forgiveness well from Jesus writes later:

 ^“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone  He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin
    and live for what is right.
By his wounds you are healed.
Once you were like sheep who wandered away.
But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls”.                                                                                           1 Peter 2:21-25

While on the cross for our sins, Jesus prayed forgiveness: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”  Luke 23:34

Wow.  Can we pray that prayer for those who merely offend us without thinking, for those who will never say they’re sorry, or for those who are hurting so they hurt others?  I pray the answer is yes.

Lord,

How can we not forgive those who hurt us?  When we sin, we sin against you.  Forgive us our sins AS WE forgive those who sin against us.  Deliver us from the evil of unforgiveness.  Lesson learned.

In Jesus Name, Amen

“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

Sheep are weird but fun to watch.  My grandpa raised sheep.  I learned much by watching him relate to and work with his herd.  The sheep knew his voice and came when he called—immediately.  Sheep, however only know what is in front of them.  Sheep follow other sheep until the Shepherd comes to herd them to greener grass with a source of water nearby.  The Shepherd knows what the sheep need at any given time.  When one wanders off, he knows he needs to go after it.  The Shepherd counts and examines the sheep often as he protects them from dangers with ways to keep them healthy and strong.  The Shepherd has a unique relationship with the sheep and the sheep know and follow the recognizable sound of His voice. 

Sheep tend to follow their noses as they just want to eat their fill.  Sometimes, the sheep butt heads as they get in each other’s way to the food or water.  The Shepherd will watch to see if He needs to intervene but most times, they work it out on their own.  Sheep do not realize other sheep want what they want, too.

Sheep love to be near the Shepherd who leads them.  Sheep are selfish.  They will sometimes push and shove their heads and bodies as battering rams as they struggle to get attention from the Shepherd.  They have a strong relationship with the Shepherd but do not realize they have a relationship, good or bad, with other sheep in the flock.

Sheep are jealous.  If the Shepherd leaves them for a moment to tend to a wandering sheep, some will wander off too, just to get the attention.  When the Shepherd carries a lost sheep back to the fold, they don’t care, they just want to be fed.  The Shepherd looks for sores or other infections and applies special oils to bring healing before it spreads.  The other healthier sheep crowd around the Shepherd to get some, too.  Amusing, really.

At the end of the day, the Shepherd calms the flock as they rest together.  The Shepherd never leaves.  He is always with them, protecting them, as he watching over them even as they rest.   

Matthew 18, The Message

Work It Out Between You

^12-14 “Look at it this way. If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine and go after the one? And if he finds it, doesn’t he make far more over it than over the ninety-nine who stay put? Your Father in heaven feels the same way. He doesn’t want to lose even one of these simple believers.

^15-17 “If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church. If he won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love.

^18-20 “Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

A relationship with the Shepherd is vital for Life.  He is everything we need.

The Shepherd wants us to know and relate to Him so well that when He speaks, we recognize His voice and follow Him to what we need most.

Our relationship with the Shepherd is directly proportionate to our relationship with others.  As we realize the depth of the relentless love Jesus, the Good Shepherd has for us, our capacity to love each other grows exponentially!  We are in the same herd seeking the same Shepherd! 

Love God.  Love each other.  Jesus says all that we are and all that we do depend first on obedience to these two commandments as number on and two on the Top Ten chart of all commandments! 

The Shepherd recognizes, notices needs and cares for all His sheep.  We don’t need to butt heads over getting what we need.  We will all receive what we need when we need it most.

The Shepherd loves His Sheep so much He laid down His life so that they would all be saved.

It delights the Shepherd to see his sheep play well with others. 

The closer the sheep get to the Shepherd, the closer they are to each other.

The Shepherd is always with us, through thick and thin, good days and bad, guiding us to all that we need.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides 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 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.  Psalm 23

Thank you, Lord!

In Jesus Name, Amen

I loved being a first-grade teacher.  As a young adult wife and mom, I remember embarking on my first career assignment.  In fact, my husband and I both felt “called” of God to pursue teaching degrees in college so we could be teachers in public schools where darkness tried to overshadow the Light of Christ.  We wanted to be different, to be His Light, and make a difference in the lives of those little ones who needed someone they could trust. 

As we taught, however, we noticed that their trust and faith was easy to gain.  We also learned that we should not take this trust lightly.  My first graders believed whatever I told them!  So, as those little eyes looked to me for help, my love for them grew.  I wanted to give them the best I had.  I wasn’t aiming to be the greatest teacher, but instead took more joy in helping the students realize their full potential.

Here’s what I discovered from this realization of their faith in me as a believer in Jesus: 

Childlike trust with real, authentic faith in the Master Teacher is the greatest and highest calling of all!

But sometimes, church, we can be childish.  And oh, how that grieves the Teacher…

Matthew 18, The Message

Whoever Becomes Simple Again

18 At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, “Who gets the highest rank in God’s kingdom?”

^2-5 For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.

^6-7 “But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t. You’d be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck. Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time! Hard times are inevitable, but you don’t have to make it worse—and it’s doomsday to you if you do.

^8-9 “If your hand or your foot gets in the way of God, chop it off and throw it away. You’re better off maimed or lame and alive than the proud owners of two hands and two feet, godless in a furnace of eternal fire. And if your eye distracts you from God, pull it out and throw it away. You’re better off one-eyed and alive than exercising your twenty-twenty vision from inside the fire of hell.

¹⁰ “Watch that you don’t treat a single one of these childlike believers arrogantly. You realize, don’t you, that their personal angels are constantly in touch with my Father in heaven?

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We learn what breaks the heart of God in this retort of Jesus to His disciples who are vying to get the top spot, to be the greatest in His Kingdom.  They are not childlike but childish in their arrogant thinking and behavior.  The Master Teacher brilliantly makes His point while driving home how childish they were being by calling over a child to stand with Him and in front of the “class” as an example of childlike faith.  “Return to square one,” says Jesus.  Go back to elementary school and remember how you treated the Teacher with humbled respect, trust, and childlike faith, as one believes everything the Teacher says!  Where is your focus?!

Church, are we childish or childlike in our faith and works?  Let’s evaluate.

Childish behaviors vs. Childlike behaviors 

Childish:

• We feel justified to be a bully of self-righteousness to anyone, including the pastor, who does not agree with what we say or do what we want. 
• We say things like, “this is the way we’ve always done it,” as the final answer.
• We seek tradition over relationships.
• We dig in with arrogance when a new idea to reach people is brought to the table.
• We make the comment, “they know the church is here, what else is there to do.”
• We want to be completely comfortable in church and will complain if we are not without hesitation.
• We campaign for position and power because we give more, work harder and feel deserving of the attention.
• When we want a different pastor, we slander his family.
• We expect great performances from worship leaders with great sermons we think others should hear as we sit back to applaud—or not.
• We bully new believers who are not “turning a new leaf” in their behaviors quick enough so they can be more like them.
• We push and pull, trying to get our own way in all things called “church.”  We feel righteous in doing so.
• We do not accept everyone as they are.  We accept only those who look and talk like us.
• Our first thought is self-satisfaction.

Childlike:

• We accept all who walk into our lives as people God sends to walk with us.
• Our first thought is not judgement but compassionate love.
• We realize the depth of love God has for us and extend that kind of love to others.
• We are open to what God wants to do in and through his church so others will know His Son and be saved.
• We realize ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
• We are sinners saved by grace. 
• We are grateful for all that God has brought us through in life. 
• We are grateful for all He has provided for us and will provide now.
• We are grateful to be alive with abilities to serve the One who saved us.
• We lean on His everlasting arms because Jesus is our Hope of eternal life. 
• We are joyful and expectant contributors to the Kingdom work.
• We don’t put the pastor on a pedestal of performance but encourage leaders with prayers of protection for them and their families.  We know the “devil prowls”.
• We understand “joy unspeakable and full of glory” when we see another person come to Christ and grow in their faith.  Jealousy is avoided at all costs.
• We come alongside other believers for encouragement knowing that we are all in need of a Savior who wants to be Lord of our lives.
• Jesus is Lord of our life—all of it—not just the “go to church” part. 
• We know that going to church does not save us or make us good. Only God is good.  Only Jesus saves us and makes us whole.
• We know what God expects of us as we trust fully in Him, leaning into what Micah 6:8 says, “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.”
• We know that we cannot be good without the power of God’s Holy Spirit living in us to help us grow in goodness.  Only then can our childlike faith bear the Holy fruits of the character of Jesus Christ; “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  (Galatians 5:22-23)
• We love God.  We trust God.  Our faith is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness—not our own.
• We forgive because Jesus forgave us.  We know that nothing we have done is beyond His capacity to forgive because of His relentless love, mercy, and grace.  So, then, we forgive others who have hurt or offended us.

“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:20-21

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other.”  Galatians 5:24-26

“What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.” –Jesus

LORD,

Forgive us when we fall to flesh, those childish behaviors, draw us away from you.  Help us to love each other, forgive each other, like you love and forgive. Break our hearts of those things in us all that break your heart, so we will be less likely to join in childish thinking and behaving.  I pray this as your child who believes all that you say

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

We are taxed for every enjoyable thing on earth, it seems, right?!  Our income is taxed when it comes, when it is saved and then used later, and then as it is used to purchase what is needed.  But even so, we trust that the taxes we pay to the treasury of our country, state, and city are fair and reasonable.  Yes, I know what you are thinking, but we do have the right to change the situation with our vote. 

Let’s go back a couple of thousand years to the Roman occupation of the land Jesus is walking on with his disciples.  In Rome, the taxes were anything but fair.  The people didn’t get a vote.  Every person paid more than what they had or they were jailed or killed.  Most were earning a living to pay taxes to Rome! The Romans were oppressive, cruel leaders who used and abused the people under their power.  The religious leaders were pawns of manipulation under Roman rule. They each thought they had the upper hand.  The people were forced to obey both the Romans and the religious leaders who also taxed the people.  Fear was the factor in play.

So, when “tax men” came to Peter and inquired if Jesus paid taxes, Peter quickly responded, “of course,” without really knowing if The Teacher paid taxes or not.  The Fear Factor, which plagues Peter later as well, caused Peter to say yes just to avoid the conversation and resulting consequences.

But Jesus knew what Peter said and did…

Matthew 17:24-27, The Message

When they arrived at Capernaum, the tax men came to Peter and asked, “Does your teacher pay taxes?”

²⁵ Peter said, “Of course.”

But as soon as they were in the house, Jesus confronted him. “Simon, what do you think? When a king levies taxes, who pays—his children or his subjects?”

^26-27 He answered, “His subjects.”

Jesus said, “Then the children get off free, right? But so we don’t upset them needlessly, go down to the lake, cast a hook, and pull in the first fish that bites. Open its mouth and you’ll find a coin. Take it and give it to the tax men. It will be enough for both of us.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Fear blinds wisdom.  Peter responds without thinking it through.  He avoids truth with a lie to alleviant trouble for the moment.  We always make our situation worse by lying. A better response could have been, “let’s go ask Jesus.” Instead, Peter tries to handle it by himself. 

Jesus confronts Peter.  Jesus knows our hearts.  He knows that what guides our hearts will be reflected in our behavior.  Fear is in the heart of Peter when the tax men approached him.  Jesus lovingly, and with a little amusement, corrects Peter, the fisherman, with a plan to pay the taxes.  This is yet another lesson in thinking before you speak, Peter!  Jesus’ love for Peter has not changed.  Jesus’ love never changes for us as He corrects us in our thinking and behaving.

Jesus sends Peter, the fisherman by trade, to do what he does best—fish!  Jesus brilliantly helps Peter with a way out of the mess he made with a plan of action that suits Peter’s abilities.  I love it!  Jesus has done that for me repeatedly.  He will do it for you, too, when you come to Him with a heart of complete trust and obedience for the One who knows us best.

Cast the hook.  Pull in the first fish.  Open its mouth.  Pull out a coin.  BAM—taxes paid!  Nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible with God!

Fear is driven out by the love of Jesus!  Trust and obey, for there’s no others way…

Lord,

I love this story of your glory revealed through Peter yet again!  I love how you love us!  I love you, Lord, with all my heart, mind, and soul.  The more I realize the depth of love you have for me enables me to love others even more with deeper thoughts of the same mercy and grace you have extended to me.  I love how your love drives out fear, reminding us that you are for us, not against us, even when we need correction with action.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

I love to sing and I love to pray,
Worship the Lord most every day.
I go to the temple, and I just want to stay
To hide from the hustle of the world and its ways.

And I’d
Love to live on a mountain top,
Fellowshipping with the Lord.
I’d love to stand on a mountain top,
‘Cause I love to feel my spirit
Soar….

But I’ve got to come down
>From the mountain top
To the people in the valley below;
They’ll never know
That they can go
To the mountain of the Lord.

This seventy’s song, written by Brown Bannister and sung by Amy Grant, made regular church goers think beyond just going to church each Sunday to praise God, read the Bible with our friends who were just like us.  The thought behind the song was to remind us of what God has called us to be and do beyond the comfortable church building of social engagement—“or they’ll never know” our Savior and Lord!

Jesus, along with Peter, James, and John, come down from their glorious mountain top experience with God, hearing His voice while worshipping Him on their knees, to be greeted by demons lying in wait in the valley below.  The demon spirits have possessed the son of a father who is desperate to get him relief.

Matthew 17, The Message

With a Mere Kernel of Faith

^14-16 At the bottom of the mountain, they were met by a crowd of waiting people. As they approached, a man came out of the crowd and fell to his knees begging, “Master, have mercy on my son. He goes out of his mind and suffers terribly, falling into seizures. Frequently he is pitched into the fire, other times into the river. I brought him to your disciples, but they could do nothing for him.”

^17-18 Jesus said, “What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here.” He ordered the afflicting demon out—and it was out, gone. From that moment on the boy was well.

¹⁹ When the disciples had Jesus off to themselves, they asked, “Why couldn’t we throw it out?”

²⁰ “Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,” said Jesus. “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.”

^22-23 As they were regrouping in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed to some people who want nothing to do with God. They will murder him—and three days later he will be raised alive.” The disciples felt scared to death.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Faith is taking God seriously and seeking His will first.

Faith is obedience to His will.

Our faith is built in Jesus by His Holy Spirit living in us as we walk through the valley of despair. 

Our faith is tested and tried by life.  We discover that when we are weak, God is strong.

Our faith in God becomes stronger when we place all our trust and hope in God to do what God does best.

Faith is believing God is who He says He is and does what He says He will do.

Faith is leaving the mountain top with our friends to help others find and follow Jesus who wander about, lost, in the valley below.

Faith is allowing His Holy Spirit to speak truth with love and compassion through us. 

Faith is waiting expectantly for God to do immeasurably more than we can imagine.

Now praising the Father is a good thing to do,
To worship the Trinity in spirit and truth.
But if we worshipped all of the time,
Well, there would be no one to lead the blind.

But I’d
Love to live on a mountain top,
Just fellowshipping with the Lord.
And I’d love to stand on a mountain top,
‘Cause I love to feel my spirit
Soar…. (Soar….)

A pure seed of growing, fertile faith in God, who is invited to delight in the details of our lives, moves mountains of doubt. 

Faith is believing what we do not see—yet.

Fear grips the disciples as Jesus tells them what will happen soon, but their faith will eventually strengthen their resolve to follow Him in obedience.  Their love for Jesus will eventually drive away their fear.  Their tested by the fire faith will grow stronger still.  Their faith in Jesus will, in fact, move mountains of false teachings of those who thought they killed Jesus and his revolutionary Kingdom of God thinking to a belief in Jesus as Savior and Lord.  (See Acts) Ah, but we are getting ahead of ourselves.

Faith moves us from the mountain top view to the valley below.  Go and tell.  May we give the people in the valley a new view of God through us.

But I’ve got to come down
>From the mountain top
To the people in the valley below;
They’ll never know
That they can go
To the mountain of the Lord.

I am not saying that worship is wrong,
But worship is more than just singin’ some songs,
‘Cause it’s all that we say and everything that we do;
It’s letting God’s Spirit live through you…

Lord,

Our faith in you is measured, tested, and evaluated daily as we respond to your leading in all that we do.  We know our behaviors reflect what we truly believe.  Continue to cleanse our hearts, remove all that offends you.  Renew and transform our minds of thought and overthought to Kingdom thinking.  Refresh, feed, and fill our souls with Your Holy Spirit.  Restore the joy and peace of your salvation at work in us as we step forward in faith believing.

In Jesus Name, Amen

God puts certain people in our lives for His purposes.  I am recalling all the mentors of all ages, over the course of my life that God gave to me.  I thank God for these people.  These people came at just the right time to encourage, challenge, comfort, and teach me so I would continue in my obedience to God. 

These mentors and friends pointed me to God’s greater plan when I was perplexed or confused.   They were people who relied on God’s wisdom so they showed me how to look at what I was going through with a new perspective which brought “ah-ha” moments of clarification of who I was in Jesus with what He was doing in and through me.  I cherish those believers who took time to listen to God, listen to me, and then advise in a spirit of love and truth.  They are gifts from God who molded and shaped my life.  These people are some of God’s gifts that keep on giving.

As I pray to understand God’s Word as He meant it to be, He helps me see yet another facet to this familiar passage of “the transfiguration” of Jesus and prompts more questions:

Did God lead Jesus to the mountain top to gift Jesus with encouragement? 

Did God send Moses and Elijah from heaven with words of encouragement and comfort to Jesus, Son of Man/Son of God, for Jesus’ coming days of trials, suffering and sacrifice? Imagine coaches reminding you of the end game at half-time!

God’s glory is revealed and enveloped His Son.  God’s glory blinded the eyes of Jesus’ disciples. Did God do this to remind Jesus’ core disciples of Jesus’ authority and power on earth as well as heaven—the Kingdom of God?  “This is My Son, marked by My love, focus of My delight. Listen to him.”

Matthew 17, The Message

Sunlight Poured from His Face

^1-3 Six days later, three of them saw that glory. Jesus took Peter and the brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his face. His clothes were filled with light. Then they realized that Moses and Elijah were also there in deep conversation with him.

⁴ Peter broke in, “Master, this is a great moment! What would you think if I built three memorials here on the mountain—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah?”

⁵ While he was going on like this, babbling, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.”

^6-8 When the disciples heard it, they fell flat on their faces, scared to death. But Jesus came over and touched them. “Don’t be afraid.” When they opened their eyes and looked around all they saw was Jesus, only Jesus.

⁹ Coming down the mountain, Jesus swore them to secrecy. “Don’t breathe a word of what you’ve seen. After the Son of Man is raised from the dead, you are free to talk.”

¹⁰ The disciples, meanwhile, were asking questions. “Why do the religion scholars say that Elijah has to come first?”

^11-13 Jesus answered, “Elijah does come and get everything ready. I’m telling you, Elijah has already come but they didn’t know him when they saw him. They treated him like dirt, the same way they are about to treat the Son of Man.” That’s when the disciples realized that all along he had been talking about John the Baptizer.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

While Peter, awestruck, babbles on; the Voice of God speaks: “Listen to Him.”  Peter, do not miss the point of this holy moment!  This is gift from God that will keep on giving.  “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.”  “Listen to Him” the One and Only, who will die and rise again for your sins and the sins of the whole world.

I wonder how many holy moments I miss while babbling on about things of earth I do not understand?

As God’s glorification and transfiguration dissipates like fog when the sun rises on the mountaintop, the fear-filled Peter, James, and John finally look up and see Jesus—only Jesus.  Mm, camp on that thought for a bit.  When all is said and done—Jesus remains.  Listen to Him.  Jesus is our gift from God that keeps on giving—eternally.

Peter stopped babbling about his idea to build monuments to glorify this special monumental moment to just be still, glorify and worship only Jesus, Son of God.  

Believe and be saved.  Be still and “Listen to Him.”  

Lord,

I am listening.  Jesus you are indeed the Way to Truth which never changes.  You are our gift of grace from God our Father who gives us eternal life.  I love to see your glory at work in my life and in the lives of others who believe you. 

I love listening to you in the quiet of our first hour of the day together.  I love you, Lord with all my heart, mind, and soul.  Your teaching helps me see the many facets of life with you.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Remove from me all that offends you.  Fill me with your Holy Spirit.  Holy moments are knowing that you abide in us as we abide in you.

In Jesus Name, Amen

O soul are you weary and troubled
No light in the darkness you see
There’s light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace

“Your ID, please.”  How often in our lifetimes have we heard these words while pulling out some form of identification to prove we are who we say we are?  I don’t think I can count that high!  We must present paperwork, badges from companies we work for, and sometimes health records including certification that we were even born!  There are times when we must acquire more paperwork from “officials” to prove that our previous paperwork is authentic!  Have you ever worked for the military?  Then you understand.  Sometimes when we pay for merchandize with our credit card, we must also show ID to prove we are indeed the owner of the credit card.  We are asked almost weekly in some form or another, “Who are you?”  “Are you who you say you are?”

Jesus clarifies His identity with His disciples along with a forecast of things to come.

Matthew 16:13-28,  The Message

Son of Man, Son of God

¹³ When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They replied, “Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

¹⁵ He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

^17-18 Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.

¹⁹ “And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.”

²⁰ He swore the disciples to secrecy. He made them promise they would tell no one that he was the Messiah.

You’re Not in the Driver’s Seat

^21-22 Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, “Impossible, Master! That can never be!”

²³ But Jesus didn’t swerve. “Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works.”

^24-26 Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?

^27-28 “Don’t be in such a hurry to go into business for yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You’ll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift. This isn’t pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Oh Peter, impetuous, impulsive but dedicated Peter.  Peter gets it right then almost immediately he gets it wrong.  Jesus sees in Peter what Peter does not see—yet.  On the way to being the “Rock” upon which Jesus will build generations of believers called “church”, Peter will be led on a journey that will build him.

“You have no idea how God works,” says Jesus to Peter.  But Peter will learn, along with the others as they watch how God works through Jesus.  Can you admit with me that we also have no idea how God works, but we know He does?  This is one aspect of building our faith—trusting that God knows and that is all we need to know.

Peter does not want his Messiah to suffer.  He is appalled at the idea after seeing Jesus perform miracles of healing and feeding people.  Peter wants life to be on his very limited human terms.  God’s response through Jesus?  “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”  (NIV translation) 

Yikes, do what God says or we will be stumbling blocks in God’s Kingdom work!

Trust God.  Lay down what you want for what Jesus wants to do in us.

“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?” 

Read that again.  Slowly.  Prayerfully, On bended knees of submission to His will.  Our self will is strong and must be submitted to God’s will.  I assure you it’s a great trade.

I’m reminded of one of passage often quoted by believers that Paul wrote, “I want to know Christ!” What a noble quest, but we must read the entire passage to understand “how God works” in our lives to get the full picture of “knowing” Jesus.   

“I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!”  Philippians 3:10-11, NLT

Peter’s heart is in the right place but his impetuous thinking was not.  This goes to prove we cannot lead only with our hearts or our feelings.  Jesus tells us our hearts deceive us.  Our feelings change as quickly as the wind blows through then dies down.  We must be led by God.

Messy lives yielded to Jesus result in powerful messages of His grace!  Jesus still called Peter to be the “Rock” upon which He would build His church.  Peter will have ups and downs in his life, (don’t we all?), but Jesus will work in Peter to prevail in ways “hell” and his demons cannot touch.  Because of Peter and the other disciples, to “go and tell” the church was formed and grew—even through persecution!  Peter’s first sermon, in fact, brought salvation to thousands in Jesus Name!  Paul, who persecuted believers before knowing Jesus, would later come alongside Peter to help the church grow in God’s love for each other. 

This is a snapshot of how God works in the lives of the “called.”  AND God calls all of us who believe Jesus saved us! 

“And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, NLT

“Get behind me Satan!”  Our true identity is in Jesus!  We must go and tell!  We have free access to the Kingdom!  Yes! 

We don’t have to wear a badge, or present ID, Jesus knows us!

Lord,

I love to tell your true story of your love, mercy, and gift of grace.  Thank you for saving our souls.  Thank you for the building our faith through challenging times as well as good times. Thank you for saving me and making me whole.  I found real life and that is You.  Open me mouth and help me tell your story of salvation as clearly as I can as you lead me.  We won’t have to show ID in heaven for you will already know us.  Thank you!

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

I love to make bread.  I love to watch the rise of the dough.  I know the science behind it but to watch it work amazes me.  I know that the yeast is good when it reacts with the other ingredients, causing the dough to rise to a beautiful tall loaf ready to bake.  I can smell it now from memory.  Good yeast produces good bread.  Bad yeast, working its way through the dough in the same process, produces flat, tasteless bread not worthy to bring to the table.

Matthew 16, The Message

Some Bad Yeast

^1-4 Some Pharisees and Sadducees badgered him again, pressing him to prove himself to them. He told them, “You have a saying that goes, ‘Red sky at night, sailor’s delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning.’ You find it easy enough to forecast the weather—why can’t you read the signs of the times? An evil and wanton generation is always wanting signs and wonders. The only sign you’ll get is the Jonah sign.” Then he spun around and walked away.

^5-6 On their way to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring along bread. In the meantime, Jesus said to them, “Keep a sharp eye out for Pharisee-Sadducee yeast.”

^7-12 Thinking he was scolding them for forgetting bread, they discussed in whispers what to do. Jesus knew what they were doing and said, “Why all these worried whispers about forgetting the bread? Baby believers! Haven’t you caught on yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves of bread and the five thousand people, and how many baskets of fragments you picked up? Or the seven loaves that fed four thousand, and how many baskets of leftovers you collected? Haven’t you realized yet that bread isn’t the problem? The problem is yeast, Pharisee-Sadducee yeast.” Then they got it: that he wasn’t concerned about eating, but teaching—the Pharisee-Sadducee kind of teaching.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

The disciples, bless their hearts, still have their thoughts on the bread they didn’t bring along for the journey. Are they thinking about the leftovers from the feeding of thousands with baskets full of bread and fish they forgot to pack for the boatride?  Apparently so.  I cannot judge.  I rareely eat all my food at a restaurant so I put the leftovers in a box they bring me.  Distracted with conversation, I am notorious for leaving the box on the table without a another thought until I am on the journey home.  I get it, disciple friends, I totally get it!

We are so easily distracted when Jesus wants to teach us a lesson, especially those lessons of warning to beware of those who want to lead us into what is not good for us.  We are drawn to those in power.  The world is full of pretenders, forecasters, and false teachers.  Jesus is pointing them out to the disciples but they are sorry that forgot bread!  Jesus, the Bread of Life, the Sustainer of all their lives, offers a warning for them. “Stop talking about physical bread,” my friends, you’re missing the point”!  It’s not about physical bread, It’s about who I am and what you must know that will sustain you for Life everlasting! 

Keep a sharp eye out for anything that leads you from Truth—The Bread of Life—Jesus!

Ah, now we get it, says Jesus’ motley crew.  We cannot fault them.  We also miss the point on the journey with Jesus, too. 

• Beware of teaching that leads believers to following a human put on a pedestal of pride.
• Beware of teaching that seems close to Scripture but it is not exact Truth. 
• Beware of evasive teaching that distracts us from truth by telling us only what we want to hear.
• Beware of teaching that leads to a human cause but not Christ and what He wants.
• Beware of those who hide truth under a cloak of misleading, persuasive talk that leads nowhere.

We cannot rise with Christ unless the good yeast from the Bread of Life permeates our daily living!

Jesus, you have given us much to think about as we pray for wisdom and discernment, keeping a “sharp eye” out for bad yeast.  Help us to avoid it!  Our lives depend on it!

Lord,

You think eternal and we think present.  We are most often distracted with what is right in front of us that we must deal with currently.  But you are patient with us as you teach us about the dangers that lie ahead of us on our journey with you that are worse than our daily concerns.  So, may your eyes be fixed on you.  May our ears be open to hear and discern the true and false teachings of our day.  May our minds be filled with your wisdom.  Cleanse our hearts daily, transform our thinking, feed our souls with the Bread of Life, and restore the joy of your salvation working all through our lives—like good yeast that produces great bread—fit for the Table of our Lord!

In Jesus Name, Amen

“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”  2 Timothy 4:3-4, NLT

That time is here.