It is often stated that a wrong-doing can never solve a problem, but living our lives in accordance with the guidelines given to us by God WILL solve problems. Take a look at a family brothers described in the Bible, all members of one family, the sons of Israel. Ten of them so jealous and hateful of Joseph their brother that the very sight of him provoked their worst behavior.
One day they saw him coming to visit them, “Then they said to one another, ‘look this dreamer is coming!’ “(Gen. 37:19). Have you noticed how quickly one sinful act can lead to another? Joseph’s brothers are a good example! As soon as they saw Joseph coming, they began to plot his death, but when Midianite traders came by, it seemed more advantageous to sell him for twenty pieces of silver. Getting rid of a brother and make money at the same time was an idea that appealed to their self-interest and fitted their hate.
Ah, but the trouble had just begun. They had to kill a goat (clever deception) and wipe Joseph’s coat in its blood. Finally, there was the lie they had to tell Jacob. Helplessly they watched as their father was overcome with grief. After all, they were the ones who had gotten rid of Joseph- so what comfort could they possibly give?
Another example is David the King, the sweet psalmist of Israel. Early in his reign he was at war with the people of Ammon. He sent his troops to battle and he himself remained at home. Instead of being in the battle with his men, he chose to rest, but in his resting he became restless. Being restless, he became sleepless and went up to the roof of the house. There he saw a woman taking her bath. He desired her, a woman who was already married to one of his best soldiers (2 Sam. 23:39) and the son-in-law of another of his best soldiers ( 2 Sam. 23:23). This woman was even the granddaughter of his special adviser, Ahithophel (2 Sam 17: 1-23).
David lured her to bed, and, when he was told she was expecting his child, he arranged her husband’s death in the battlefield. Think about it. It started with laziness that turned into restlessness, then insomnia, followed by lust of the flesh, misuse of power and influence compounded by betrayal, deception, adultery and finally cold blooded murder.
How easy it is for one, seemingly isolated, disobedient act to spiral into compounded problems. One lie leading to another lie and another lie spiraling out of control. How simple for one tiny deception to grow into a multitude of sins.
God's guidelines clearly tell us to say "No" right away to disobedience. Doing so saves us a lot of trouble in the long run. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and wordly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in the present age looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. " (Titus 2:11-14).
Monday, January 30, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Who are you: Weed or Wheat?
In every gathering of God’s people there are weeds, otherwise referred to as tares (Matt. 13: 24-30) in the Scripture. It makes all the difference for now and eternity which one you are. The great challenge is to liberate people from the category of weeds to the category of wheat.
The Church of Jesus Christ is made up of Inside-Outsiders (weeds) and Inside-Insiders (those with real knowledge of personal salvation; wheat). The first is made up of people, who, by their nature are a danger to the corporate functioning and operation of the Church. They are weeds. Only two people have the prerogative of determining which group you are in – Jesus Christ and you.
The Inside-Outsider and Inside-Insider often look alike, sound similar and both believe in Jesus Christ. Their relationship to Him as Lord, however, couldn’t be more dissimilar. What is the difference? One is an imitator and the other is in relationship with Christ by faith (Act 8:9-22). Inside-Outsiders have “neither part nor portion in Christ” (Acts 8:21).
The Inside-Outsider is in the church but outside a deep, intimate relationship with Christ. He believes that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world but has never come to know Him as the Savior of his own soul and Lord of his life. There never has been a time of complete commitment of all he or she has and is-a commitment that allows one to experience the power of the Christian life in daily, specific surrender of the needs, challenges, problems and opportunities of life. The Inside-Outsider is inside the church, but outside of an intimate, impelling, indwelling experience of Christ as Lord.
One of the most gratifying and puzzling phenomena of our time is the great number of church attendants who are discovering the joy and freedom of committing their lives to Christ. They are discovering the excitement of trusting Christ with their frustrations and fears. Recently a Church member realized the power of Christ and shared the delight of his experience with fellow members at the meeting. It was very disturbing to some when he said “I have been in the Assembly for many years. Last week I found out what it’s all about to be Christian. I’ve always believed that Christ was the Savior, but for the first time I know He’s my Savior.” He was saying that it was alarming to think of all the joy he’d missed by being an Inside-Outsider among God’s people. “Now I know Christ as the Lord of all my relationships and responsibilities.”
The Church faces no more crucial issues today than how to make wheat out of the weeds in our midst. It’s never easy. This is because weeds think they have discovered all that is to be discovered in the Christian life, as they strive to achieve it. They are misfits because they want to do God’s work in their own strength. It won’t work.
On the other hand, the wheat is the person who has truly embraced Christ and is in relationship with Him as Lord. Christ has taken charge as Lord. He no longer imitates the Christian life but allows Christ to be manifest in the flesh through his daily activities.
Who are you: Weed or Wheat?
The Church of Jesus Christ is made up of Inside-Outsiders (weeds) and Inside-Insiders (those with real knowledge of personal salvation; wheat). The first is made up of people, who, by their nature are a danger to the corporate functioning and operation of the Church. They are weeds. Only two people have the prerogative of determining which group you are in – Jesus Christ and you.
The Inside-Outsider and Inside-Insider often look alike, sound similar and both believe in Jesus Christ. Their relationship to Him as Lord, however, couldn’t be more dissimilar. What is the difference? One is an imitator and the other is in relationship with Christ by faith (Act 8:9-22). Inside-Outsiders have “neither part nor portion in Christ” (Acts 8:21).
The Inside-Outsider is in the church but outside a deep, intimate relationship with Christ. He believes that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world but has never come to know Him as the Savior of his own soul and Lord of his life. There never has been a time of complete commitment of all he or she has and is-a commitment that allows one to experience the power of the Christian life in daily, specific surrender of the needs, challenges, problems and opportunities of life. The Inside-Outsider is inside the church, but outside of an intimate, impelling, indwelling experience of Christ as Lord.
One of the most gratifying and puzzling phenomena of our time is the great number of church attendants who are discovering the joy and freedom of committing their lives to Christ. They are discovering the excitement of trusting Christ with their frustrations and fears. Recently a Church member realized the power of Christ and shared the delight of his experience with fellow members at the meeting. It was very disturbing to some when he said “I have been in the Assembly for many years. Last week I found out what it’s all about to be Christian. I’ve always believed that Christ was the Savior, but for the first time I know He’s my Savior.” He was saying that it was alarming to think of all the joy he’d missed by being an Inside-Outsider among God’s people. “Now I know Christ as the Lord of all my relationships and responsibilities.”
The Church faces no more crucial issues today than how to make wheat out of the weeds in our midst. It’s never easy. This is because weeds think they have discovered all that is to be discovered in the Christian life, as they strive to achieve it. They are misfits because they want to do God’s work in their own strength. It won’t work.
On the other hand, the wheat is the person who has truly embraced Christ and is in relationship with Him as Lord. Christ has taken charge as Lord. He no longer imitates the Christian life but allows Christ to be manifest in the flesh through his daily activities.
Who are you: Weed or Wheat?
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Behold The Man! (Ecce Homo)
The opening verses of chapter 19 of John's gospel bring us face to face with the sufferings of our Lord and the shame which was heaped upon Him. We beheld Him scourged, crowned with a cruel crown of thorns, mocked, dishonored, smitten and then made a public spectacle of. This is a deeply affecting scene for the heart of every child of God. As we read it and meditate on it, our eyes fill with tears and our innermost soul is moved. We praise Him that suffered thus in our stead.
According to Josephus and other sources, Rome tormented malefactors in every possible way before they were put to death. In many cases the scourging was with a cruel, knotted whip in which sharp pieces were exposed inflicting wounds that could lead to their death. Rough, half-barbarians soldiers were His tormentors. As they hated the Jews, they were only too willing to treat Him with the utmost cruelty. The place where it was done was the common hall (Matt. 17:27), a filthy guard room. The loving substitute of sinners suffered stripes on our behalf (Isa. 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24).
After the soldiers had their way tormenting Him, "Pilate therefore went forth again, and said unto them (the Jews), 'Behold I bring Him forth to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him" (John 19:4). Thus He was acquited, but was not discharged before the law. He added that He was innocent because "I find no fault in Him at all" (John 18:38). Pilate did not discharge Him, but continued the trial of Jesus, "that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die" (John 18:32).
The indictment before Pilate was that Christ said He was King. Pilate asked Him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" (John 18:33) and received a direct response. From the writings of the prophets, particularly Zechariah 6:12-13, the Jews were aware of His Kingship, but could not bring themselves to acknowledge the fact he was the actual person the prophet was referring to in the prophecy. They chose to reject Jesus because they were jealous of Him, regardless.
The Lord Jesus, after all this, came forth wearing the crown of thorns and a purple robe. Pilate said to the crowd, "Behold the Man!" (Ecce Homo) (John 19:5). This is the message which would be sounded all over the world. Behold the Man. Behold Him, "the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
Bearing shame and scoffing rude. In our place condemned He stood. Sealed our pardon with His blood. Hallelujah! What a Saviour! ...(Phillip P. Bliss 1839-1876). Behold the Man!
According to Josephus and other sources, Rome tormented malefactors in every possible way before they were put to death. In many cases the scourging was with a cruel, knotted whip in which sharp pieces were exposed inflicting wounds that could lead to their death. Rough, half-barbarians soldiers were His tormentors. As they hated the Jews, they were only too willing to treat Him with the utmost cruelty. The place where it was done was the common hall (Matt. 17:27), a filthy guard room. The loving substitute of sinners suffered stripes on our behalf (Isa. 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24).
After the soldiers had their way tormenting Him, "Pilate therefore went forth again, and said unto them (the Jews), 'Behold I bring Him forth to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him" (John 19:4). Thus He was acquited, but was not discharged before the law. He added that He was innocent because "I find no fault in Him at all" (John 18:38). Pilate did not discharge Him, but continued the trial of Jesus, "that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die" (John 18:32).
The indictment before Pilate was that Christ said He was King. Pilate asked Him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" (John 18:33) and received a direct response. From the writings of the prophets, particularly Zechariah 6:12-13, the Jews were aware of His Kingship, but could not bring themselves to acknowledge the fact he was the actual person the prophet was referring to in the prophecy. They chose to reject Jesus because they were jealous of Him, regardless.
The Lord Jesus, after all this, came forth wearing the crown of thorns and a purple robe. Pilate said to the crowd, "Behold the Man!" (Ecce Homo) (John 19:5). This is the message which would be sounded all over the world. Behold the Man. Behold Him, "the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
Bearing shame and scoffing rude. In our place condemned He stood. Sealed our pardon with His blood. Hallelujah! What a Saviour! ...(Phillip P. Bliss 1839-1876). Behold the Man!
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