Thoughts By Scott: March 2017

Friday, March 31, 2017

Because of ONE THING, I am Hopeful

Photo by Compassion Over Killing

Scripture: Psalm 27:11-14

Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a level path Because of my foes. Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.

Insights: We conclude this week with one of my favorite sections in this psalm. In spite of all David has described in the preceding verses he has hope in his future. Reread his words again, “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.” Disparity would be a great word to describe a life which has no hope. David tells his reading audience he did not despair. He did have hope. He knew God would bring about goodness in his life while he was still in the land of the living. Beloved, for those of us in Christ Jesus, we have an even fuller understanding of what the land of the living really is. For David, he meant he would do see good days on this side of eternity and for us there is an aspect of this reality. For us in Christ Jesus, however, there is a bit of a nuance change. We know the real land of the living is with the Lord God. We, in Christ, will one day be with Him face to face. In that day, ALL will be good. As a result, we wait on the Lord. We are strong in Him and our hearts are encouraged by Him. How does all of the things we have written about this week come to pass? It comes to pass based on the ONE THING. This ONE THING is a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. Religion will not allow you to experience confidence, joy, companionship and hope. Other peoples relationship with Jesus will not give you these things either. You have to enter into this relationship by acknowledging you are a sinner and then to ask for Jesus to come into your life. If you will do this, then He promises to do so and you will experience the hope of better days in the true land of the living.

Questions:

1. Are you hopeful about your future?

2. Do you know Jesus personally?

Prayer: Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus. I now have a future and a hope. I long for the day in which we will be together face to face. I appreciate Your presence in the here and now until that day. Amen.

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Because of ONE THING, I am Never Alone

Photo by John Getchel

Scripture: Psalm 27:7-10

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice, And be gracious to me and answer me. When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.” Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, But the Lord will take me up.

Insights: Once again we look at these verses this week and see the vulnerability and transparency of David. He is questioning his own faithfulness to God. Look at his words, “be gracious to me.” Still further he writes, “Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger [italics mine].” Still even further he penned, “Do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation!” David realizes in his sin he needs a Savior. He does not, however, need a savior who apparently can leave him like a father or mother, but rather he needs a Savior who will take him up into His arms and be a comfort to him in the midst of his pain and suffering. The indication being that as unlikely as it is for an earthly father or mother to abandon and forsake their own children, it can still happen. With, God, however, He will never abandon nor forsake His own. Jesus echoes these thoughts when He tells us, “I am with you always even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).” There are times in our walk with the Lord in which we feel we are alone. The truth, however, is drastically different than our feelings. We can rest assured Jesus is always with us. He never leaves us alone. He is a constant companion in our lives. We just have to trust and believe this fact to be true. When we do, we are comforted greatly by His love and mercy.

Questions:

1. Are there times in which you feel you are alone?

2. Have you come to understand you are not alone?

Prayer: Father, there are times I feel alone, but I know You are with me. Help me to rest in the truth of my situation and not in my feelings. Amen.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Because of ONE THING, I am Joyful

Photo by Holley Gerth

Scripture: Psalm 27:4-6

One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

Insights: Look at the heart of David as he petitions the Lord. He is asking the Lord to help Him to know Him. He is purposefully seeking the Lord and desiring to dwell with the Lord. He wants to meditate on the Lord. Notice what he desire the Lord to do for him in the midst of his personal relationship. He longs to be comforted by the Lord when he is experiencing trouble. He wants the Lord to conceal him in the tabernacle or dwelling place of the Lord. God will be his hiding place and in this difficult time, God will also be the One to lift him up. Because God does all of these works, David is able to say he shouts with joy and he sings praises to the Lord. Beloved, joy is not some external attribute. Joy is something the Lord places inside of His children. Joy does not mean we do not have trials and tribulations. In fact, I sense we are able to recognize the Lord’s ability to produce joy within us in our most difficult days. I will readily admit, I do not long for those days of difficulty. I am perfectly capable of experiencing joy in good times, but I appreciate the joy more in hard times. Joy, non the less, is the result of the one thing. A personal relationship with the Lord Jesus gives the believer joy and it is supernatural in nature.

Questions:

1. Do you have the joy of the Lord residing within you?

2. Do you long and seek after the Lord with all of who you are?

Prayer: Father, I do want to know You. I want a deep and intimate relationship with You. May I grow in Your grace and cultivate the disciplines in my life which help me know You more personally. Amen.

Because of ONE THING, I am Confident

Photo by Chris & Karen Highland

Scripture: Psalm 27:1-3

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident.

Insights: In verse four, which we will get to tomorrow, David says the words, “one thing.” I titled the sermon Sunday, One Thing, and obviously verse four is where I derived the title. I explained to the congregation if we had this one thing, then we would also have four traits in our lives. The first trait is found in today’s verses and it is confidence. Notice David is not Pollyanna in his view of life or his situation. He uses the words evildoers, devour, adversaries, enemies, host, and war. All of these things are rising up against David, and yet, he says he will not fear and he shall be confident. Why is he able to be fearless and confident? The answer is because the Lord is his light and salvation. The Lord is his defense. I wonder what happens when we face fear and dread. Do we throw our hands up in the air and quit? Do we run away? Do we hide? Do we allow all of our insecurities to incapacitate us with the ability to press on for Jesus? Beloved, if we know God personally and are in an abiding love relationship with Him, then we can also face whatever circumstance with power and victory in Christ Jesus.

Questions:

1. Would an outside observer describe you as being a confident or insecure type of person?

2. How would you evaluate your life?

Prayer: Father, many times I am insecure in my leadership, but You have called me to influence those around me. Let me do so in Your strength and power. May I be found faithful in the midst of my insecurities. Amen.

Friday, March 24, 2017

Proclamation to Men is Obedience to Christ

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Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

Insights: We conclude this week with the idea of our proclamation to men is obedience to Christ. Look at the verses with me. Paul writes, “For the love of Christ controls us.” He continues, “they who live might no longer live for themselves.” The emphasis of these two statements is we are obedient to Jesus. He controls our lives. Our desire is no longer for ourselves, but for Him. We ought to want to please Him with all of who we are. His work has put my old self to death. I am dead in Christ. I did not, however, remain dead. I rose again in Him. Because of this new life I am compelled out of gratitude and love to obey the Lord Jesus. Jesus Himself said, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments (John 14:15).” In my sermon Sunday I talked about how many in the church are practical atheists. In a conversation with such a person they would tell you they love Jesus. They would even say they have received Him as Lord and Savior. They would be good church going people. They would not, however, have life changing fruit to display as evidence of their love for Jesus. When He commissioned them, they would not obey. They would live for themselves and would quench the Holy Spirit from controlling their lives. Beloved, I believe this practical atheism is the reason 93% of all churches are stagnant or plateaued. It is this practical atheism which explains why 95% of church attenders have never led a person to Jesus Christ. Let me challenge you to strive for intimacy with Jesus. I say this because what I know to be true about Jesus is He has an amazing way of changing who we are to honor Him. The more you know Him the more you will desire to obey Him. Pursue Him with a reckless abandon and be in awe of His presence and power.

Questions:

1. Are you obedient to the Father?

2. What evidence is there of your obedience?

Prayer: Father, forgive me when I walk in rebellion of Your commands. Strengthen me to display my love for You in real and profound ways. Let my life bring You glory. Amen.

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Presence among Men is Flexible

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Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:13

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

Insights: In today’s verse we discover a third truth about our ministry to people. This truth is we need to be flexible in the hands of the Lord God. Notice with me in the verse Paul states if he is beside himself, then it is for God. In other words, this is like king David’s comment to his wife when he said, “I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes (2 Sa 6:22).” In essence David and Paul are telling us there are times we worship and express our faith as if the Lord God is an audience of one. He is always our focus, but there are times He would have us to let go of our inhibitions and surrender ourselves totally to Him with a reckless abandon. When we live with this unhindered devotion many people will say we are out of our minds or as Paul wrote, “beside ourselves.” People are not always receptive to religious zeal, but there are times in which God calls us to this kind of vulnerability with Him. Paul went on to write in today’s verse, “if we are of sound mind, it is for you.” Now this thought is when we are more reserved and logical in our approach to faith. We are more diplomatic in our conversations and we use more intellectual and logical means of persuasion rather than emotional and spiritual. When we portray Christ in this manner we are doing so for the purpose of winning lost people to Jesus and that is why Paul says, “it is for you.” Beloved, the key, whether we are beside ourselves or of sound mind, is to be centered on the Lord Jesus. Let Him be the One guiding you to actions of exuberance or reservation. Realize the goal is to bring the Lord glory by our actions of obedience.

Questions:

1. Are you flexible in your approach to ministering to other people?

2. What techniques or styles have you used to share Jesus with others?

Prayer: Father, help me to be flexible in Your hands. Let me display my faith as You would have me in various situations and conversations. I want to be pliable in Your hands. Amen.

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Power before Men Resides in the Heart

Photo by John

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:12

We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.

Insights: Yesterday we learned our ability to persuade men begins with an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus. Today, we learn our power to live a transformed life resides in our heart. In other words, God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus rose from the dead and conquered sin and death. He then ascending into heaven and God promised to send His Holy Spirit to dwell inside the hearts of anyone who would call on the name of Jesus to be saved. Upon our reception of Jesus, our lives are changed because of His residing presence in our hearts. The problem, however, comes to light in today’s verse. For far too many church attenders in the United States, we desire moral rectitude more than spiritual transformation. Look at the verse with me for a moment. It reads, “. . . so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance. . . .” In our western church culture we desire for people act rightly even if it means they go to hell. We want them to have behavioral and ethical changes, but honestly do not really care about heart change. This truth gets played out Sunday after Sunday with the conversations congregants have with each other as well as with the pastoral staff. We are far to easily angered about issues of irrelevance than we are about the eternal condition of a soul. Before our even worship service a congregant came to me and told me about listening to Steve Brown with Key Life Ministries. Steve Brown said Jesus tells us to catch them and then He will clean them. Brown was using a fishing metaphor. Unfortunately, for us, we want them to get cleaned up first then we will catch them and take them to Jesus. Beloved the reason is because we are more concerned about appearances than we are genuine heart change. Real power comes from heart transformation, not behavioral modification. Let us trust Jesus to do what only He can do to make us powerful and eternally changed.

Questions:

1. Do you focus more on behavioral modification or authentic spiritual life change?

2. Are you experiencing the transforming power of transformation because of the Lord’s work within your heart?

Prayer: Father, transform me to live in the power of Your grace and presence. I need You to move in my life to such an extent that it is obvious I am Yours and You are mine. Amen.

Monday, March 20, 2017

Persuasion of Men Begins with the Lord

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Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:11

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.

Insights: In today’s verse we see the phrase, “we persuade men.” It was from these three words I titled this weeks sermon Ministry to Men. I am using this word men in a universal sense. It could be men or women. It is referencing humanity at large. In today’s verse we see our persuasive ability actually begins with the Lord God Himself. Notice the verse states we fear the Lord. This fear is the kind of fear Solomon wrote about in the book of Proverbs when he stated, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” I contend, at some point, we followers of Jesus lost this reverential fear of God. We take Him for granted and then wonder why they Lord is not working in the midst of our lives. Let’s skip the “we persuade men” phrase once again and move to the manifestation aspects of this verse. Notice we are first made manifest to God and then to the consciences of others. Manifest means to make known or evidential. We can see and observe something that is made manifest because it has been pulled out and revealed. When we are discussing being made manifest to God then we are alluding to our usefulness to Him and His kingdom. This idea is found in Paul’s other writings when he discusses vessels for noble and common purposes. Our manifestation before the Lord allows us to be noble vessels which are useful to His kingdom. We also become useful and manifest to others because we are useful to the Lord. He equips us, because we have wisdom from our fear of Him and we are useful because we are made manifest to Him. With this equipping having taken place we are then able to persuade men of the truth regarding the gospel and our Lord Jesus Christ. I write all of this in order to say, our persuasion of men begins with the Lord. Beloved, let us cultivate our relationship with Jesus and let us be in awe of what He will do in and through us to persuade others of the truth regarding His saving work.

Questions:

1. Do you fear the Lord God?

2. Would others characterize your life as being useful to the Lord God in terms of your service to Him?

Prayer: Father, I all too often fall short in my service and obedience to You. I know at the end of the day it is because of a relational disconnect on my part. Help me to be manifest to You, and therefore, useful to Your kingdom. Grow me in Your grace so I can truly persuade men regarding their need for a Savior. Amen.

Thursday, March 16, 2017

The Forth Type of Person is the Person Who is a Genuine Believer

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Scripture: Mark 4:20

“And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”

Insights: We conclude this weeks Thoughts by Scott with the fourth type of person. As a review, you will recall the first type was the person who immediately rejected the gospel. The second type of person was the one who thought the gospel was just too hard. The third type of person was just too busy. The forth type of person is a genuine believer. The first three types of people were not authentically born again. They were never truly saved. They may have attended church now and then, but they were never truly His. This forth type of person, however, truly does belong to Jesus. Their lives are sold out to Him. They really have been bought with a price and are no longer their own. Their gratitude for their salvation is utter devotion to the One who saved them, Jesus Christ. These new creatures have one distinguishing characteristic and that is fruit. In other words, true saved people bear fruit in their lives. Notice from the verse they are not required to bear equal amounts of fruit, but fruit bearing is an evidence of conversion. There are those who have been spiritually gifted by the Holy Spirit as evangelist. These type of people bear a hundredfold crop of new believers. If, however, you have not been gifted by the Lord in this fashion, you are not given a pass. You are also called to bear fruit. You ought to desire to bear fruit. Your crop may be only thirty or sixty fold, but a crop ought to be produced non-the-less. I hope and pray you are really born again. I pray if you are really born again that you desire to surrender yourself to the Lordship of Jesus and let Him work in and through you to bear fruit. May your life bring Him glory as you serve and share Jesus with others. May you yield a very large crop of new converts for His kingdom.

Questions:

1. Have you truly entered into a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus?

2. Does your life bear fruit of genuine conversion?

Prayer: Father, I know I am Yours. I have fruit which has come to be as a result of my devotion to You. Yet, Lord, I want even more fruit. Increase my faith and let me be bold for You. Let me have more opportunity to share the gospel with those in need of Jesus. Amen.

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

The Third Type of Person is the Person Who Says, "I'm Too Busy"

Photo by Eric

Scripture: Mark 4:18-19

“And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Insights: Today we look at the third type of person. You will recall the first type of person was hostile to the gospel and immediately rejected it. The second type of person was the one who found the gospel too hard. They did not endure through the persecution because they did not have authentic faith with which to begin. The third type of person is the one who is too busy. They are being pulled in a thousand directions, and as a result, the Lord is discarded. These people would not say they did not love the Lord, but their actions would prove the Lord was of no real importance to them. Beloved, these people are nice people. They attend church every now and then. They are just so involved in other activities that corporate worship is a secondary issue for them. I want you to understand, however, just like yesterday, these people are not born again. They have never truly given their lives over to the Lord Jesus. They have never really encountered Him and His life changing grace. I also want to remind you, just like yesterday, we must never stop sharing the gospel with this type of person. The reason we continue to share is because our hope and prayer is they will one day receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. If you are one who has often been distracted by the worries of this world, the deceitfulness of its riches and the desire for other things, then let me encourage you to evaluate eternity. This world will pass away and then we will experience either eternity with Jesus or eternal pain in the Lake of Fire. What you do with Jesus will determine in which location you end up dwelling. Nothing on this side of eternity is worth the sacrifice of being eternally separated from God’s love.

Questions:

1. Do you feel like you are being pulled in a thousand directions?

2. In the midst of all these options, where does the Lord God fit?

Prayer: Father, people are being bombarded by all kinds of choices in their lives. As a result, many reject You, O Lord. I pray You would soften their hearts and help them to seek You and to know You. Amen.

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

The Second Type of Person is the Person Who Says, "It's Too Hard"

Photo by Andrea Chiu

Scripture: Mark 4:16-17

“In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.

Insights: Today we look at the second type of person. You will recall the first type of person was hostile to the gospel and immediately rejected it. Today we see a second type of person who appears to want the gospel, but after a little bit of time, they turn away. The reason they turn away is because walking in faith with Jesus is hard. In fact, it is a lot harder than the person bargained. People at work start to make fun of them. Their friends stop hanging out with them. Persecution and affliction for their faith starts to increase. As a result, they reject the gospel. Now, I want to make it absolutely clear at this point that the person never actually encountered Jesus as Savior and Lord. This person was not born again. This person never really came into saving faith with Jesus. This type of person may have visited a church for a season, but they were never really Jesus’. If they had been, then they never would have walked away. The apostle John speaks of this person and says they never were a part of us (1 John 2:19). This passage does not negate the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. Rather, it supports it by establishing the reality that true biblical conversion is the standard by which we observe and witness salvation. People can play the religious game and act spiritual for a time, but their true faith will eventually bear its real fruit. If one is of Jesus, then Jesus fruit will be evidenced. If one is lost, then lost fruit will be evidenced. One who finds faith to hard will display the fruit of quitting. They will walk away from the One whom they never truly knew. Beloved, be mindful not all who “pray a prayer” are truly born again and don’t let this truth hinder you from sharing your faith.

Questions:

1. Have you ever experienced something that you thought was just too hard to handle?

2. In that moment, did you press on or did you quit?

Prayer: Father, in this world there are all kinds of challenges. Lord, help me to walk in Your grace and live victorious in Jesus. Amen.

Monday, March 13, 2017

The First Type of Person is the Person of Immediate Rejection

Photo by Carsten Tolkmit

Scripture: Mark 4:13-15

And He *said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables? “The sower sows the word. “These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.

Insights: These week we are going to examine the four types of people found in the parable of the sower found in Mark chapter four. The first type of person is the one most of us think we will encounter when we share the gospel. It is this type of person that sometimes causes us to experience fear, and as a result, we sometimes cower and do not share our faith. Beloved, several years ago Thom Rainer wrote a book titled The Unchurched Next Door. In this book he shared that of all their research only five percent of people fell into this category of hostility toward the gospel. Yet, Satan, has convinced us the majority of our encounters will be with this type of person. The reason I surmise this type of person is found in today’s verses is because of the immediacy of the removal of the seed. Notice Satan immediately comes into this type of person and takes the word which has been sown in them. It is my contention that the speed at which Satan swoops in is an indication of this persons hard heartedness toward the Lord. It is, therefore, not a far stretch to assume this person is hostile to the gospel. There is something I want you to notice regarding this situation. The seed was still sown into this person. In other words, we need to share Jesus with them even if they are hostile to the gospel. We need to share Jesus with them even if they assault us. We need to share Jesus with them because Jesus loves them. He died for their sins and He does not wish for them to perish and spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. So, we must share, even if they respond with immediate rejection of the gospel.

Questions:

1. Have you ever shared your faith and had someone respond with immediate rejection of the gospel?

2. If the first question has happened to you, then how did you respond?

Prayer: Father, help me to love those who are hostile to the gospel. Help my heart to feel what You feel when they reject the good news. Help me to see them as You see them and to understand Your love for them better. Amen.

Friday, March 10, 2017

Humanity is Capable of Being Saved

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Scripture: Matthew 18:11-14

[“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.] “What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? “If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. “So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

Insights: We close this weeks Thoughts by Scott with one last thought regarding humanity. That thought is all of humanity is capable of being saved. Jesus came to this earth and died on a cross to pay the necessary payment for the sins of the world. You are included and I am included in those sins. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Yet, while we were still sinners, Christ Jesus died for us. I want you to notice the determination of the Lord Jesus from today’s verses. There are ninety-nine sheep who have followed after the Lord and you would think the Shepherd would be happy with that kind of percentage. The passage, however, reveals Jesus’ heart is for 100% success. He desires for no one to die and spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. As a result, He goes and looks for the stray sheep until He finds it. Beloved, I wonder why we do not live with this kind of urgency and persistence. People can be saved. Their salvation will not be a result of us saving them, but it will be a result of us telling them about the One who actually does the saving, the Lord Jesus. Let me encourage you to share your faith. Tell people the good news of the gospel, which is Jesus loves them. He died for their sin. He will save them. All they have to do is pray and ask Him to come into their lives and they will be saved. Let us preach Christ boldly and fervently.

Questions:

1. Have you entered into a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus?

2. Do you even recognize your need for a Savior?

Prayer: Father, it is my prayer for Your Spirit to draw on the hearts of all people. If someone has not entered into a relationship with You, I pray You would convict their hearts to the point of repentance and obedience. Amen.

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Humanity is Often Times a Stumbling Block

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Scripture: Matthew 18:7-10

“Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes! “If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire. “If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

Insights: The third truth regarding humanity is we are at times a stumbling block to those around us. I have written on this idea before, but I believe if is appropriate to address it again. I don’t think people wake up in the morning and say to themselves, “I hope I can trip someone up today and knock the faith right out of them.” Unfortunately, because sin does reside in our fallen nature, we do cause people to stumble and we don’t even mean to at times. Beloved, let me point out the seriousness of sin and the stumbling block it can be toward others. Jesus tells us in today’s verses to deal with our sin as drastically as possible. He is obviously using hyperbole, but the seriousness of sin is being presented. As a way of example, let me use drinking alcohol. Is drinking alcohol a sin? The answer is no. Is drinking too much alcohol a sin? The answer is yes. In our culture, however, most lost people think it is inappropriate for Christians to drink. So, when they see one who confesses to be a follower of Jesus in the local bar having a drink, they say to themselves “Why should I change my life, Jesus has not helped him/her from still getting drunk and living a life of sin?” In that moment, we have become a stumbling block. Let me encourage you to evaluate your decisions through the lens of the gospel and do all you can to not become a stumbling block to someone else.

Questions:

1. Have you ever been a stumbling block to someone?

2. Has someone ever been a stumbling block to you?

Prayer: Father, I have never liked when someone’s actions have caused me to stumble in my faith. I like it even less when I discover I have made someone else stumble in their faith. Lord, help me to live life fully dependent on You and to recognize the truth regarding the state of humanity. With this understanding equip me to see them as You see them and may I not become a stumbling block to them. Amen.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Humanity is Capable of Simplicity

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Scripture: Matthew 18:2-6

And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Insights: Yesterday we learned we often times are self-serving. Today, we turn to a more positive note and look at the capability of all humanity to be more simplistic. I use this word simplistic in a positive manner. I think we over analyze much in this world. In fact, there are times we become stifled because of the paralysis of analysis that sets in on us. Jesus’ disciples asked who was going to be the greatest in His kingdom. Jesus responds with the visual illustration of a child. He called a child to Himself and begins to explain that the greatest in His kingdom are those who humble themselves like a little child. Children have an innate ability to trust others. I joke around with my children a lot. I will tell them fancifully crazy things and my youngest will say to her mother, “Is Papí playing?” My story is outlandish enough she thinks something is not quite right, but it is coming from her Papí and she trusts me. She takes my statements simplistically and honestly on the onset. It is only after thinking through what I have said does she question my statements. My point is she naturally trusts me. God calls us to Him and asks us to trust Him. The difference, God never plays a joke on our emotions, trust or sentiment. He is always trustworthy and we can approach Him with a simple trust and faith. If we will live life in this fashion, we will do much better in our faith journey.

Questions:

1. Have you come to a simple saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?

2. When you look at life, do you over complicate things?

Prayer: Father, in my selfishness, I often times overcomplicate life issues. The truth of the matter is You offer us a more simplistic life of love, joy and peace. We find a hope in You, but often times do not live in this hope because we think it is too simple. Lord, soften my heart to trust You. Amen.