Category: News (Page 2 of 113)

There is a lot going on in our Scripture for today, but we are going to focus on the second half of it (Matthew 21:28-32).

Jesus is being confronted by the chief priests and elders of the people. They don’t like the way things are going and want to put a stop to them. They ask about Jesus’ authority for His actions and Jesus turns things back on them. (I love it when He does that!)

 “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.”

MAtthew 21:31ab

He makes His point with their hubris, but then drives the point home with a question of His own.

He lays out a story about a man with two sons, who he asks to go work in the vineyard. One is defiant and says he won’t, but ends up changing his mind and obeying. The second does the opposite, saying he will go, but doesn’t. Jesus then asks which “did the will of his father (Matthew 21:31)?

The leaders rightly answer with “the first.”

But Jesus drives it home by saying they – the religious leaders – say they will follow the Lord; His will and ways, but when they point to Jesus, they change their minds and believe in the One God sent. Others – gentiles – say they don’t want to have anything to do with God, with the Word, and with Jesus, but many of them have changed their minds are do believe unto salvation!

Which is the better?

To believe!

But there has always been something about this story that Jesus didn’t bring up that has rubbed me wrong.

Isn’t the best way for things to play out to both say you will obey the Father and actually do it?

After all, I’ve heard say, “delayed obedience is disobedience;” and there is truth to that.

But that’s not what Jesus was getting at in this teaching. He was giving opportunities to show that doing the will of the Father by His Word is more important that knowing the Word and refusing to do His will.

Or, let’s break this down another way.

We start out in sin and all we desire is against the Father’s Will; so our initial state and reactions will always be against. But by the power of the Holy Spirit, our hearts have been opened and granted faith in Jesus and has changed to want and do His will through that faith.

That gets us to faith and life. That gets us sanctification.

But it doesn’t end there.

Now that we are saved, we take the next step and get into His Word so that whenever He calls, we both respond with a resounding, “yes, I will go!” and while the words are yet ringing in the air, our bodies are racing toward to door to do it!

That’s our joyful response to the gift of salvation in Jesus! That’s our heartfelt desire because of the mercy and grace shown to us! That’s our default action for what the Lord says to us, requires of us, and desires of us!

“I will, Sir! I will!”

May we, who have been redeemed by Christ, be ever in His Word, His Will, His desire, His plan, and His heart all our days!

Thank You, Father!

“Gracious Lord, forgive us when we refuse Your Word, Your Will, or Your call to action. Forgive our disobedience, our reluctance, and our delay. Forgive our shortness of mind, of character, or desire and of heart. Thank You for the gift of Faith through the Holy Spirit and grant that, as Your forgiven, renewed, and led children, we answer “I will, Sir!” to anything and everything all our days; giving bold witness in word and action. In Jesus’ Name; amen!”

Scripture

• Matthew 21:23-32
• Psalm 25:1-10 (responsory)

There is a lot of great stuff in today’s Scripture from Philippians; that “Christ be honored in my body” (Philippians 1:20, as Paul is being persecuted); “to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21); do “not be frightened in anything by your opponents” (Philippians 1:28); that it is granted that we “believe in Him, but also suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29; and today’s title passage, “let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27).

That is so very awesome; and chilling; and bold; and terrifying; and clear; and cloudy!

A life worthy of the gospel of Christ…what does that mean? What does it entail? And note that it doesn’t say being “worthy of Christ, but of the Gospel of Christ.”

Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.

Philippians 1:27

Frankly, how can we be “worthy” of either – ever?!

If we look at all the pain, suffering, and persecution Paul endured (indeed, he was writing this from prison), he had a lot to be bitter about, to complain about, lash out about. He had a lot of ways to be able to give an excuse for any poor behavior on his part. Surely people would understand that suffering elicits challenges that are often reflected in reduced choices.

But Paul makes it clear that his earnest desire is to not be ashamed in his body, but instead honor Christ (and the Gospel).

People knew who Paul was. They knew he was a devote follower and adherent to who Jesus was and the teachings He espoused. To live in a way that contradicts Christ Jesus and the Gospel doesn’t just bear a bad image, it is hypocritical and leads others away from Him rather than toward Him.

May we never do that!

It is one thing to mess up for ourselves. It is a vastly different thing to give ungodly witness to Jesus and the saving Gospel of His suffering, death, and resurrection through our actions!

Ephesians 2:10 says that we are “God’s workmanship” and that He created us to do good deeds; not for salvation, but because we have it already. Our pervious worthless lives are now made worthy through the Gospel. We are now called to live that worthiness out in our body, our actions, our hearts and minds.

We will fail many times in this. Many.

And we will suffer many things in this life. Many.

Yet through it all, let us live (and die) in a manner that holds up the Gospel of Christ, holds up God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness; holds up good, Holy living, so that others may be drawn to Him and His salvation as well.

Let us live in His worthiness in all we do – for Christ and his Gospel!

“Dear Lord, we come confessing that we have not lived our lives in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. Forgive us for those times, Lord, and send us Your Spirit – in heart, mind, and action, so that whether we suffer or thrive, live or die, others may be drawn to You, Lord Jesus. In Your precious name, Amen!”

Scripture

• Philippians 1:12-14, 19-30
• Psalm 27:1-9 (responsory)

Proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

Matthew 10:7

Today we’re taking about some “family business.”

Scriptures

• Exodus 3:7-8, 10
• Ephesians 2:1-10
• Matthew 9:35—10:7
• Psalm 1 (responsory)

My generation will know these words (though maybe not without the music or graphic, but let’s see):

As your body grows bigger,
Your mind must flower.
It’s great to learn,
‘Cause knowledge is power!

If you need a little more help, here’s the rest:

It’s Schoolhouse Rocky
That chip off the block
Of your favorite schoolhouse
Schoolhouse Rock!

That opening and closing to the shorts of Schoolhouse Rock! Was a Saturday morning staple for us – and I suspect most of us still know most of those shorts by heart!

Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:3

These shorts we easy and fun ways to teach kids some of the basics of grammar, math, science, government and more.

There have been similar efforts to teach the Bible over the years, like “Davy and Goliath” and Veggietales.

What an awesome, noble, and biblical goal: teaching Scripture!

We are all called to learn Scripture; learn more about God and the Faith; learn about sin, forgiveness, and holy living! This is what every Christian is tasked and blessed to do – and it’s far easier to do now than ever before. So many good (and many bad, of course) resources to help us along the way.

That is absolutely fantastic!

But sometimes I wonder if we forget the very basic fundamental of Faith in our efforts. The “fear, love, and trust in God above all things.” Knowing that we won’t and can’t know everything about the Bible and God – and that’s ok, because we know God!

Knowledge may be power, but faith in Jesus is salvation!

Of course we must strive for more understanding of God and His Word, but not at the cost of loving and trusting God and His Word.

God want’s our devotion more than our deliberation; our faith more than our facts; our hearts more than our heads.

Here’s the truth – we will never fully understand God and His Word, and that’s ok. But through the Spirit we can have saving, trusting, loving Faith in Jesus, and that’s what’s needed!

Grow in knowledge, but never lack childlike faith in Jesus!

“Dear Lord, help us to have faith like a child – fully fearing, loving, and trusting You above all things. Grant us knowledge and wisdom for our heads but let us never loose a heart turned to You. Let our heart never doubt, even if our head does. In all things, hold us in Your Son, our Savior, Jesus! In His name do we pray; amen!”

Scripture

• Psalm 32:1-7 (Confession)
• Matthew 18:1-6, 10-14