Jesus made a very familiar statement in John 15:5 "Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit."
I got to thinking about fruit today. When we think of fruit what comes to mind? I think about activity. If we are a busy person then we are bearing much fruit. I think about success. If a lot of people know all the things we are doing then we are fruitful. I think about prestige. If people respect us for all the activity then we are bearing fruit.
Then I got to thinking about what Jesus actually said and two things come to mind.
The first is that he is pretty definite that if we have his life then we WILL bear fruit. That's a promise. It's cause and effect. It is a foregone conclusion. So what fruit should we look for?
It's found in verse 12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends." He also told us to love our enemies and pray for those who spitefully use us.
I'm beginning to think that fruit isn't what we do as much as who we are. Paul the Apostle said that fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control (Galatians 5:22).
If we abide in him as the vine then his life force is flowing through us, changing us into his image. As you look for fruit in your life, don't look for activity and accomplishment, but look for love - love for those you normally would not, should not, love. Look for character, not activity.
Pastor Tom
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Snakehandling
That title got your attention, didn't it? Our men's Bible discussion group talked about something today that I think is worthy of repeating here in this space. We were going through Acts 28 where Paul the Apostle is on the island of Malta. As he is throwing wood on the fire a snake comes out and bites him. The islanders think that Justice (with a capital "J") has not let Paul get away with murder so sent a snake to bite him. When nothing happens they suddenly change their minds and think he is a god instead. How fickle the human heart.
But what we talked about was how this verse dovetails with Mark 16:18 "They will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them..."
I know that verse doesn't appear in the earliest manuscripts, and I'm not here to debate whether it should or shouldn't be in the Bible. But some people believe it should be there and, in fact, use that verse along with Acts 28 to justify the practice of picking up deadly snakes to "prove" this verse accurate.
Some of you may have seen a news show segment some years ago that showed a snake handlers meeting where a guy picks up a snake, it bites him, then we watch as the guy swells up and dies. It's an image that still haunts me.
It is troubling to watch someone die and for such a useless cause. It also seems to give Christianity a bad name as well. So the guys were talking about it and one guy mentioned that it is a matter of the heart.
Basically, Paul was going about doing God's business for God's glory. It wasn't time for him to go home (tradition says he was beheaded later on) so until then God protected him from the snake and everything else (though he sure got beat up a lot. Hmmm). When someone purposefully picks up something like a snake, or puts themselves into a situation where bad will happen without divine intervention who is the focus? Isn't it on the person, not on God? And if nothing happens who gets the glory? The person, not the Lord.
Now in Paul's case they tried to make him out to be a god. Paul just ignored that and went about letting the Lord show his power by healing the islanders. The word to us is not to test God (like Lucifer tried to get Jesus to do by throwing himself off the pinnacle of the Temple) but to trust that God will take us where we need to be and protect us until it is time for us to go home.
Watch out for testing God's goodness or protection. Just know that it is there when you need it as long as you are focusing the glory on Him and doing what he tells you to do.
Pastor Tom
But what we talked about was how this verse dovetails with Mark 16:18 "They will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them..."
I know that verse doesn't appear in the earliest manuscripts, and I'm not here to debate whether it should or shouldn't be in the Bible. But some people believe it should be there and, in fact, use that verse along with Acts 28 to justify the practice of picking up deadly snakes to "prove" this verse accurate.
Some of you may have seen a news show segment some years ago that showed a snake handlers meeting where a guy picks up a snake, it bites him, then we watch as the guy swells up and dies. It's an image that still haunts me.
It is troubling to watch someone die and for such a useless cause. It also seems to give Christianity a bad name as well. So the guys were talking about it and one guy mentioned that it is a matter of the heart.
Basically, Paul was going about doing God's business for God's glory. It wasn't time for him to go home (tradition says he was beheaded later on) so until then God protected him from the snake and everything else (though he sure got beat up a lot. Hmmm). When someone purposefully picks up something like a snake, or puts themselves into a situation where bad will happen without divine intervention who is the focus? Isn't it on the person, not on God? And if nothing happens who gets the glory? The person, not the Lord.
Now in Paul's case they tried to make him out to be a god. Paul just ignored that and went about letting the Lord show his power by healing the islanders. The word to us is not to test God (like Lucifer tried to get Jesus to do by throwing himself off the pinnacle of the Temple) but to trust that God will take us where we need to be and protect us until it is time for us to go home.
Watch out for testing God's goodness or protection. Just know that it is there when you need it as long as you are focusing the glory on Him and doing what he tells you to do.
Pastor Tom
Monday, January 28, 2008
The Choice To Serve
The more money we have, and the more power we have, the more we can afford to have other people do things for us. It's just a fact of life. If you make enough you can have servants do the cleaning and cooking and ordering and arranging - all those pesky little details that keep us from doing things we really want to do.
Now, I'm not dissing having a butler or a maid. But I think that to a certain extent, that mindset follows with us when it comes to life in our real family - the family of God. We come to faith in Jesus Christ and most of us join a church where we are fed, encouraged, prayed for, challenged, and worship (if you won't belong to a church, why not? - And don't tell me its because Christians are hypocrites. There are no perfect churches. Just pick the one that offends you the least and join it!).
What happens though is that the more power we get, the more prestige, the more people look up to us, the more we start wanting others to do work for us. You know, those pesky little details like cleaning and cooking and ordering and arranging and all that.
I just want to challenge you today to think about the words of Jesus - the most important person in the universe.
Luke 22:25 "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves."
Choosing the role of servant can be very humbling, and perhaps that's the point. The God we serve is very humble and shows us that the way to his character is to serve, not be served. So don't be afraid to dive in there and do the menial tasks around your church. And that includes coming alongside and supporting those that you might not normally associate with. Find out there needs, help them practically and spiritually.
Pastor Tom
Now, I'm not dissing having a butler or a maid. But I think that to a certain extent, that mindset follows with us when it comes to life in our real family - the family of God. We come to faith in Jesus Christ and most of us join a church where we are fed, encouraged, prayed for, challenged, and worship (if you won't belong to a church, why not? - And don't tell me its because Christians are hypocrites. There are no perfect churches. Just pick the one that offends you the least and join it!).
What happens though is that the more power we get, the more prestige, the more people look up to us, the more we start wanting others to do work for us. You know, those pesky little details like cleaning and cooking and ordering and arranging and all that.
I just want to challenge you today to think about the words of Jesus - the most important person in the universe.
Luke 22:25 "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves."
Choosing the role of servant can be very humbling, and perhaps that's the point. The God we serve is very humble and shows us that the way to his character is to serve, not be served. So don't be afraid to dive in there and do the menial tasks around your church. And that includes coming alongside and supporting those that you might not normally associate with. Find out there needs, help them practically and spiritually.
Pastor Tom
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Use or Be Used
Luke 12:15 "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions."
Notice that Jesus did not say "be on your guard against all possessions." It's not wrong to own things, it is wrong when things own you. It's not wrong to have possessions but it is wrong when those possessions possess you.
Think about it this way. If you lost everything in a flood or fire would you be lost? Where do you get your satisfaction? Where does your real source come from? Where is your heart?
Things are tools. Use tools to accomplish God's will instead of getting God to give you things to accomplish yours! It's not things that is the problem but greed. Greed says "I've gotta have this to be happy." The heart walking with the Spirit says "I've gotta have God to be happy."
Jesus gives us the key later in the same chapter: "29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you."
Pastor Tom
Notice that Jesus did not say "be on your guard against all possessions." It's not wrong to own things, it is wrong when things own you. It's not wrong to have possessions but it is wrong when those possessions possess you.
Think about it this way. If you lost everything in a flood or fire would you be lost? Where do you get your satisfaction? Where does your real source come from? Where is your heart?
Things are tools. Use tools to accomplish God's will instead of getting God to give you things to accomplish yours! It's not things that is the problem but greed. Greed says "I've gotta have this to be happy." The heart walking with the Spirit says "I've gotta have God to be happy."
Jesus gives us the key later in the same chapter: "29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you."
Pastor Tom
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Moving Mountains Out of Love
There's a story in Luke 7 that hit me afresh today. In it, Jesus is walking along and sees a funeral procession. The people are carrying the coffin of a man who was the only son of a woman who was now a widow.
13 "And he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."
Then he proceeded to stop the procession, lay his hands on the coffin and resuscitate the young man.
I notice two things about this. The first is the power of Jesus. He decided to do something and he just said some words and it happened. I recently lost a loved one and have been hit full in the face of the power of death to take someone. Yet death is nothing to Jesus. What power this guy had - and has over anything, everything you face.
The second thing I notice is that the guy had nothing to do with this. Jesus felt compassion for this woman who was left alone with no companionship and no support. His heart reached out to her and so he raised her son from the dead. Jesus might not raise your loved one from the dead and he may not solve your problem in a second, but realize that he has compassion on you. He knows where you hurt and wants to reach out with his power to touch that hurting part of you with his love. Isn't that cool?
Pastor Tom
13 "And he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."
Then he proceeded to stop the procession, lay his hands on the coffin and resuscitate the young man.
I notice two things about this. The first is the power of Jesus. He decided to do something and he just said some words and it happened. I recently lost a loved one and have been hit full in the face of the power of death to take someone. Yet death is nothing to Jesus. What power this guy had - and has over anything, everything you face.
The second thing I notice is that the guy had nothing to do with this. Jesus felt compassion for this woman who was left alone with no companionship and no support. His heart reached out to her and so he raised her son from the dead. Jesus might not raise your loved one from the dead and he may not solve your problem in a second, but realize that he has compassion on you. He knows where you hurt and wants to reach out with his power to touch that hurting part of you with his love. Isn't that cool?
Pastor Tom
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Revealer of Thoughts
I was reading through the first five chapters of Luke's gospel and the story of Simeon really leaped out at me. Simeon is almost a footnote in the account of Christ's life. He appears on the scene and disappears when Jesus is but 8 days old. His parents have come to have him dedicated at the Temple.
Simeon is described as "righteous and devout" and was promised by the Holy Spirit that he would see the Messiah before he died.
Now right in his very arms is this little baby that will be the savior, not only of Israel, but of the whole world. His words are strange, though, and not what I would have expected for such a momentous occasion.
In part he said: "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed ... so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2:34-35)
What had to fall was a corrupt and no longer valid religious system of Judaism and what had to rise was the one Person that all it was supposed to point to anyway - Jesus Himself. He was certainly opposed by the leaders of the Jews, and murdered in the end.
But what I find most interesting is this idea that "thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." You know if you think about Jesus very much, if you read his words, if you consider his actions while on earth, its hard for something to not strike a nerve. Hating is the same as murder, you must believe in Me or be eternally separated from God, I came that they might have life, and that more abundantly.
What do your thoughts do when you hear his words? Do they soar or do they plummet? Do you get angry or do you become joyful? Do you want to hear more or do you want to turn away?
Sometimes Jesus reveals our thoughts not to condemn us but to challenge us to look deeper, see what He is really all about for each of us. You might think that you are one of the ones to "fall" but if you seek him with your heart you may find you are "rising" after all - rising to meet him and give your life to him to he will give his abundant life to you!
Pastor Tom
Simeon is described as "righteous and devout" and was promised by the Holy Spirit that he would see the Messiah before he died.
Now right in his very arms is this little baby that will be the savior, not only of Israel, but of the whole world. His words are strange, though, and not what I would have expected for such a momentous occasion.
In part he said: "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed ... so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2:34-35)
What had to fall was a corrupt and no longer valid religious system of Judaism and what had to rise was the one Person that all it was supposed to point to anyway - Jesus Himself. He was certainly opposed by the leaders of the Jews, and murdered in the end.
But what I find most interesting is this idea that "thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." You know if you think about Jesus very much, if you read his words, if you consider his actions while on earth, its hard for something to not strike a nerve. Hating is the same as murder, you must believe in Me or be eternally separated from God, I came that they might have life, and that more abundantly.
What do your thoughts do when you hear his words? Do they soar or do they plummet? Do you get angry or do you become joyful? Do you want to hear more or do you want to turn away?
Sometimes Jesus reveals our thoughts not to condemn us but to challenge us to look deeper, see what He is really all about for each of us. You might think that you are one of the ones to "fall" but if you seek him with your heart you may find you are "rising" after all - rising to meet him and give your life to him to he will give his abundant life to you!
Pastor Tom
Friday, January 18, 2008
It's Really Pretty Simple
People love to get into philosophical and theological and religious discussions about things. What I love about Jesus is that he can boil things down to the really important stuff very easily.
Take the little encounter he has with one of the scribes in Mark 12. The scribe had heard Jesus answer well in an argument that the religious leaders of Israel had with Jesus so he asks him "which commandment is the most important of all?" (Mark 12:28).
I love Jesus' answer: "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' (29-31)
Boiled down to its essence, Jesus is saying:
Recognize God for who He is, love him, and let his love flow through you to others.
It couldn't be more simple. It's too bad we humans muck it up so much. I guess that's why we need the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives to do what we are incapable of.
Pastor Tom
Take the little encounter he has with one of the scribes in Mark 12. The scribe had heard Jesus answer well in an argument that the religious leaders of Israel had with Jesus so he asks him "which commandment is the most important of all?" (Mark 12:28).
I love Jesus' answer: "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' (29-31)
Boiled down to its essence, Jesus is saying:
Recognize God for who He is, love him, and let his love flow through you to others.
It couldn't be more simple. It's too bad we humans muck it up so much. I guess that's why we need the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives to do what we are incapable of.
Pastor Tom
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Pulling Jesus Aside
I love Peter. He just was so open and honest, no matter what dumb thing came out of his mouth! In Mark's gospel Jesus has just made one of the most remarkable declarations in Scripture - that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah.
But just as Jesus is telling his guys what it really means to be Messiah - that he will be murdered but rise from the dead - Peter pulls him aside to correct him a little.
Mark 8:32 "And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
Now while I don't think that Jesus was calling Peter Satan I think that Satan's way would have been to short circuit the real work of the Messiah in order to keep men like Peter from being regenerated.
My point today though is to ask ourselves: do you ever get the urge when God speaks something into your life through his word or that still small voice to correct the Lord a little? "God you can't really mean to give sacrificially to your work" or "Lord you don't want me to humble myself before this low life person and ask for their forgiveness, do you?"
God will never ask us to do anything that goes against his character or his word but he will ask us to do things that make us uncomfortable and will push us well beyond our limits. When you get the urge to pull God aside and tell him to mellow out, just think of Peter and make sure you have in mind God's plan, not yours!
Pastor Tom
But just as Jesus is telling his guys what it really means to be Messiah - that he will be murdered but rise from the dead - Peter pulls him aside to correct him a little.
Mark 8:32 "And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
Now while I don't think that Jesus was calling Peter Satan I think that Satan's way would have been to short circuit the real work of the Messiah in order to keep men like Peter from being regenerated.
My point today though is to ask ourselves: do you ever get the urge when God speaks something into your life through his word or that still small voice to correct the Lord a little? "God you can't really mean to give sacrificially to your work" or "Lord you don't want me to humble myself before this low life person and ask for their forgiveness, do you?"
God will never ask us to do anything that goes against his character or his word but he will ask us to do things that make us uncomfortable and will push us well beyond our limits. When you get the urge to pull God aside and tell him to mellow out, just think of Peter and make sure you have in mind God's plan, not yours!
Pastor Tom
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit
Did you know that there is only one sin that cannot be forgiven? Jesus made that statement in Mark.
Mark 3:28 "Truly I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin."
Now that's a verse with a wallop! What did Jesus mean? Did he mean that if you say bad things about the Holy Spirit then you won't be forgiven? Lots of people believe that. I don't think that follows in line with God's plan of salvation.
We get a clue from reading the next statement: "for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."
In short, I believe that blaspheme against the Holy Spirit is saying that the person and work of God's Holy Spirit in saving the world through Jesus Christ is either worthless or worse yet a ploy of Satan.
You see, in the end it all comes down to whether you are related to Jesus or not. You can only become related to him if you put your trust and confidence in Him as your Lord and Savior.
In Matthew 7:23 Jesus makes it pretty clear to those who claimed to do mighty things in God's name: "And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
To reject Jesus is to reject the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the only thing that will get you sent away from the presence of God and from all that is good, forever. Hey, its not worth it.
Pastor Tom
Mark 3:28 "Truly I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin."
Now that's a verse with a wallop! What did Jesus mean? Did he mean that if you say bad things about the Holy Spirit then you won't be forgiven? Lots of people believe that. I don't think that follows in line with God's plan of salvation.
We get a clue from reading the next statement: "for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."
In short, I believe that blaspheme against the Holy Spirit is saying that the person and work of God's Holy Spirit in saving the world through Jesus Christ is either worthless or worse yet a ploy of Satan.
You see, in the end it all comes down to whether you are related to Jesus or not. You can only become related to him if you put your trust and confidence in Him as your Lord and Savior.
In Matthew 7:23 Jesus makes it pretty clear to those who claimed to do mighty things in God's name: "And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
To reject Jesus is to reject the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the only thing that will get you sent away from the presence of God and from all that is good, forever. Hey, its not worth it.
Pastor Tom
Monday, January 14, 2008
Broken or Crushed?
Not a very good choice, is it? We'd like the choices to be "better" or "best", or at least "adequate" and "comfortable." Unfortunately when it comes to real life there really are only two choices: "crushed" or "broken." Now, aren't you glad you read the blog today? ;-)
This idea comes from Matthew 21:44 "And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him."
It's actually good news kind of veiled. If you "fall" on Jesus, the "stone that the builders rejected" (42) you will be broken to pieces - that is, your pride, your self reliance, your sin - will all be broken as you repent about those things and decide you want God's life. It can be a painful process but it is absolutely necessary.
But if you refuse that breaking process, the alternate is far worse. Jesus says that you will be "crushed." That is to say that judgment, which already rests on all humanity, will weigh you down with its full weight - something you simply cannot bear.
So why not let yourself fall on Jesus, on his mercy and grace, on his love and hope, on his life and joy. Yes, you will be broken in the process but Jesus will then build you back up as a new person - a much better person.
Pastor Tom
This idea comes from Matthew 21:44 "And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him."
It's actually good news kind of veiled. If you "fall" on Jesus, the "stone that the builders rejected" (42) you will be broken to pieces - that is, your pride, your self reliance, your sin - will all be broken as you repent about those things and decide you want God's life. It can be a painful process but it is absolutely necessary.
But if you refuse that breaking process, the alternate is far worse. Jesus says that you will be "crushed." That is to say that judgment, which already rests on all humanity, will weigh you down with its full weight - something you simply cannot bear.
So why not let yourself fall on Jesus, on his mercy and grace, on his love and hope, on his life and joy. Yes, you will be broken in the process but Jesus will then build you back up as a new person - a much better person.
Pastor Tom
Friday, January 11, 2008
Should We Pay Taxes?
In Matthew 17 Jesus makes a pretty bold statement. Some IRS agents (okay, not really, but they were tax collectors) came up to Peter and wanted to know if Jesus intended to file his 1040. Peter immediately says "yes" - which is typical of Peter - speak first and find out the answer later.
Later he finds Jesus and he makes this pretty bold statement:
"What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the dearth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others? And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free."
The implication is clearer to us than it was to Peter. Since we are sons of the King of Kings we are exempt from the petty taxes collected by kings from their subjects. Right?
Read on:
"However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."
My simple point for today is that for Jesus it was more important to follow the law than make their freedom so much of a point that those tax collectors might actually miss the really important point, and that is that everyone has the opportunity to become free from sin by becoming a son in God's family.
We should never use our freedoms in Christ in a way that might cause someone else not to follow Christ. Do a search, the letters from the Apostles are full of examples where we are encouraged to follow even stupid laws and be law abiding citizens and tax paying citizens so as to be good examples and possibly lead people to faith in Christ.
Pastor Tom
Later he finds Jesus and he makes this pretty bold statement:
"What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the dearth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others? And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free."
The implication is clearer to us than it was to Peter. Since we are sons of the King of Kings we are exempt from the petty taxes collected by kings from their subjects. Right?
Read on:
"However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."
My simple point for today is that for Jesus it was more important to follow the law than make their freedom so much of a point that those tax collectors might actually miss the really important point, and that is that everyone has the opportunity to become free from sin by becoming a son in God's family.
We should never use our freedoms in Christ in a way that might cause someone else not to follow Christ. Do a search, the letters from the Apostles are full of examples where we are encouraged to follow even stupid laws and be law abiding citizens and tax paying citizens so as to be good examples and possibly lead people to faith in Christ.
Pastor Tom
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Living With Evil
A question I hear fairly often is why God allows evil to exist. Either he isn't powerful enough to get rid of it or he isn't interested. Either way people struggle with the idea that a powerful and just God could let evil people get away with doing evil things.
While I won't solve the entire puzzle for you I want to offer one little insight that Jesus Christ, God's Son, brought to us while He was on the earth.
In one of Jesus' parables he describes a man who planted good seed in the ground. Some bad people came along at night and planted weeds and both came up in the field.
Matthew 11:28 "So the servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?' But he said, 'No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.'"
Jesus later explained that the seeds represent people and that at the end of the age the angels will gather everyone and separate the good from the evil.
He doesn't explain why they left the wheat and weeds together so I go with what the field owner said in the parable-that by rooting up the weeds prematurely you would also disturb the wheat. My point is that for God to go after evil in the way that is really just would be so disruptive to life on earth that it would be difficult to live and difficult to go about sharing the good news that God has made a way to get rid of evil in the human soul.
If you want to read about when God does begin that process of weeding out evil, read the book of the Revelation beginning in chapter 16. Life during that time will be very difficult to everyone.
God is patient and wants all to come to the knowledge of his Son Jesus. But God is just and when the time comes, evil will get exactly what it deserves.
Pastor Tom
While I won't solve the entire puzzle for you I want to offer one little insight that Jesus Christ, God's Son, brought to us while He was on the earth.
In one of Jesus' parables he describes a man who planted good seed in the ground. Some bad people came along at night and planted weeds and both came up in the field.
Matthew 11:28 "So the servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?' But he said, 'No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.'"
Jesus later explained that the seeds represent people and that at the end of the age the angels will gather everyone and separate the good from the evil.
He doesn't explain why they left the wheat and weeds together so I go with what the field owner said in the parable-that by rooting up the weeds prematurely you would also disturb the wheat. My point is that for God to go after evil in the way that is really just would be so disruptive to life on earth that it would be difficult to live and difficult to go about sharing the good news that God has made a way to get rid of evil in the human soul.
If you want to read about when God does begin that process of weeding out evil, read the book of the Revelation beginning in chapter 16. Life during that time will be very difficult to everyone.
God is patient and wants all to come to the knowledge of his Son Jesus. But God is just and when the time comes, evil will get exactly what it deserves.
Pastor Tom
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Starting Over
It's great to start a new year. My 2007 was pretty eventful and pretty difficult. My family and I have been through so much that one person suggested that I should just burn 2007.
Well, I don't want to do that. God did some pretty amazing things and brought me through some pretty incredible trials. I'm stronger in him though weaker in myself and that's okay.
It reminded me, though, of a little verse at the end of the Old Testament that you may have never read:
Zechariah 10:6 "I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them..." ESV
Wouldn't it be great if you could turn back time and undo all the stupid stuff you did in the past? I've said and done things that I really regret but like a wise person once said "you can't unring a bell." But with God, it seems, you can.
"they shall be as if I had not rejected them."
With the payment that Jesus Christ made by becoming human and voluntarily laying down his life for us we can be with God as if we had never been apart from him. "His mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:22-23).
In Jesus it is as if you had never sinned--as if Adam had never sinned. All your mistakes and weaknesses are wiped away. You can come before God in purity and holiness.
Try thinking about that as you start your 2008.
Pastor Tom
Well, I don't want to do that. God did some pretty amazing things and brought me through some pretty incredible trials. I'm stronger in him though weaker in myself and that's okay.
It reminded me, though, of a little verse at the end of the Old Testament that you may have never read:
Zechariah 10:6 "I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them..." ESV
Wouldn't it be great if you could turn back time and undo all the stupid stuff you did in the past? I've said and done things that I really regret but like a wise person once said "you can't unring a bell." But with God, it seems, you can.
"they shall be as if I had not rejected them."
With the payment that Jesus Christ made by becoming human and voluntarily laying down his life for us we can be with God as if we had never been apart from him. "His mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:22-23).
In Jesus it is as if you had never sinned--as if Adam had never sinned. All your mistakes and weaknesses are wiped away. You can come before God in purity and holiness.
Try thinking about that as you start your 2008.
Pastor Tom
Monday, January 07, 2008
God Rejoices Over You
Zephaniah 3:15-17
The Lord has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; You shall see disaster no more. 16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. 17 The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." NKJV
I just love those words. Yes, they are spoken to Israel and picture a redeemed and restored people of God. But Romans tells us that as Christians you have been grafted into Israel and so the same wonderful promise is yours as well.
Jesus took away our judgments by dieing on the cross for us. He cast out our enemies: sin, death, and the devil. Jesus has made his permanent dwelling in your heart. And so we are not weak, we do not need to fear anything!
And then look how this section ends. Did you know that God actually sings over you with gladness? That is such an awesome picture that I had to share it. If you are feeling particularly weak or troubled today, read over these verses and let the love of God quiet your soul. Can you hear the singing?
Pastor Tom
The Lord has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; You shall see disaster no more. 16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. 17 The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." NKJV
I just love those words. Yes, they are spoken to Israel and picture a redeemed and restored people of God. But Romans tells us that as Christians you have been grafted into Israel and so the same wonderful promise is yours as well.
Jesus took away our judgments by dieing on the cross for us. He cast out our enemies: sin, death, and the devil. Jesus has made his permanent dwelling in your heart. And so we are not weak, we do not need to fear anything!
And then look how this section ends. Did you know that God actually sings over you with gladness? That is such an awesome picture that I had to share it. If you are feeling particularly weak or troubled today, read over these verses and let the love of God quiet your soul. Can you hear the singing?
Pastor Tom
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
