Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Devo. Lk.19:1-10

Zaccheus showed his true faith and repentance by giving away over and above the money he had exploited from the people. It wasn't this act that saved him, rather the act was evidence to his salvation. Jesus confirmed this.---Many in the crowd were upset (questioning) with Jesus hanging around a sinner like Zach. This gave Jesus the opportunity to explain that his whole purpose for coming was to seek and save the lost. Jesus came to save people like Zach...people like you and me, sinners. Only lost people get found. Only lost people get saved. We're all lost until we meet Jesus and accept him as Savior. The difference is some want to pretend they are not sinners (lost) by saying that they are good people. The stubborn won't be saved. Confession comes before salvation.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

No Need to Hate and No Need to be Shocked

I know the Hater is going to hate, but they're ain't no need(southern, imperfect grammar for effect). The latest media spin to attempt to get out of control may prove to be a huge mistake. You can mess with Christians, but mess with the Christian's chicken, and you have declared war. Huge mistake! Truett Cathy is a great American success story. He needed a road out of poverty, and he built a bridge. But he didn't forget his fellow man. Read his story on your own time, this really isn't about him. It's about stupidity. Let me redirect by saying this: if I were to speak to a person of any religious belief; I wouldn't be shocked when they lived by that group's standards. For instance, if in their "book" it said they drank lime gatorade every Monday, I wouldn't be surprised if they drank lime gatorade every Monday. If their book explained their beliefs, and I saw that they lived their lives by this belief; well then, things would match up. They are just doing what "they" do. If a person wants do things based on their beliefs, and I disagree with them; then that is their business. I don't have to like it; but I ain't their Daddy. ---Let me "splain" something to the left-side of the field. I'm not judging you. I don't care what you do. I'm not even calling you names (assuming you're ok with being called "left"). ---But get this, if you ask a for- sure-enough born-again believer in Jesus and the Bible, there are certain responses you shouldn't be surprised when you get from them. Mr. Cathy recently gave one of those, and simply responded "guilty as charged." I know, I know there are folks with variant beliefs on the Scriptures modified for their lifestyle. I am not judging them either. God is the Judge and he'll deal with you, me, all of us. I'm good with that. (And it doesn't matter if I'm good with that.) I guess what I'm saying is Yes. The answer to all your "Larry King-type" questions is "yes." You know what I should say by the Bible. Too many Pastors and Christians side-step stuff. Yes, I agree with what the Bible says about any controversial question you want to ask me. Yes, I believe Jesus is the only way to salvation...because He said so. AND I don't hate you for believing otherwise. I even strangely respect it when you just stick to your solid ground. BUT there is no need to be shocked when I stand with my convictions. If you wanna boycott something, then boycott THIS. Just kidding...sounded too fun. Respect and dialogue. Otherwise, y'all gonna miss the Christian chicken in Boston. Peace.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Rich Man, Poor Man, and the Middle Man

Devo from Luke 18:18-30 A rich young ruler sought from Jesus how he could attain eternal life. The young man pointed to his good deeds. Yet, Jesus pointed out to him that he was still lacking. We tend to do that. We look to the good side of our account, and turn a blind-eye to our short-comings. Knowing that his wealth and the power and connections that come with that meant too much to the man, Jesus told him to shed his wealth and follow him. The man was sad, because that had him dying to self, to his world. The onlookers were astonished. They thought, if the rich man can't be saved, then who can? Jesus explained that salvation by man (works) is impossible. You can't get to God without God! Yet, salvation is possible through God. Peter jumped in to proclaim that the disciples had dropped all to follow Jesus. To which Jesus pointed out, all who forsake this world for God's kingdom will be rewarded many times over in the age to come. ---It is tough for the rich to give up their power and connections to follow Jesus. Dying to self seems the toughest when associated with giving up wealth or money. Their security is tied up to the fact they have plenty of dollars. The poor have a tougher time giving up relationships. To follow Christ they often need to sever relationships, but have a tough time with that. Meanwhile, the middle class have a tougher time giving up the achievement dream. Sometimes that plays out in their offering of time, talent or money. The middle class has a hard time dying to self when the choice is between adding on to the garage or adding on to the church or mission work. Each one has to give up something to follow Jesus, but Jesus promises greater rewards in the age to come!

Friday, July 13, 2012

Jesus is high on Scripture

Jesus has a high view of Scripture. Man apparently kind of has a high view of Scripture. It is the number one selling book, and has been for a long time. You can buy it in a variety of English translations, as well as many other languages. You can buy it with a variety of colors, with notes, and without notes. The most notable differences between Jesus' view of Scripture and ours: he actually read it, quoted it, hid it in his heart; and most importantly he lived by it. In Luke 4 when he was telling the folks from his neighborhood why he came, he quoted Isaiah the prophet. We read the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4. In that passage Jesus quoted Scripture back at Satan as the old nemesis tried to tempt Jesus. Later on, after Jesus' resurrection he chose to reveal himself to two guys (on the Road to Emmaus) as the resurrected Christ by using the Scriptures instead of simply showing the nail scars or the scar in his side. In today's time we will read where some "scholar" tries to dis some of the Old Testament stories and prophetic books. It's funny, Jesus quoted Isaiah, Daniel; he even believed the big fish story of Jonah. He even believed that God rained down fire and brimstone destroying Sodom and Gomorrah. Jesus believed that the Word of God was alive and had impact on real life. It wasn't merely a history book to him. It wasn't just "late-night" reading with some cool stories of teenagers clashing with giants. For Jesus, the Scriptures were something to live by and to live through. He could have taken the privilege as the Son of God to drop some wrath on Satan when he was tempted. He didn't. He showed us how to deal with the devil. He defied the devil and quoted Scripture at him. He could have told his hometown that he was the Son of God and then levitated before them. He didn't. He showed them in Scriptures where it was written about him long ago. By so doing, he showed that what God says happens, happens. Jesus is high on Scripture. You might want to read it. More importantly, you might want to use it to live by...Jesus did.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Ten Healed Lepers

A little something, something from Luke 17:11-19 "On his way to Jerusalem"...in other words, Jesus was on business. He was headed to Jerusalem for a reason, but on the way and in the way he encountered 10 men that had a need. They had leprosy, and they needed a healing. They were hopeless until they saw Jesus passing through. They yelled out asking Jesus to have mercy on them. He told them to go and show themselves to the priests. A person could only go before the priests if they had been healed of leprosy. So these guys were bright enough to know what Jesus meant. He didn't mince words. They were healed just by his word! Healing was a result of their faith as exhibited by their obedience to Jesus. Yet only one turned back to thank Jesus (and Luke tells us that he was a Samaritan, a foreigner.). This man praised God and fell at Jesus' feet. This man displayed the gratefulness that we could show more often. ---How often do we truly, outwardly show thanks to God for such a great a salvation we have in Christ Jesus? We can show that in genuine praise and worship at home or with a large group (church). Jesus did make note that only 1 of 10 came back to give thanks, and he was a foreigner. Jesus recognizes when we thank him and when we don't.---Apparently the Jews had an air of entitlement about them like he owed them something. Scriptures tell us that the wages of sin is death and all men have sinned. Since all men have sinned, we have death as our entitlement. Therefore, like the lepers we should cry out to Jesus for he is our only hope. And like the one guy, we need to go the extra mile in thanking Jesus. Do you think him everyday? You should. We ought to wake up and pinch ourselves, asking: "Wow, did God really save me?" ---Let your light shine so that others know Jesus is in you. That is one way of thanking Jesus for your salvation.

Monday, July 2, 2012

God's Way

Devo. from Luke 16:19-31 God's way of reaching us has always been by and through His Word. In the story of the Rich man and Lazarus we get a view of two distinct destinations after this life separated by a gulf: one with hope and the other with no hope. One is a place of rest, and one is a place of torment and anguish (Jesus' words). The natural reaction is to choose the place of rest, but how? Here we find that this life matters. The Rich man never found a need for God during this life and finds himself in a bad place. He becomes concerned for the family he left behind, because he knew they were just like him. ---He wants a miracle to grab their attention, or better yet someone rising from the dead to go and get them to repent. But Jesus says they must believe Moses and the Prophets (the Scriptures, God's Word) to make it. He says that if they don't (better yet, won't)believe the Scriptures, they won't be convinced even if someone were to rise from the dead! --- Note how often people want a miracle to convince someone to get right with God. Over and over, Jesus points out that the power is in the Word of God. It's a rebellious generation that seeks a miracle. Jesus fought off the temptation of Satan with Scripture. After his resurrection He revealed himself to the guys on the Road to Emmaus through Scripture when he could have just showed them his nail scarred hands or the scar from the wound in his side. The use of Scripture in revealing God's Christ and His plan is God's way. If you're holding out for a miracle, you might be waiting forever.---The resurrection of Christ is God's miracle, and it will be your miracle as well if you only believe what the Scriptures plainly testify.