The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

 

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. (Psalm 19:1-6 ESV).

 

I am always partial to pictures of the Smokies in the fall of the year. The one I’ve attached today was taken some years ago when Mary and I traveled along the road from Gatlinburg, TN., to Cherokee, N.C. It crosses the mountains as it winds its way through Newfound Gap. The views are spectacular. However, the mistake that we often succumb to is in not hearing the voice of God in what we see of His handiwork.

 

As we have been reflecting on what it means to be a witness to God’s saving work, I’ve had a few who have responded that they can’t hear God like I do. Well, let me assure you that I have no special ability to hear the voice of God. However, I often remind myself that everything I see in this world is a product of God’s work of creation. Every sunrise and sunset is a testament to the greatness of God. Everything is that voice of God telling us of His love and grace. That is the basis of our witness. To be a witness is to simply tell about what you have seen and heard. As Christians, we believe that God is always at work around us, so our role is to bear witness to his presence and goodness.

 

There is no need to prove God. All of creation does that quite effectively. Our task is to simply call others to look with eyes that see a bit more deeply at what He has already done. The Holy Spirit is quite capable of taking it the rest of the way!

 

Jesus - the Light of the World

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. (John 1:1–8 ESV).

 

I love how the gospel of John describes the work of John the Baptist. It is a reassuring description of what it means to be an evangelist (a witness) for Jesus. We are told that John came as a witness, to testify concerning the light of Christ. We get this important clarification: “He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.” (v. 8). I think this is an important distinction to understand from most contemporary concepts of “evangelism.” Today we hear others talk about sharing our faith, and we are pause, becoming anxious about having the right words to say. What if I say something wrong? What if someone asks me a question I don’t know how to answer? What kind of witness would that be?

 

Wherever you may be right now, take a look at the closest light near you. Doing so might not be very comfortable for your eyes, though. In general, lights are not designed to be looked at. The purpose of a light is to reveal the things around it. For example, you can read a book and see other things around you because some kind of light is helping you to see those things.

 

The role of John the Baptist, “who came as a witness to testify” about Jesus, was to help people understand about the light. John was not the light. But he helped people to understand that the One who is the light makes it possible to see what life is all about. In the same way, our witness about Jesus is not about ourselves—it points people to the One who is the light of the world. To be an effective “witness” is simply to point others to look at Jesus! We need that in our world today desperately!

 

I Don't Have a Story Like That!

 

A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” (John 4:7-15 ESV).

 

Our reading today contains the story known as the “Woman at the Well.” Her interaction with Jesus is well-known throughout the Church. It is both dramatic and powerful in presenting the power of Jesus to redeem. The grace Jesus shows to this disgraced and rejected woman is incredible. It is no wonder that she ultimately becomes a powerful witness to Jesus throughout her village. In that way it is similar to the Apostle Paul’s story of His Damascus Road experience and redemption.

 

I have been told by some that my story of redemption is one that is unusual and uncommon. My hope is that it is never a story that centers on me; it should always be a story about Jesus. Sometimes Christians are uneasy about sharing the gospel message because they don’t think their personal experience is extraordinary. I’ve heard many tell me they can hardly remember when they first came to believe in Jesus. For some it was the result of many years of being in a church that consistently preached the message of Jesus. It might have ended in an experience at Vacation Bible School, or Youth Camp; but in every case they felt there story was ordinary. That is simply not true. It is extraordinary, because Jesus is extraordinary!

 

When Jesus struck up a conversation with this woman at the well, it was culturally unusual for him to speak with a woman he did not know, but she sensed his care for her and her life. He was bold but also highly relational and kind. As she talked with him, she showed that she was a thoughtful but wounded person with broken relationships in her past. Aren’t we all broken and wounded before Jesus redeems us?

 

We are called to tell that story. It is that story about Jesus bringing wholeness and healing to our hearts and minds that people must hear. Jesus is the real story every believer has to tell!

 

A Story So Big, We Cannot Help but Tell It

 

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:13–20 ESV).

 

Today’s picture is from the archives of the Facebook thread titled “A&W Root Beer.” It was located on Texas Avenue in College Station, Texas. This photo was taken in the mid to late sixties, just about the same time I was a student at Texas A&M. It has long since been demolished and replaced with high-rise dorms. However, it holds a very special place in my memory. It was the place I first met Mary. In fact, it was that very evening when she and a friend of hers decided to get in the back seat of my car with a friend of mine and me for a hamburger and a frosty mug of root beer. Before your mind begins to wander, she and her girlfriend were seated in the back seat while my friend and I were in the front. Soon into the conversation I turned to her and said, “You’re the most beautiful woman I‘ve ever seen. I’m going to marry you.”  Her response was less than enthusiastic, “Marry me? I won’t even date you. You’re not a Christian.” Well, that was not at all what I expected! But it was the beginning of a journey that has lasted well over half a century!

 

It has been an extraordinary journey! I have often told the story, though I’ve never written the whole of it in any of my published works. Today, the point I want to make is that when we see or experience something extraordinary, usually we can’t help telling people about it. Whether it is an encounter with a celebrity or a wonderful vacation or a life-changing event, we want to share it. That’s why I have told the story so many times to so many people. This was that moment when my life began to change in so many ways.

 

As we think about God’s big mission, I want to focus on our second word, witness. We give witness, or testimony, about God’s work of salvation because God calls us to do so, and the Holy Spirit has come to help us (cf. Acts 1:8). But we are also motivated internally. If we have experienced the saving love and power of God, and it has completely changed who we are and how we live, how can we not talk about it?

 

In our passage today, we read that the apostles Peter and John caused a stir among the religious leaders in Jerusalem by healing a lame man. Those leaders wanted to know by what power or authority they had done this work. Peter, bold as ever, declared that they served Jesus and Jesus alone. And as for their work of speaking about Jesus and ministering in his name, how could they keep from sharing about all they had learned from the Savior? Likewise, our lives ought to spill over with the joy of our salvation!

 

What’s your story? Leave it in a comment for others to share in your joy!

 

The Big Joy of the Invitation

 

When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’” (Luke 14:15–24 ESV).

 

Thinking about the gospel reminds us that at the heart of the Christian faith is a life- changing message of joy. That’s why I like this parable so much. Jesus uses a powerful metaphor to describe life with him in the kingdom of God: a great banquet. In Jesus’ day, banquets often celebrated important events in the community. In fact, Jesus’ first miracle took place at a wedding banquet. To spare the family from social embarrassment when their wine had run out early, Jesus turned several jugs of water into wine (cf. John 2:1-11).

 

In our reading (Luke 14:15-24), Jesus tells a story about a wealthy man who hosts a banquet for his friends. They all accept the initial invitation, but when the day of the banquet comes and they are told that the food is ready, they make ridiculous excuses and reject the host’s generosity. So, the angry and frustrated host opens his table to whoever wants to come. He compels his servants to go out and invite those who would be the least likely in many others’ eyes to be invited.

 

I identify so well with this story. I was one of those that would have been counted among the “least likely” to receive an invitation to attend such a lavish affair. I wonder if the reason we have empty seats in our churches is not rooted in our reticence to invite them all! The joy we have been given to attend cannot be hidden. It is meant for everyone!

 

The Big Love of God

 

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:7–12 ESV).

 

I sometimes ask people if they believe God loves them. For those who answer affirmatively, I follow that question with one that goes a bit deeper in revealing what they understand about the love of God. I ask, “Why does God love you?” The answers are shockingly similar. Almost everyone answers with phrases like “Because I am sometimes kind to others,” or “Because I try to do my best in my life,” or perhaps something like “I try my best to take care of my family.” In almost every case the answers are connected to their efforts to earn it. This idea is foreign to the Scripture.

 

The true heart of the gospel is captured in the powerful words of our reading today: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

 

The gospel message is that there is nothing we can do to make Jesus love us. Our salvation is offered as a completely free, undeserved gift: we simply receive it. Our passage sums it all up in one word: love. The Apostle Paul writes it this way:

 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV).

 

Receive the good news for you today: This is love: not that you loved God (or did anything else to earn God’s favor), but that he loves you and sent his Son as a saving sacrifice for your sins. You are loved—just because you are you and God is love.

 

The Big Gospel

 

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-28 ESV).

 

Yesterday we a series surrounding the “bigness” of God. Today, we will look at the first word describing God’s big mission: Gospel. “Gospel” is the Old English translation of the Koine Greek term εὐαγγέλιον (euangélion), meaning "good news". The definition that I think captures just how big and amazing this good news is: “The gospel is the good news of God’s reign, grace, and love in and through Christ for the redemption and renewal of all things.” This definition shapes everything we should be doing in the mission field God has given to each of us. I like Pratney’s quote in the attached meme: Every Christian is a missionary; every non-Christian is a mission-field. The Gospel is meant for everyone.

 

We see this definition at work here in our reading. Jesus announces and proclaims the good news that God’s kingdom has arrived—our God reigns! This good news is not just an announcement; it comes with a powerful demonstration of this life-changing message. Filled with compassion and love, Jesus heals people of “every disease and sickness.” What’s more, Jesus longs to see his team multiply and bring this good news to a world that is desperate for hope and love.

 

In a day when good news is hard to find, there is no better news than the good news of Jesus. There is no better calling than to share this good news with others. “The harvest is plentiful” … we can be the laborers to go into that harvest! (v. 37).

 

A Big, Big God

 

Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.” Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness. (Psalm 96:1-13 ESV)

 

According to the scientific evidence we presently have, there are an estimated 2 trillion galaxies in the observable universe. This estimate was derived using data from the Hubble Space Telescope combined with sophisticated mathematical models that accounted for the vast number of fainter, smaller galaxies that were previously undetectable. While previous estimates were in the range of 100–200 billion galaxies, more recent data suggested that about 90% of galaxies are too faint and distant to be seen with current technology, significantly increasing the total count. As you can see from the picture I‘ve attached the earth is miniscule in comparison to our galaxy. So, the question of how big is God, who spoke everything into existence is almost laughable.

 

Our reading today (Psalm 96) reminds us that we serve the God of the universe. As followers of Christ, we are brought into a life-giving relationship with our big and marvelous God who not only rules the heavens and the earth but also knows every detail of our lives. This makes us part of a story that is much bigger than we are. Remembering that we are part of a global church living out God’s mission in every corner of the world should cause us to “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples” (v. 3).

 

In the coming days we are going to explore what it means to be part of this story. And we will use four key words to get at what it means to declare with our lives the greatness of God's marvelous deeds: gospel, witness, holistic, and intercultural. As we reflect on these key words together, I pray that God will make us into people who increasingly declare his glory through our lives.

God's Promise of Protection

 

Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. (Psalm 91:9–16 ESV)

 

Not long ago I happened to be standing on my deck and heard the familiar sound of a jet approaching overhead. It is not uncommon to see them in the skies over Parker County. In fact, F-35 fighter jets have been seen over the Fort Worth/Weatherford area recently, likely due to the presence of the U.S. Air Force Reserve's first F-35A unit at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NASJRB) Fort Worth, which is near Weatherford. What is a bit uncommon is to see them in formation. I was very fortunate to have my phone and snapped a photo (which looks much closer than it was) of these two streaking across the sky to the north over our place. It was loud, though I’m sure it could have been much louder if they had been traveling faster or closer to the ground. I was struck with a sense of security knowing they were near. That feeling brought me to today’s reading and the following devotional.

 

The psalmist says that “because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent” (v. 9). He even goes further to say that the Lord has commanded His angels to guard over me. This promise applies to all believers.

 

The tension we face in life is that even though we may “dwell in the shelter of the Most High” and “rest in the shadow of the Almighty,” we have to deal with troubles and daily struggles—and even deadly diseases and terrorizing attacks at times. The psalmist understood that this world is filled with uncertainties—and yet there is a place of safety. We can go up against giants and must flee for our lives from dangerous enemies, and still we can be in a safe place with the Almighty.

 

The question each of us must address is “What is our dwelling place? What is our shelter or safety net?” If it is our money, family, home, or work, that will crumble. The enemy has come to kill, steal, and destroy. But the one place of safety in the universe from which no one can snatch us is “in the shelter of the Most High.” Our risen and ascended King has promised, “My sheep listen to my voice … and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and … no one will ever snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28).

 

So, when you face your circumstances, recognize that the shelter of Jesus’ work of redemption is greater than any threat. Fighter jets are great, but God’s protection is much great than that! Rest in Him!

 

Just Plain Tired

 

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. (1 Kings 19:1-8 ESV).

 

I don’t know how many times I have heard people tell me that they were “just plain tired.” These people were not expressing the physical exhaustion that comes from exertion in a physical sense, though often they were in circumstances that were physically demanding. They were the kind of tired that comes from the depletion of their emotional and spiritual strength because of the incredible stressors in their life. Sometimes it was a physical illness that was draining the life from a loved one; other times it was rooted in financial setbacks; and still others were due to broken relationships at the discovery of broken trust from a spouse or child. These are those times when we feel so tired we want to run away, or quit.

 

This is where Elijah was in our reading today. By all accounts, Elijah had just finished a successful revival. The false prophets of Baal had been routed, and the people of Israel had proclaimed their allegiance to the true God. God had answered Elijah’s prayers for an end to a crippling drought (cf. 1 Kings 18). But instead of resting confidently in the Lord, who had brought about all these good things, Elijah ran away.

 

Sometimes we are just too worn out to stay where we are. Even our moments of success can be clouded by opposition and fear, and it can seem easier to run away. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by the uncertainties of life, or you feel unable to cope for another day with a difficult relationship. Or maybe you’re just plain tired and you think that being elsewhere—physically or spiritually—will fix things. But when we run from our challenges, we often miss the lessons God wants us to learn so that we are able to experience the blessings He has in store for us.

 

Thankfully for us, God is with us even when we run away. He came to Elijah with a gracious question: “What are you doing here?” And God responded to Elijah’s hurt and fear with a promise of his presence and ongoing work. By coming to us in Christ, God has done even more. When you’re worn out and tempted to run away, let the presence of Christ lead you into His rest.

 

Suffering Has an End Date

 

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV).

 

The truth that all my suffering has an end date has been an incredible encouragement to me through the years. There have been those moments when the weight of circumstance seemed heavier; and, inevitably, a sense of dread and defeat would threaten my typically half-full personality. Many of us have faced those moments in life when we cannot seem to see a way out. It is then that we are convinced we cannot tolerate the pain any longer. I have great news… our pain has an end date!

 

I read a quote from Warren Wiersbe, who wrote, “When God puts his own people into the furnace, he keeps his eye on the clock and his hand on the thermostat. He knows how long and how much.” God knows how long and how much. Those words brought can bring us indescribable relief. He knew how intense the furnace was, and he knew when relief would come. The furnace wouldn’t be hotter or longer than was necessary.

 

After all, his grace surrounds us even now, even as we suffer. Look for the blessing. Look for God’s hand. Look for his comfort. They are all there. We can be certain that even when we’re overwhelmed and crying out for relief, God has something wonderful in store for us. He will not leave us desolate in our suffering — ever. He brings new mercies every morning (cf. Lamentations 3:22–23). We may not know what the day will bring, but we do know that it will bring God’s comfort and presence. It is His promise.

 

So, if you are feeling overwhelmed by your suffering, crying out to God, “How long, O Lord?” be assured that he knows exactly how long. He will not let you suffer one minute beyond what is necessary for His good to be produced in your life (cf. Romans 8:28). God is never cruel. God’s grace will give you everything you need to endure it, as well as perfectly timed blessings in your endurance. You may not know when your pain will end, but you can be assured that the end has already been appointed, and the result will always be for your good.

 

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

 

[Jesus said] “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matthew 25:1-13 ESV).

 

Today as we continue our journey through the parables of Jesus, I just want to remind you of an important principle when interpreting parables, which is that we should not over-interpret them. It is tempting for many scholars and pastors to start reading all kinds of allegorical meanings into parables like this one. I want us to look at those things in the parable that Jesus Himself seems to stress in the way that He relates the parable in the context. With that in mind, ponder these things:

 

§  First, live your life for His “well-done.” One day we will stand before Jesus, either when we leave this earth and go to Him or when He returns for His church.  Prioritizing our lives around that truth can make a huge difference in how we spend our time. Remember, time is our only non-renewable resource. We each have an unknown limited amount of time. Focusing on the “well-done” at the end of our journey helps us decide between better and best. Go for the best!

 

§  Second, the journey is going to take longer than you think it will. The goal is to finish the race, not merely run fast for a bit. Readiness to run the whole race requires a commitment to remaining a willing learner. We won’t be finished until the end. Don’t quit learning. God certainly hasn’t quit teaching.

 

§  Third, don’t be surprised when it costs more than you thought; be prepared to pay the price. I’m glad I didn’t know the cost of following Jesus when I first began. It might have terrified me into paralysis or indecision. This thought also helps keep your eyes on the prize… that of going in with the Bridegroom!

 

One last thing, rest isn’t optional, it’s essential. I’ve heard some say the weakness of the five foolish women was their laziness because they were asleep when the bridegroom came.  Shouldn’t they have been awake and waiting? But ALL ten of them were asleep when he arrived, even those Jesus commended as being wise. Rest is crucial, it’s not optional.  The journey god designs for us is more of a marathon than a sprint regardless of the number of years it takes. Burnout is real. When it’s all said and done, rest is the only cure for burnout, and making rest a regular part of your routine is how you prevent it. Rest comes in the form of worship, fellowship, and study.

 

Tend to your lamps. It is not too late to begin a commitment to readiness! It is going to be a GREAT party at the end!

 

The Parable of the Two Sons

 

[Jesus said] “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.” (Matthew 21:28-32 ESV).

 

The next parable of Jesus we will look at is known as “The Parable of the Two Sons” (cf. Matthew 21:28-32). After reading this parable my first thought was “OUCH.” It hits very close to home for so many of us. It tells of a father who asks his two sons to work in his vineyard. The first son initially refuses but later changes his mind and goes. The second son says he will go but never does. Jesus concludes the parable by asking which son did the father's will, and the listeners answer, "The first". He then explains that the first son represents those who initially rejected God's message (like publicans and prostitutes) but later repented and entered the Kingdom of God, while the second son symbolizes the self-righteous religious leaders who said they would obey God but did not.

 

Jesus explained that this parable teaches a vital lesson about true repentance and action. The first son, who initially said "No" but later obeyed, represents those considered "sinners" who eventually repented and followed John the Baptist and Jesus.

The second son, who promised to go but didn't, represents the religious leaders like the chief priests and elders who claimed to follow God but didn't truly obey or repent, making them hypocritical.

 

He states that these repentant sinners would enter the Kingdom of God before the supposedly righteous religious leaders. The parable emphasizes that genuine obedience to God is shown through actions, not just words or outward appearances.

It highlights the importance of repentance and changing one's mind (metamelomai) in order to do God's will. It served as a rebuke to the Jewish leaders for their spiritual pride and lack of true obedience.

 

Our question today is whether we are like the repentant son or the hypocritical son. Our eternal life is not dependent on our works, but our possession of eternal life is shown by our willingness and action in obedience to God. Some might say they are merely procrastinators. That is a fair point, however, I would encourage you to ask “why?” Why are you delaying?

 

I remember as a young boy, when my dad came to wake me up early to go fishing, which I enjoyed, I jumped out of bed. I did love to fish, but I loved to fish because I got to be with my dad doing what he loved too! Do you love being with your Heavenly Father enough to jump up and go with Him “into the fields”?

 

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:21-35 ESV).

 

Mercy and forgiveness are things that definitely tend to fall into the category of easier to receive than give.  It seems to be part of our human nature that when we offend someone, we hope for quick resolution, and if possible, to be let off lightly as far as punishment or retribution goes.  Often when the tables are turned though, and we are the ones who are offended, we demand justice, or maybe even vengeance, to some degree.  The parable we’ll be looking today is about exactly that, the importance of being able to forgive, just as we have been forgiven.

 

There is a bit of history and cultural significance here.  The rabbis would teach that a person is to forgive a person up to three times for committing the same offense against them.  So, for Peter to suggest seven times here would be going well beyond what was considered normal, or even appropriate, considering this was not just talking about forgiving in general but forgiving the same thing over, and over again. Jesus’ answer, however, went even further than Peter’s suggestion.  Depending on the translation being used, he either said to forgive seventy times, or seventy times seven.  Thankfully, the interpretation as to what the number should be isn’t that important, the bigger idea is that the number is far higher than what would be taught, even suggesting that there is no limit, we are to forgive every time a person offends us.

 

Sometimes, that doesn’t make sense, why should we keep allowing ourselves to be hurt by the same person, without any call for justice or retribution?  There are a few answers to that.  One, it’s what we desire for ourselves, and two, the desire is that the other person will recognize the grace they are receiving and be moved to change, even to extend the same grace to others. Third, it is the example of god’s forgiveness toward us for the greatest debt anyone could owe. I’ve heard well said like this: “Jesus paid the debt I could never pay; and died the death that I deserved.” Truth indeed.

 

Take care to be a forgiving servant!

  

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

 

[Jesus said] “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” (Matthew 18:11-14 ESV).

 

This parable is one of my personal favorites because I am certainly one of those “lost sheep.” Many of you know that I was not born again until I was nineteen. What you may not know is that I was a “religious” person prior to that time. While there are some gaps in my memory of my early years, I remember very well all of the time and training I received to become one of only four altar-boys to be called upon for the high masses led by the bishop of the Galveston-Houston Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church. I attend parochial schools until my freshman year of high school. I knew about and practiced my religion; however, I was indeed a lost sheep in need of a Savior. Jesus, the ultimate Good Shepherd found and rescued me in 1968.

 

There are many ways to become a “lost sheep.” Mine was simply the wrong instructions. For others it may be some difficult challenge in their journey that led them to doubt or waiver. Still others may have been lured away with the enticing of pleasure, position, or other things of life. Whatever the cause, we have a Savior who cares about each of His sheep. He searches until He finds them and returns them to the safety of His care.

 

You may be thinking that you are too deep in the woods for anyone to find. I would remind you that Jesus knows exactly where you are. There is no place hidden from Him. In fact, I believe if you simply look around, you will see Him standing beside you with open arms welcoming you into His presence. That is the kind of Savior we have in Jesus!

 

The Parable of a Man's Heart

 

[Jesus said] You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” And he [Jesus] called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” (Matthew 15:7-20 ESV).

 

There are those times when the direct nature of Jesus’ teaching is dramatically intense. Our reading today is one of those times. When Jesus calls the Pharisees hypocrites, accusing them of honoring God with their lips but not their hearts, He is teaching that true defilement comes from within, from evil thoughts and actions originating in the heart. It certainly did not originate from ritualistically unwashed hands. The passage lists murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander as examples of things that defile a person. These are all the things that the practices of the religious leaders did; and, Jesus is calling them out publicly. It is not surprising Jesus calls them “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (cf. Matthew 7:15-20).

 

All too often, as believers, we focus on cleaning up the outer person, what other people see. But unless we attend to the inner person, seeking holiness of the heart, all the external cleanup in the world will not really change who we are. Later in Matthew’s Gospel we see Jesus accuse the Pharisees of cleaning up on the outside, while the inside is corrupt. He told them instead to clean the inside and then the outside would be clean as well (cf. Matthew 23:25-26).

We must be careful to understand our behavior is determined by what we truly think. Our transformation begins with the renewing of our mind (heart)! This is only accomplished through the development of a consistent relationship with Jesus through a regular ingestion of His words in Scripture.

 

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

 

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” (Matthew 13:31-32 ESV).

 

The next parable I’ve chosen for our study is the parable of the mustard seed. We may find it in both the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. Some perspective is important. A Mustard seed is very small, not much bigger than the head of a pin. Yet, when it reaches maturity if can be as tall as 20-30 feet.  There is general agreement among Biblical scholars that it teaches that the Kingdom of God starts with humble beginnings but grows into something vast and influential, eventually providing shelter for many, just as a tiny mustard seed grows into a large tree. The central message is about the unexpected and powerful expansion of God's work, emphasizing that what begins small can become extraordinarily large and impactful over time.

 

Some interpreters have emphasized the size of the tree is an indicator that “bigger is better.” This has skewed the church’s belief that the size of an individual congregation is an indicator of success. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus’ is teaching a principle that with His coming the true Church will affect the world. His message was not just for the descendants of Abraham; it was for the world. These “birds” that come to nest in the expansive of the “mustard tree” will be from every part of the world. Just as creation is diverse, so is the Church.

 

I wonder if we have done a very good job in our effort to go into “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world” (cf. Acts 1:8)? The seed must be sown by every believer wherever we are, whenever we are there! Prejudice of any kind has no place in the Kingdom of God! The seed is good seed… let’s sow it!

 

The Parable of the Soils

 

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:1-9 ESV).

 

Today we look at one of the more familiar parables of Jesus. Though this parable is more commonly named after the sower of the seed, the “parable of the soils” is a more fitting title. The role of the sower in the story is important, but the parable’s point is to explain why different soils (different people) respond differently to the Gospel. The parable and its explanation are straightforward enough. All of the first three people portrayed are ultimately hard in heart, but the hardness is especially clear in the person described as in verse 4 since that individual never shows an interest in the Gospel. His heart is calcified to the point where it resists all penetration by the seed, which is devoured by the Evil One and his minions, who were often represented by birds in first-century Jewish literature. Those who fall away after professing faith are represented by the second and third soils. Without solid rooting in good soil, plants will wither and die under the sun’s heat (vv. 5–6).

 

The fourth soil is notably different. This one understands and bears fruit — he accepts and conforms his life to the Gospel (cf. Matthew 13:8–9, 23). The presence of fruit, not its quantity, is what matters. John Calvin says, “The fertility of that soil which yields a thirty-fold produce is small compared with that which yields a hundred-fold…[but Jesus] classes together all kinds of soil which do not entirely disappoint the labors and expectations of the husbandman.”

 

Matthew Henry writes: “That which distinguished this good ground from the rest, was, in one word, fruitfulness. He does not say that this good ground has no stones in it, or no thorns; but there were none that prevailed to hinder its fruitfulness.” Stones or thorns may be found in the good soil of a true believer’s heart, but such obstructions do not finally prevent him from bearing fruit. It is never too late to let the good seed of Jesus take root in your heart. The fact that you may be asking if it is too late is an indicator that the Holy Spirit is quickening your heart to accept the good seed! Trust in the work of Jesus, who only sows good seed!

 

The Parable of the New Cloth on an Old Garment

 

Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.” (Matthew 9:14-17 ESV).

 

Today’s parable is actually a dual teaching. Jesus explains that a new, unshrunk piece of cloth would shrink and tear an old, already worn garment, making the tear worse. The parable teaches that Jesus' new teachings and the new covenant are fundamentally different and incompatible with the old ways and laws, which are rigid and unable to contain the fresh vitality of the new covenant. Therefore, the new cannot be mixed with the old; new spiritual realities require a completely new framework, just as new wine needs new wineskins. 

 

It is a story that is not as familiar to us as it was to Jesus’ original audience. They were people who often found ways to repair their possessions rather than replace them. We have come to a point in our culture where we view things as disposable. The mindset is that it is “cheaper to get a new one, than fix the old one.” I must confess that I have fallen into that practice more than once. However, that is not always a good thing. That’s why we need to be very careful in our interpretation of these parables.

 

Jesus is not saying the old is no longer useful and must be discarded. He is saying the old has been fulfilled in Him in a way that requires more careful attention to the need for the old. Understanding this is essential. The original question that prompted the teaching concerned the practice of fasting as prescribed by the rules developed by the Pharisees. The original intent found in the Old Testament was the fasting on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). However, fasting was a common practice for Israelites in response to various situations, including seeking God's guidance, repenting for sin, grieving loss, expressing sorrow, or preparing for a spiritual encounter. Other significant fasts included David's fast for his sick child, Daniel's prayer fast for his people, and the fast called by Esther and the Jews to save their lives. These were all a part of developing a relationship with God through the desire of the individual that He would intervene in their intercession. Jesus is saying that is no longer necessary since He was indeed God present in their midst; He is “Immanuel” (God with us).

 

We also have “God with us” today. The presence of the Holy Spirit within the believer is the great gift of grace secured by the atoning work of Jesus. Of course, our sin makes it more difficult for us to experience that presence; but it doesn’t change the truth that He is in us! Fasting can help us in repentance. It can help us focus on the relationship we have with our Father, hearing His direction more clearly. However, this is not a “patch” placed on an old garment, or pouring new wine in an old wineskin; it is the conclusion of the work of Jesus to give us new garments that will last for eternity! We no longer need to “fix” our relationship with God. Jesus did that in His finished work on the cross. Now, we simply need to grow into all He desires for us!