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!

 

The Parable of the Log and the Speck

 

[Jesus said] “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” (Matthew 7:1-6 ESV).

 

Some years ago I used the Andy Griffith Show as a platform for exploring some of the morals that were taught through the stories of each episode. I was reminded of one called “Opie’s Charity” with our reading today. The episode from 1960 begins with Annabelle Silby coming by Andy’s house while he and Opie are playing catch. She’s soliciting help for the annual children’s charity drive. When Andy and Annabelle go to the courthouse to discuss the status of the fund-raiser, she compliments Mayberry’s children for their willingness to help. Andy uses this opportunity to brag on Opie, suggesting he’s probably one of the biggest contributors in the class. Annabelle, however, tells Andy that Opie has only given 3 cents to the charity. And the next lowest contributor was 5 cents.

 

When Andy returns home he has a discussion with Opie about the importance of giving and supporting the charity drive. Opie says he’s saving his money to buy a gift for his girlfriend, Charlotte. As the show unfolds, Opie is resolute in his determination to save money for Charlotte’s gift, while Andy becomes more and more upset, agitated and embarrassed. Finally, Andy sends Opie to his room to think about his lack of generosity.

 

At this point, Aunt Bee intercedes and asks Andy to think about what he’s saying. Is he really trying to help Opie? Or is he more embarrassed because of what people might think of him as the town’s Sheriff? Convicted that he’s overreacted, Andy calls Opie downstairs and says that if he wants to buy Charlotte a toy, take her to a movie, or spend it all on popcorn, that’s ok. Opie then tells Andy something he never considered. “I was saving to buy her a coat.” “A coat?” Andy asks. “Yeah,” Opie continues, “her family doesn’t have a lot of money, and her coat is kinda worn out.” Andy’s mouth drops. “But Opie, you never told me what the money was for.” “You never asked,” Opie responded.

 

Our reading today speaks to Jesus’ condemnation of the improper judgment of others. It begins with this simple warning: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (vv. 1-6). In his Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, W. E. Vine says the word “judge…primarily denotes to separate, to select, to choose, hence to determine, and so, to judge or to pronounce judgment.”

 

Jesus is saying that we ought not to assume the office of a judge, in the sense of the Lord’s judgment. Jesus is condemning harsh, censorious judgment. We are not to be hypercritical or hypocritical. As Max Lucado wrote, “It’s one thing to have an opinion. It’s quite another to pass a verdict. It’s one thing to have a conviction; it’s another to convict the person.”

 

Jesus uses a humorous illustration of someone who has a log in their eye trying to remove a shaving from someone else’s eye. Ridiculous. Absurd. And wrong. First, remove the glaring fault from your life before you try to correct others for their minor flaws. A true word to the wise in a day when we confused our position with our calling. We should use good judgement, but we are wholly unqualified to be judges. As I often say, “That’s above our pay-grade.”

 

The Parable of the Lamp

 

[Jesus said] “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 mNor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so nthat2 they may see your good works and ogive glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 ESV).

 

The meaning of this parable seems very clear. Believers are the light of the world and are not to hide their light but to let it shine through their good works so that others will see God's goodness and glorify Him. This means Christians should live a visible, active faith, not a hidden one, with the ultimate purpose of drawing attention to God rather than themselves. 

 

In his book God Came Near, Max Lucado tells a story about four candles that didn’t want to leave their storage closet during a power outage. When the owner went to find them and light them so that he could see in the dark, the candles began to talk. They did not want to leave. One candle said he needed more preparation. Another one was too busy. Another said he was not qualified. The last one said that giving light was not his gift.

 

Of course that was just a story. Candles don’t talk. But that story reflects some of our attitudes when it comes to letting our light shine out to others, so that people see God working in our lives and give him praise, as Jesus taught. We too have our excuses. Some of us feel we need more training before we can tell others about Jesus. Some of us look at our own lives and feel we don’t have the right to talk about the Lord because of our own failures. Others of us simply concentrate on doing other things.

 

The message of Jesus is very clear. We ARE the light of the world, just as he is the light. We need to let go of our anxiety that produces excuses and delays to simply let our light shine. God gives us both opportunity and ability to shine. Hiding ourselves is not His plan. Determine to let your light shine in the world God has placed you today!

 

The Parables of Jesus

 

Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: ‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.’ For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.” (Matthew 13:12-16 ESV).

 

Today I want to begin a series taking us through the parables of Jesus. There is no doubt they make up a crucial part of the Scripture. Jesus had the wisdom to simplify the profound spiritual truths he needed to share with His listeners in the form of relatable stories that are easy to understand. By definition, a parable is a tale about a simple, common subject to illustrate a more profound, valuable moral lesson. The source definition of the word “parable” means a placement side by side for comparison. It is interesting that Jesus’ use of this form of teaching also kept the truth from those who were not given the grace to understand them. This points us to the ultimate truth that God initiates our relationship with Him (cf. Ephesians 2:8-10).

 

Sometimes, the Gospel authors begin a parable with an analogy, such as "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard" (Matthew 20:1). Or Jesus may provide an example from everyday life to convey spiritual truth, such as the Parable of the Good Samaritan to emphasize love and mercy, or the Parable of the Friend at Midnight to show persistence in prayer. In every parable Jesus utilizes the full story to produce the spiritual lesson. This marks the difference from a proverb, metaphor, simile, or figure of speech usually which centers on a word, phrase, or sentence.

 

Today, let me encourage you to pray for “ears to hear” in the days ahead. These stories are an essential part of our growth. Read the first parable we will consider tomorrow, “The Parable of the Lamp,” which is found in Matthew 5:14-16.

Are You a Blessing?

 

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “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. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” (Luke 10:1-9 ESV).

 

I have noticed there is a tendency for many people to reference the good things that happen in their lives as a “blessing.” As you scroll through social media you can see this trend. People post good things about themselves and tagged them with “#blessed.” Being a bit curious I did a search of “#blessed” and got 140 million results. Everything from pictures of people holding babies, to nice cars and beaches. And about 100 million selfies!

 

There is nothing wrong with this. We do tend to think of being blessed in terms of material blessings. But that’s not what Jesus teaches. In fact, part of being a witness of Jesus is to bring his blessing of God’s love and good news wherever we go. This is our mission.

 

We see this clearly in our reading from Luke, chapter 10. Jesus sent 72 of his followers to bring the good news of God’s kingdom to the people in nearby towns and villages. And when they entered people’s homes and communities, they were to declare peace on them and say, “The kingdom of God has come near to you. The Savior has come! Salvation and hope are here!”

 

These blessings are still what God offers us and the world today. And like those 72 followers, we are called to bring peace and to announce the good news wherever we go. May Jesus equip us with his Spirit to be his faithful witnesses, sharing his blessings with the people we meet today. Are you being a blessing today?

 

Are You an Influencer?

 

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before four God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 ESV).

 

I always ask the question of new clients concerning what their vocation is. It gives me some insight to the stress or anxiety they may be facing. However, I experienced a first recently. In answering that question, the young lady I was talking with said, “I’m a professional influencer.” Y’all, I know I’m not nearly as current on present trends and current common language, but I was completely lost. I must have shown my confusion by my facial expression because she explained: “You know, I tell people what the best products to buy are and influence their decisions.” I stammered, “That’s a job?” She laughed and said, “I have a weekly podcast with thousands of listeners who subscribe and companies pay me to test and recommend their products.” She went on to share that her annual salary is well into six figures!

 

“Influencing” is not a new thing, just a new word to describe the action. In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul reflects on the powerful effects of influence in this young church. Through Paul and his companions they were introduced to Jesus and, in turn, began to reflect Jesus themselves. Look again at verse 7: “You became a model to all the believers in [the surrounding area]… The Lord’s message rang out from you … your faith in God has become known everywhere.” Talk about influence!

 

Think about your own faith journey and who has influenced you. Who made Jesus real to you? And how about your own influence? What would it look like for the good news of Jesus to ring out from your life today?

 

Are You One of the Holy People?

 

On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth. The Lord has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: “I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners shall not drink your wine for which you have labored; but those who garner it shall eat it and praise the Lord, and those who gather it shall drink it in the courts of my sanctuary.” Go through, go through the gates; prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway; clear it of stones; lift up a signal over the peoples. Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, “Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.” And they shall be called The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.” (Isaiah 62:6-12 ESV).

 

The title for today’s devotional is a bit pretentious. After all, can any of us really be “one of the holy people”? The Scripture tells us that we are all “sinners” (cf. Romans 3:23). That’s certainly a far stretch to being “holy.” However, we can see in our reading today that our calling in Christ brings with it a sense of being separated from unbelievers. That’s not very popular in our common wisdom today, but it is the truth of Scripture.

 

He uses an interesting word to describe this calling when we are called “watchmen” (v. 6). The word "watchman" in the Bible comes from the Hebrew words tzaphah (צָפָה), meaning "to look out, spy, or keep watch," and shamar (שָׁמַר), meaning "to guard or protect". These terms describe a person, often a prophet in a spiritual sense, who stands on a wall or tower to observe, guard, and warn a city or community of danger, whether it be an approaching army, natural disaster, or spiritual peril. In this vision of hope we find a powerful call to action. God says: “I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never be silent day or night.” (v. 6). This is a powerful picture of remaining alert, calling out the warning, and intercessory prayer.

 

We don’t have literal watchers on the walls in our culture today, but there are lots of people who do something similar. Weather forecasters tell us what weather is coming. Financial experts keep an eye on the markets. Others watch what’s going on in geopolitics. Is there a situation stirring your heart to call out the warning or to intercede? How might the Spirit be calling you to guard over your neighbors, co-workers, or fellow students? God calls you to be a watcher on the wall. You are one of the Holy people by virtue of God’s redemptive work in your life!

God Always Walks With Us

 

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15:21-28 ESV).

 

In today’s story Jesus and his disciples were in an area where most of the people did not know or worship God. The disciples were not familiar with the customs and culture and likely would have felt uncomfortable there. Then they met a woman whose daughter was “demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

 

Jesus’ response to her sounds puzzling. Was he making a point to everyone listening? Was he testing her? He said that as a non-Jewish person, she was not the focus of his ministry. But she was determined to find help for her hurting daughter. She said, in effect, “Whatever crumbs of goodness you are willing to throw to us will be enough.” And Jesus celebrated the woman’s faith and healed her daughter “at that moment.” Amazing!

 

Sometimes we think that witnessing is about bringing Jesus into our conversations and relationships. But here we are reminded that God is always ahead of us. The woman already had an emerging trust that Jesus was her one true hope. To be a witness is to discern and celebrate where God is already at work.

 

Look for the place where you can see God moving ahead and stirring people’s faith, questions, and longings. That is the fertile ground you are to sow the seed that brings eternal life!

 

 

Witness… μάρτυς (martus)

 

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:10-17 ESV).

 

As we explore what it means to be witnesses for Jesus, it is important to talk about the cost of witnessing. The Greek word for “witnesses” is martyres, which also gives us the word “martyr.”

 

Since the beginning of the Church, there has been strong opposition to the Christian faith. The New Testament includes many stories of the persecution of Christians. And persecution continues today. Christianity Today magazine reported that about 13 Christians worldwide are killed every day because of their faith. In addition, 12 Christian buildings or churches are attacked, and 12 Christians are unjustly arrested each day. More than 360 million Christians in the world live with some kind of persecution or oppression because of their faith. They all bear witness to their faith and trust in Jesus as their living hope and Savior.

 

In our reading today, Paul describes the ways he was persecuted, and he says that believers can expect persecution for living “a godly life in Christ.” But he offers hope too. Although he faced many persecutions, Paul said, “The Lord rescued me from all of them.” Paul also reassures us that “all Scripture is God-breathed” and that it trains and equips us to face all kinds of worldly obstacles as we live “through faith in Christ Jesus.”

 

Expect opposition… be grace-full… God does bring the victory through His Word. It never returns void (cf. Isaiah 55:11).

 

Ummmm... Really?

 

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:6-11 ESV).

 

There are those times in my life when I “hear” God telling me to do something and my response is “Really?” I know that’s not particularly mature, but it is the truth. This must have been the same reaction the disciples had at the commission Jesus gave them just before He ascended into heaven. In our reading today He says, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (v. 8). I like the “gift” part of these words, but the “where” part is a bit off-putting.

 

Like the first disciples, Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit, and he explains what this gift is for and where we will use it. Those locations had specific meanings for Jesus’ first disciples. Jerusalem was the place they were in, and the Spirit would send them to be witnesses to the people in that local area. Judea was the region around Jerusalem, where the people were a lot like them. Samaria was a neighboring region that included people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The Holy Spirit would send them to those places and then also to “the ends of the earth,” to share the good news of Jesus with people who lived far away.

 

I like the people in my “Jerusalem.” Witnessing to them is pretty easy actually. My “Judea” is a bit more difficult. I’m okay going to them, but it is a bit uncomfortable. And, my “Samaria”, well that’s even more difficult. Those people don’t look like me; they don’t act like me; and, they sure don’t like me. If that weren’t bad enough, Jesus then said we are to go to the “ends of the earth.” Let me use college football as an illustration. For me this is like Jesus saying, “Go to Texas A&M and tell them the gospel; then go to all the former students associations of Texas A&M and tell them the Gospel; then I want you to go your opponents and share with them my grace; and, finally I want you to go to Austin and tell my message to all the Texas University Longhorns.” REALLY?

 

And, He smiles and simply says, “Yep, really.” Just like Moses, I make all kinds of excuses and He gives me an answer for everyone of them, ending His commission with a smile on His face and a kind word… “I love them all. You should too!” If I’m smart, I pack my bags and start down I-35 to Austin!

 

Do you see it? Will you do it? We better. The time is short!

 

Can this Be Fixed?

 

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.” (Isaiah 43:16-21 ESV).

 

If you will notice the “picture frame” in the attached picture today, I hope you can see that it is more than it seems. It is actually a slideshow on a constant loop. I have loaded over 1,000 digital pictures into the internal memory. The programming of this device shows each photo on a constant loop. It is wonderful technology. I certainly don’t know how it works, except turning it on and off. Mary and I love to reminisce while glancing at the pictures as they pop up. This one was taken in North Carolina when Faith and Logan were very young. Mary was enjoying story-time with them.

 

Well, I digress. One day it simply stopped working. I was distressed to say the least. I wasn’t worried about the photos. I am paranoid enough to have them stored in two other locations digitally. However, I didn’t want to think about another device. How much could that cost? What if they no longer make them? All sorts of questions begin to sweep across my mind. Then I thought, “Maybe I can fix it.” I took it apart and noticed all sorts of circuits and electronic parts. My heart sank. Could this be fixed? Then I noticed the switch. It was a mechanical part. I examined it with a magnifying glass and saw that part of it had broken off. It simply couldn’t be switched into the “on” position. With some tweezers I put the switch into the on position and it worked!

 

For many people, it seems the world is too broken to be fixed. Problems in the world and in our lives can feel overwhelming. We find ourselves asking the same question, “Can this ever be fixed”? In our reading today, God says, “YES!” God declares, “See, I am doing a new thing! Do you not perceive it?” We are reminded that God is at work doing something new, and he invites us to join him. He invites us to see with spiritual eyes what His will is… do you have the eyes to see it? You can… just ask!

 

My Witnesses

 

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:1-8 ESV).

 

Through the years I have been called into court as a witness dealing with the adjudication in a legal matter. The lawyers for the plaintiff determined to make sure that my memories were clear and that the timeline of events was accurate, while the lawyers for the defense tried to call everything I said into question. They questioned every part of my testimony in their effort to call into doubt the guilt of their client. The first time I experienced this cross-examination was very unpleasant; however, I knew the truth. I knew it because I experienced it. I hadn’t just been told about it; it had become a part of my personal experience.  

 

Let that settle into your mind for a moment. This is at the heart of what Jesus wanted His disciples to know before they were sent out to be His witnesses to a very skeptical world.

 

I don’t know about you, such a commissioning seems like a daunting task, especially when Jesus says that our witness begins where we are and extends to the ends of the earth. It shouldn’t surprise us that we have doubts about our ability to communicate effectively the most important “witness” to others.

 

As Jesus commissions us, he promises the gift of his Holy Spirit as He did to the disciples. He also commissions us, his followers, as a community. This is our task, together. In the next few days I want to explore how to bear witness to Jesus. No one is unable to share what God has done in their life; and, every work of God in our personal lives is essential testimony to others. This is the design of God to reach all those whom He has called.

 

Is It Getting Worse?

 

Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:1-14 ESV).

 

Is it getting worse? That is a valid question. And there are certainly many opinions being expressed touting the answer. It has created so much clutter in our world today. Social media and news sources have only served to magnify the noisy clutter. This has been building for some time now; however, the tragedy of recent days has amplified the chaos. It is frightening to many. However, I have found that when I feel fear and anxiety rising, the best remedy is the Scripture. Today, I want to turn your attention to some of the last words recorded by Jesus to His disciples. It is found in Matthew 24, which we have come to know as “the Olivet Discourse.” Our reading today comes from the first part of that teaching.  

 

As time passes, this passage becomes more imminently apparent. Perhaps every generation feels that the signs of the end times are increasing. Perhaps the signs are increasing. Certainly the generations that are still living have seen plenty of earthquakes, famines, and wars. And certainly today we see an increase in wickedness, at least in some places. Witnessing the House Democratic-Farmer-Labor caucus leader Melissa Hortman, getting shot and dying after a man impersonating a police officer shot her in her Brooklyn Park home in June, and the equally tragic shooting of Charlie Kirk, a profoundly effective apologist of the Gospel and conservative speaker this week, I am struck with the similarity of this time in our history to that which I witnessed first-hand in the late 60’s and early 70’s when JFK, MLK, and RFK were senselessly killed at the hands of assassins.

 

But, is it really getting worse? It certainly feels like it. It certainly looks like it. However, we need to remember that these things must take place. The particular wickedness Jesus warns about could be called “lawlessness.” However, it goes beyond refusing to live God’s way, and it basically refuses to live according to anyone’s rules. It’s the attitude that believes “It is justified because I am right.” The problem with this kind of wickedness, according to Jesus, is that it works against love. It holds no commitment to another and has no willingness to sacrifice for anyone. In the end times most people will care only about themselves, and most people’s love will grow cold.

 

Having lived through those days and the knowledge of the truth in our reading today, can I remind you that all of this is designed to further the gospel of God’s truth in Jesus’ work of redemption. I remember the Jesus Revolution, also known as the Jesus Movement. It was a spiritual awakening primarily in Southern California during the late 1960s and 1970s where young people, many from the counter-cultural hippie movement, embraced Christianity as an alternative to their drug-fueled lifestyles. The movement led to the development of contemporary Christian music and informal worship, and popularized the message of a true biblically centered gospel centered in Jesus and unshakable belief in the imminent return of Christ.

 

So… let me ask again… is it getting worse? Yes. But that only means we are getting closer to Jesus’ coming to set all things right for eternity. This ought to bring believers both joy and urgency. The joy comes from the knowledge that we will be brought into His presence forever; the urgency is the knowledge of so many who need to hear His name and know His message of redemption. Let’s be a people are more concerned with the souls of others than anything else!

 

The Virtue of Kindness

 

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:1-10 ESV).

 

Sometimes we use the words kind and nice interchangeably; however, kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate, expressed through voluntary acts of care, empathy, and support without expecting anything in return. It involves a genuine concern for the welfare of others, leading to actions like offering a helping hand, listening intently, providing comfort, or showing compassion. Kindness is more than just being nice; it's an intentional, voluntary behavior that embodies compassion and respect for others as valuable individuals.

 

Unfortunately for many, the word nice simply means that something is pleasant. But in the Scripture, the Greek word chrestotes, translated as “kindness,” goes deeper. It refers to making ourselves useful or beneficial to others, and sometimes that is not pleasant.

 

In our reading today we read some amazing things about the grace of God. By God’s grace we receive the free gift of salvation from our sins. The gift is free, and yet we sometimes forget that it changes us. Grace gets results. Grace is useful, beneficial, and kind.

 

Grace is useful because it changes us. It lifts us up. It seats us on a heavenly throne with Christ Jesus—we become minor rulers serving the King of kings! But don’t forget that kings have responsibilities. Our royal responsibilities include showing the grace of God to everyone, everywhere. We do that by living out the good works that the King of kings has prepared for us to do. And when we do those good works, we become useful (kind) to the world, which in turn can better understand the grace of God expressed through the kindness of Christ Jesus to us. Be kind as He has been kind!