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.