Category Archives: Character of God

Character of God, Compassion, Miracles, Righteousness / Serving God

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men And They Follow Him

How appropriate, that after teaching His disciples that true leadership is demonstrated by serving others, Jesus stops along His journey to heal two blind men in Matthew 20:29-34. Let us never take for granted the inspiring and life changing miracles Jesus performed even while just traveling between two locations. He was busy, He had places to go and people to see as it were… but He listened for and had compassion for those who cried out to Him for help while He passes by. He took time to stop what He was doing and meet their needs.

29 As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind. 30 Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

31 “Be quiet!” the crowd yelled at them.

But they only shouted louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

32 When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, “What do you want me to do for you?”

33 “Lord,” they said, “we want to see!” 34 Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.

Once again, we see an example of the crowd… the majority… being wrong. Even in this simple example, the ways of men tried to quiet down the people in need so they would not be a distraction to the event. How clearly this reveals that they did not truly understand Jesus. Jesus takes this opportunity to stop what He is doing and with compassion heal the two men who were calling out for His help. I am glad for those men that they were not discouraged to call out to Jesus, but instead only called out louder.

How often do we tell ourselves we are too busy to notice or stop and help someone who is in need… crying out for help? “Maybe when I have more time.“, we say. “Surely someone else will help them.” While I am subject to fail in this regard as do most of us, I strive to do better to notice and respond to the needs of those around us. I am not content to say I am “good enough” and will help when I have more time. I want to follow Jesus’ example and help when people need it and call out for it, not just when it is convenient to me.

It is almost easy to miss the fact that the two men followed Jesus. The miracle, performed to change their lives when they were in need of help and unable to help themselves led them to Jesus… and they followed Him.

While I do not know what it is like to be physically blind, I have a clear picture of what it is like to be spiritually blind. For most of my first 25 years I did not know or understand the ways of God clearly or correctly. In the words of the inspiring song, Amazing Grace… I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind but now I see. It is indeed through the grace of God that my eyes have been opened. I can not even say that I was seeking it, but rather I was comfortable in the teachings of the church in which I was raised… go to church on Sunday, no need for the Bible, live your life according to the ways taught you by your parents and grandparents before them. In my case this amounted to … “be good”, “do what’s right”, but no clear definition of what that meant or how to seek it out in scripture. I was lost. Praise God that now I am found.

The more God reveals to me, the more He allows me to see clearly, them more passionately I want to follow Him, to submit to Him, and to proclaim Him! He gave me sight (spiritually) and I now follow Him as the two blind men in this scripture in Matthew.

I pray you would never grow complacent in your relationship with Jesus. I challenge you to seek to know, love, and serve God more every day, every year of your life. This takes conscious effort and time and it means God must be a priority in your life, not something to do for an hour on Sunday and call it done for the week.

On our journey to know, love, and serve God… just as on any journey… once you feel you have arrived, that is as far as you will ever go. We must recognize that we should be avidly seeking Him more as long as we live. If we can not recognize change in our walk with Him over time, than likely we are no longer walking with Him, but rather we have stopped somewhere along the journey to rest… perhaps without even realizing it. When we see this, we must get up and follow Him again, continue on the path.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Parenting, Righteousness / Serving God, Suffering / Adversity

A True Christian Leader Must Be A Servant

Matthew 20:20-28 continues directly after Jesus has once again predicted His death and resurrection. With this in mind, the words of the mother of James and John exchanges with Jesus should not be taken lightly. She may not know what she is asking, but she clearly does not expect the road to be a care free one for her sons given what Jesus has just said about His own impending suffering.

20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 “What is your request?” he asked.

She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”

“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”

23 Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”

24 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The mother of James and John may not have understood how greatness is defined in the kingdom of heaven… it is almost contradictory to say we will be a servant of all just to sit in power and authority by Jesus. Instead we should be motivated to follow the example of Jesus and focus on serving others. However, the mother clearly wants her boys to be with Jesus, even if the path is difficult and filled with suffering. I give her lots of credit for that. As parents, it is important to support and direct our children to Jesus.

Note that although Jesus submits to the Father’s will as to who will sit on his right and left, He clearly accepts the offer of their service and confirms that the road will be difficult… “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup.”

There is not surprisingly a bit of a ruckus as the  other disciples hear about this request. Jesus settles them down by clearly defining the difference between worldly leaders who flaunt their authority and demand to be supported by the people, taking what they want and the follower of Christ who wants to be great… wants to be a leader.

“26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus did not just say this… He lived it! God Himself became man… and a humble man at that rather than one characterized by great wealth and worldly power. His life, ministry, and death were all acts of service to those whom He leads. What a glorious example of how God wants our leaders to behave… really all of us to behave.

For those of us who have an opportunity to influence who is selected for leadership roles in community, region, or country… we must take it seriously. Do not vote or support someone based on what they will give you or whatever group of people you identify with, for even the pagans do that. Instead look for someone of godly character who will truly be a servant leader in the model of Jesus Christ.

For those of us who already have ungodly leaders in power, pray. Pray for them to lose their spiritual blindness and see Jesus Christ clearly in all His glory. Pray they would repent and then prosper in the Lord.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Consequences of Sin, Courage / Fear, Heaven and Hell, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Obeying God, Salvation, Selfishness, Suffering / Adversity

Jesus Predicts His Death And Resurrection – He Went Willingly

As we read on in Matthew 20:17-19 we see where Jesus once again predicts and warns his disciples that He will be killed but that He will rise again on the third day. Jesus wanted His disciples to be prepared for this important event. He wanted them to understand it as best they could so they could respond properly and recognize too that Jesus went willingly… He was not defeated or trapped or fooled.

To evaluate the full context, let us revisit some of the prior warnings or predictions Jesus shared with His disciples about His upcoming death and resurrection.

Matthew 16:21-28

21 From then on Jesus[j] began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.

22 But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him[k] for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!”

23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?[l] Is anything worth more than your soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. 28 And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

Matthew 17:22-23

22 After they gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. 23 He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” And the disciples were filled with grief.

Matthew 20:17-19

17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. 18 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man[b] will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. 19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans[c] to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”

I find it telling that as you progress through time with Jesus’ communication of His death and resurrection to His disciples, you can see they may not understand fully but are starting to accept it. When first it was shared, Peter reacted in denial and took Jesus aside to reprimand Him. Before we give Peter a hard time for it, let’s consider how often we do this in our lives as well… “I can’t believe you let that person die from cancer, God.” or lose a job and so on. Jesus quickly rebuked Peter in telling him that he was too focused on the ways of man rather than the ways of God. Most of us are as well. Jesus reminds us we cannot be selfish and hold on to our own life tightly and serve God fully.

By the second prediction, the disciples react in grief, but not denial.

By the third prediction, there is no documented reaction at all. All three records are from same gospel account and thus the same author. It is significant that they were differentiated in this way. Jesus was preparing His disciples… even though we see later that they did not fully understand yet, nor did they handle Jesus’ death with a ‘perfect’  response. None the less, they would at least be able to look back and clearly remember that Jesus went willingly.

One last point I find significant… at what point did Jesus first feel it was the right timing to tell his disciples of His coming death and resurrection? The first prediction followed an exchange with Peter.

Matthew 16:13-20

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”[c]

14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah,[d] the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John,[e] because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’),[f] and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell[g] will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid[h] on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit[i] on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Jesus shares the prediction of His death and resurrection starting after Peter realizes and proclaims that Jesus is “…the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” This truth, not Peter as a person, is the rock upon which Jesus builds the church. We see quickly that Peter will fail (denying Christ three times) as all men fail. But the truth of Jesus as Messiah, the Son of the Living God… Jesus will never fail. That truth will stand against all effort and power from Hell.

Do you truly accept the physical suffering and death of Jesus for our sins as a real event in history? or are you still in denial as the disciples were at first?

When you think of His suffering and death, have you ever felt grief that your sins (and mine) are why Jesus suffered and died? If not, we may be led back to the first question.

Knowing that Jesus submitted to God’s will perfectly, even willingly going into certain suffering and death… are you willing to fully submit to God and follow where He leads? or are you holding back some areas of your life to your own plans or comforts?

Do you proclaim Him boldly to others? or keep your “faith” to yourself? James said faith without works is dead [James 2:14-26]. Paul said part of the evidence of a saving faith is to proclaim Jesus as Lord [Romans 10:9-10]. Jesus said if you deny me before men, so I will deny you before the Father [Matthew 10:32-33].

Again I ask… Do you proclaim Him boldly to others? or keep your “faith” to yourself?

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Am I too late?, Character of God, Consequences of Sin, Faith / Trusting God, Grace / Forgiveness, Hope, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Love, Merciful, Parables, Repenting from Sin, Selfishness

The Kingdom of Heaven Is Like a Vineyard

Jesus teaches us about the kingdom of heaven by comparing it to a vineyard in Matthew 20:1-16. Once again He clearly shows the contrast between the kingdom of heaven and the ways of man with a stark contrast that at first read appears “unfair”, but in reality demonstrates the mercy, grace, and love we all want to receive.

20 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage[a] and sent them out to work.

3 “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.

6 “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’

7 “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’

“The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’

8 “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. 10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. 11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’

13 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’

16 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”

People often misunderstand this parable when they view it through the eyes of men rather than the eyes of God. As is true of all parables, Jesus is using an illustration people should be able to understand to explain a greater concept about the kingdom of heave.  Jesus’ point is not about the sum of money that people receive for working in a vineyard. Rather, Jesus is speaking about the offer God has extended to each of us through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He offers salvation to all of us, no matter if we find Him early in the day (e.g. early in our lives) or late in the day, just before work is completed (e.g. on our deathbed).

None of the workers “deserve” or are “owed” the right to work in the vineyard and receive payment. All of them are invited at the discretion of the vineyard owner, who represents God. We can all receive salvation and forgiveness from sins no matter how close to death we are. What a wonderful God we serve that he receives us even if we come to Him late in our lives. We may have hope of eternal life with Him and hope for others we know that it is never too late for them, until the very moment of death and judgment. God shows mercy, grace, and love to all of us by extending the offer to serve Him through submission to Jesus Christ.

For those who submit to God, we will be like the angels in heaven, rejoicing when a single soul repents and asks Jesus to be Lord of their life, submitting fully to God and proclaiming Him publically. For those who see life only through the eyes of their own selfishness, they will continue to wrestle with and complain about this parable… claiming that it is not fair that they worked longer for Jesus and do not appear to get a higher reward. Truth be told, these people are often far from the kingdom of God. We are not saved by works and when we love and submit to Jesus as our Lord, we do not consider it a burden we resent carrying but rather rejoice that we may serve Him. If we serve Him longer it is all the better to further the kingdom! If others join us late, it too is cause for celebration!

Jesus later gives us a very tangible illustration of the meaning behind this parable as He hangs upon the cross.  He clearly shows us that we are saved not by works, but rather by grace through faith. Praise God! None of us is good enough to meet God’s standard by works. Only Jesus met the standard. And He carried our sin to the cross on our behalf. Even the criminal who was deserving of death was able to be saved in the closing hours of his life when he could do no works, join no church, and take no action to repent other than with his heart and his words.

Luke 23:39-43

39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”

40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

God gives us all the opportunity to be saved, but not by our own works. We can have hope in knowing it is never too late for us or for those we love. But with this hope comes great opportunity. Each of us should consider:

  • Have I accepted Jesus’ offer to work in His vineyard… to submit to Him and serve Him in the work He wants done? (Am I saved?)
  • Am I working hard in the vineyard to do the Lord’s work or am I content to just do the bare minimum to get paid at the end of the day (e.g. make it into heaven)?  (Am I fully submitted to Jesus and His work or only committed to the point that it is convenient and comfortable for me?)
  • Am I studying and learning God’s word, seeking Him prayerfully to develop a more intimate relationship with Him? or am I content to be baby in the faith, requiring constant care and feeding (e.g. spiritually). Such as these are not able to disciple others and may fade even themselves over time. They are easily misled by false prophets.
  • Is my goal to convert others to Christianity (e.g. bare minimum for them to be saved)? or is my goal to make disciples of others such that they can share God’s word and bring the good news effectively to others?
  • What changes should I make today to fully submit my life to Jesus?

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Character of God, Consequences of Sin, Heaven and Hell, Justice / Judgment, Parables

Hell Is Real – Prepare Today To Avoid It Tomorrow

If you accept Jesus Christ as Lord, so must you accept that hell is real. Many of our churches today do not teach on hell because it makes people uncomfortable. People want to believe that everyone goes to heaven and there is no hell. However Jesus Christ Himself spoke about hell on many occasions and warned people to avoid it with a sense of urgency. He knew it to be important to warn people about hell because it is a miserable place and our decision to accept or reject God will have eternal consequences.

[John 3:16-18] 16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave[a] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

[Matthew 25:41-46] 41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.[g] 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

[John 5:24-30] 24 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

25 “And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. 26 The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. 27 And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man.[d] 28 Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, 29 and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. 30 I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.

 If we love others, we must tell them about hell as Jesus did. If we saw a building was on fire and people were having a party inside, would we not come and tell them with a sense of urgency? If they still did not believe us, would we not tell them again trying to point to the evidence of it, urging them at least to come and look for themselves? It would be a true failure on our part as Christians to just walk by their house as it burned and say “I am sure they are aware of the fire and have chosen to remain inside, so they are responsible for themselves. I do not want to upset them and disturb their good time. I don’t want them to make fun of me and I certainly don’t want them to feel embarrassed or self conscious about remaining in an house that is on fire. ”

If you accept Jesus as Lord, you must also accept heaven and hell as real. He taught about them often. Just because it may be unpopular does not make it false. Are you living your life as if heaven and hell are real and eternal? Are you telling others with a sense of urgency, as if to rescue them from a burning building?

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Blessed, Character of God, Family, Hearing from God, Holy / Set Apart, Justice / Judgment, Righteousness / Serving God

Submit To God’s Will And He Will Direct Your Path

Genesis 29 continues while Jacob is on his journey escaping from his brother Esau and seeking his uncle Laban to find a wife from his own people, one that does not practice the detestable worship of the Hittites as did the wives of Esau. God revealed himself to Jacob in a dream in Genesis 28 and Jacob committed to following and serving God.

We see that, with God’s help, Jacob had no trouble finding his uncle immediately upon arriving in the land. God clearly appears to be guiding the events to help Jacob. God keeps His promises, and the blessings of God are real and significant.

29 Then Jacob hurried on, finally arriving in the land of the east. 2 He saw a well in the distance. Three flocks of sheep and goats lay in an open field beside it, waiting to be watered. But a heavy stone covered the mouth of the well.

3 It was the custom there to wait for all the flocks to arrive before removing the stone and watering the animals. Afterward the stone would be placed back over the mouth of the well. 4 Jacob went over to the shepherds and asked, “Where are you from, my friends?”

“We are from Haran,” they answered.

5 “Do you know a man there named Laban, the grandson of Nahor?” he asked.

“Yes, we do,” they replied.

6 “Is he doing well?” Jacob asked.

“Yes, he’s well,” they answered. “Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the flock now.”

7 Jacob said, “Look, it’s still broad daylight—too early to round up the animals. Why don’t you water the sheep and goats so they can get back out to pasture?”

8 “We can’t water the animals until all the flocks have arrived,” they replied. “Then the shepherds move the stone from the mouth of the well, and we water all the sheep and goats.”

9 Jacob was still talking with them when Rachel arrived with her father’s flock, for she was a shepherd. 10 And because Rachel was his cousin—the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother—and because the sheep and goats belonged to his uncle Laban, Jacob went over to the well and moved the stone from its mouth and watered his uncle’s flock. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and he wept aloud. 12 He explained to Rachel that he was her cousin on her father’s side—the son of her aunt Rebekah. So Rachel quickly ran and told her father, Laban.

13 As soon as Laban heard that his nephew Jacob had arrived, he ran out to meet him. He embraced and kissed him and brought him home. When Jacob had told him his story, 14 Laban exclaimed, “You really are my own flesh and blood!”

Jacob submitted to God in Genesis 28. In fact, he gained an appropriate fear of God, recognizing the authority of our Lord. When we submit to God, He will direct our paths and when we seek to live out our lives according to His will and His plan instead of our own, He will enable us to succeed.

Each of us should consider… “Have I truly submitted all of my life to God? Do I trust Him in the outcome, even if it is not what I want or ask for? What areas am I holding on to, insisting it be according to my will instead of His?”

Another aspect we must consider as Christians is that we should, like Jacob, have an appropriate “fear” of God. He is not just a loving “grandfather” with no opinion of right and wrong in our behaviors. He is a just and holy God… a father… who is going to hold us accountable for the right and wrong that we commit through our thoughts, actions, and inactions. He does so because He loves us and He knows what is best for us. We should let that appropriate fear help to guide us in our submission to Him as we would an earthly father.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Character of God, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Faith / Trusting God, Family, Greed, Heaven and Hell, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Obeying God, Righteousness / Serving God, Salvation, Suffering / Adversity

What Good Deed Must I Do To Have Eternal Life?

Jesus continues to teach us about the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 19:16-30, in response to a question from a wealthy man. Jesus’ response is respectful but difficult and really tests how committed the man is to seeking and submitting to God. Sadly, this man walks away from God because it is too hard for him.

16 Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher,[f] what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”

17 “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep[g] the commandments.”

18 “Which ones?” the man asked.

And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. 19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’[h]”

20 “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”

21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

25 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.

26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

27 Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”

28 Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new[i] and the Son of Man[j] sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.[k]

We should be careful to recognize that the rich man is a specific person, and not representative of all rich people or all people who have many possessions. That should be obvious since it is clear that not all who are rich even come to seek God or try to follow His commands as this man did.  I give him credit in that he was trying to follow God’s commandments and seek to learn more about path to eternal life… he was closer to the kingdom of God than many in our churches today. However, he still came up short of what is required… submission to God in all things.  He valued money and possessions above God.

We immediately get insight into this man’s motivations and drives by his opening question.

16 Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher,[f] what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”

The wealthy man did not come seeking to know God’s will for him and to submit to God. He came to see what he could do to get eternal life.  In effect he wanted to see what was required and if it was not hard, he would do it. He is task oriented and seeking another specific action or work on his part to complete on his way to eternal life. He does not seem to recognize that his works and deeds are not and will never be sufficient.

He appears to believe in eternal life, but by the end we will see that his conviction on this matter is perhaps not as strong as it seems at first… else why would he walk away in the end. When we lack conviction in the reality of eternity with or without God (heaven or hell), we are vulnerable to valuing possessions or relationships in this world too much, putting them above God and failing to fully submit to Him.

Jesus takes a moment to clearly define “good”… that is to say godly or meeting God’s standard of holiness. Only those things and people are good. He clearly points out that only one is good… God Himself. No person meets this standard.

Jesus continues by pointing out that the man should measure himself against the commandments. The mans’ motivation for responding with “which ones?” is not clear to me. Was he looking for the bare minimum to get by or was he seeking clarification to separate God’s commandments from the many burdensome rules and traditions of men that the Pharisees and Sadducees had created?

When the man responds that he has followed all these commandments, we know that he can only be thinking of the physical acts associated with the commandments. Jesus just stated that only one is good… that one being God. Plus we read elsewhere in scripture where Jesus clearly tells us that to even think angry thoughts is to commit murder… to think lustful thoughts is to commit adultery. (Matthew 5:21-26). No one can measure up to God’s standard as reflected in the commandments. They show the depth of our sin when properly used as our measuring stick.

Jesus knows this man has not met the standard and could have spent time discussing it with him. Instead, Jesus knows where the man’s heart is and where his stumbling block is and gets right to the heart of the matter as it applies to this specific wealthy man.

21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

We may not know for sure if the rich man ever repented, but clearly he left in defeat. How hard it is for those that have much in this world to submit to God. How easy to rely on the things of this world.

Jesus then clearly explains to the disciples that it is hard… humanly impossible even, for a man to get to heaven without God. It is only with God that it is possible.

Peter then asks what several disciples are likely thinking…

27 Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”

We see that our eternal life with God is not just a case of either “in or out”, but rather there are levels of reward based on how we submitted to and served Him with our lives.

29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.[k]

We are also clearly reminded by Jesus that those who follow Him should expect to be giving up possessions, family , friends… those things most dear to us. This is not to be done randomly, but rather Jesus is warning us that when we put God first above all else, we will find ourselves facing rejection even from those most dear. We must choose God above all else, without exception. It will be hard… humanly impossible. We need God.

Pray that God would reveal to you what areas of your life you are holding as higher priority or value over God. Pray He would help you to properly put Him first, even when it is painful.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Blessed, Character of God, Children, Parenting

Let the Children Come To Me. Don’t Stop Them!

Matthew 19:13-15 captures wonderful insight into the character of God as revealed through Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry. God loves children and families who seek Him. He has time for us. He is never too busy and He never stops caring.

13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

14 But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” 15 And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.

This is a simple collection of verses, but take care not to overlook it! I have found myself many times remembering this one to help me try to live my life for Christ. It is so easy to get caught up in everything we think is so important that we have to get done. But Jesus reminds us to take time for the children… to spend time with them and to bless them. Also He shows us the value as parents of bringing our children to Him. Those parents could easily have entertained their children doing something else “fun”, perhaps something the children even preferred at the time, but instead they brought their children to Jesus and persisted even when the disciples tried to turn them away.

This short scripture has been inspirational to me as a father of four.  What greater way to show God’s love to the children than to demonstrate they are important by stopping what you are doing and making time for them? What greater way than to teach them about God through Jesus Christ and help them develop a personal relationship with Him.

What is more pleasing to God… to play or watch sports like football, baseball or basketball… or to help your children learn to relate to and rely on Jesus Christ? Which do your children and your family spend more time on?

Surely my work and my tasks are no more important than Jesus’ ministry was! Surely my need to relax is no greater than His was during His earthly ministry.  It was important to Jesus to spend time with children and help them to know Him. It is then also important to me. Let the children come!

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Bitterness / Resentment, Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Grace / Forgiveness, Parables

How Often Should I Forgive Someone Who Sins Against Me?

Jesus teaches us about forgiveness in Matthew 18:21-35. Right from the beginning of this scripture passage he clearly states the case that forgiveness in God’s eyes is different from the natural instincts of man. We naturally assume there is a limit to how much can be forgiven. God calls us to forgive without counting the sins against us.

21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone[i] who sins against me? Seven times?”

22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven![j]

23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars.[k] 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.

26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.

28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars.[l] He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.

29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.

31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.

35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters[m] from your heart.”

God does not keep a running count of our sins, but rather offers forgiveness to those who repent regardless of how many times they sin. As we are all sinners, we can rejoice and praise Him for His grace. However, this is not a license to sin. We have accountability to God in this world and when we stand in judgment for all our actions and inaction. Those who truly repent do not go on proudly accepting their sin, but rather turn from it as best they can and submit to Christ.

Furthermore, God calls us to forgive others in the same way that we desire to be forgiven by Him. We will not receive God’s forgiveness if we hold bitterness and unforgiveness in our hearts toward others.

We are all sinners who need grace and forgiveness.  Praise God that He shows us how to forgive and provides His grace for our sins through the death of Christ, who was without sin.

Each of us should take time to consider if we are harboring any bitterness or unforgiveness toward others. Hurry and waste no time in offering forgiveness. Pray and ask God to help you forgive others as He forgives you.

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Character of God, Children, Heaven and Hell, Parables

God Loves Each Of Us As Special And Unique

Beginning in Matthew 18, Jesus speaks to His disciples about what it means to be great in the kingdom of heaven. He calls a child over and then speaks about how important it is to welcome little children on His behalf and how bad it is to tempt and mislead them. In Matthew 18:12-14, Jesus then continues on with a parable to give insight into how God feels about caring for His people.

12 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? 13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! 14 In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.

God cares for all of His people as the shepherd cares for all hundred of the sheep. God cares enough to go looking for even one of us that gets lost. This is a wonderful expression of love. God does not view us as interchangeable parts, each the same as the other, such that missing one when you still have so many others is not important. God knows each of us as individuals and none of us is replaceable by another. He made us. We are each precious to Him. He does not want any of us to perish… to get lost and end up separated from Him for eternity in hell.

I have heard people stumble on this teaching. They think the shepherd is leaving the ninety-nine at risk to go seek the one who got lost. Perhaps they feel like ninety-nine out of one hundred is pretty good after all and how important can the one sheep be?

Most who stumble don’t understand the mentality of a shepherd who is tending his own flock. They think more like a hired hand who feels no personal ownership or accountability for the flock. This parable is actually giving us great insight into how God views us.

Consider a family with ten children that went camping in the woods. Would they return with just nine children? Would not the parent leave the nine at the car or camp site if necessary and go look for the one that was missing? Would they not all rejoice more over the one that was found than the nine that were never lost?

God knows us each personally and loves us as His children. He is our father, our shepherd, and we depend on Him. He wants all of us to grow to know Him and follow Him.

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Please share our devotionals with your friends and family and visit our website at www.HearingFromJesus.org to see more.

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