"Spoken Of In Memory Of Her"

"But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, 'Why this waste?  For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money give to the poor'....Jesus...said, 'Why do you bother the woman?  For she has done a good deed to Me....Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done shall also be spoken of in memory of her.'" (Matthew 26, NASB)

Oswald Chambers taught that, "The chief motivation behind Paul's service was not love for others but love for his Lord.  If our devotion is to the cause of humanity, we will be quickly defeated....But if I love Jesus Christ personally and passionately, I can serve humanity, even though people may treat me like a doormat."  I can think of no better interpretation of our text. 

When Jesus said that, "what this woman has done shall also be spoken of in memory of her", I believe it is primarily His call to us to love Him the same way, viz., lavishly, unsparingly.  Is our worship today that of, "this woman," who poured, "a vial of very costly perfume," on Jesus?  Or, are there those who say, "Why this waste?"  I memorialize, "this woman," today because she loved Jesus as I love Jesus.  I can only pray that it be as Jesus says, "a good deed to Me."

Notice that lavish love is demonstrated by, "a good deed to Me."  How do we demonstrate today such worship, love, devotion to our Lord Jesus as did, "this woman"?  Jesus' "answer" to this is the greatest, "good deed....If you love Me, keep (obey) My Commandments."  Now there can be much that I may do and say which may "pour love" upon Jesus.  But if I desire to do as, "this woman," did, i.e., "a good deed to Me"-------------------- "Keep My commandments."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I desire to be as, "this woman."  Amen.

*********************************

* "Germany: Return of the Stasi Police State?"   jhs58.blogspot.com
* Washington, DC:  January 29 & 30

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Make The Ground Shake

"And you will be hate by all...for My Name's sake." (Matthew 24:9b)

When I read our text, it came to me that most of the time the, "all," don't know why they hate us.  They attempt to give acceptable reasons, but they are not the reasons.  You and I are, "hated by all nations for [Jesus'] sake."  Perhaps a fault in us is a desire to get, "all nations," groups, friends, family members to "understand" just who we are, what we do and why we do it, etc.  But then the Name of Jesus "appears."  Far too many songs, however, too many programs, etc., leave out the Name of Jesus.  The term "crossover" comes to mind, or "seeker friendly."  It is an attempt to be liked, accepted.  Why would anyone want to betray Jesus in such a manner?  He is "Jesus, Lover of my soul."

Hatred in the Earth is growing exponentially.  It is becoming, if possible, more and more irrational.  With the increasing hatred being unleashed in the Earth, I cannot encourage you enough to pray the prayers of Scripture.  Take Scriptures and make them prayers for yourself, family, church, town and nation.  What the Bible does for me is to show me just how "far" I can go in my prayers. 

There is in most of us, I'm sure, a hesitancy to pray what we are really feeling because of some false sense of, and desire for, a "nice-guy" profile.  Away with such!  We are at war.  We cannot afford to be "nice," as most define niceness.  I know it is from a secular poet, but I leave you today with these words:

"Go forth and conquer

For the world is small

and you are the giant

and in every step you take

will make the ground shake

as it rises to me you."

Father, in Jesus' Name, keep me, "as the pupil of Your Eye."  Amen.

**********************************

Praying Bible prayers in Washington, DC., January 29 & 30

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....I Wanted To.., But...."

"Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do....O Jerusalem, Jerusalem....How often I wanted to gather your children together,..but you were not willing!" (Matthew 23:3 & 37, from today's Gospel Reading)

If humanity desires a full "picture" of Jesus of Nazareth, it needs to read all verses of all the Gospels, and this is just for "starters."  The "rest," if you will, is: Read the Bible, all of it, regularly, yes, over and over.  It takes a life time just to "scratch the surface."  No one will ever know God by picking and choosing which of His Words they want to read.

When the cutesy phrase came into popularity, "What would Jesus do?", it was code for, "What I want Jesus to do."  In the mind of the popularists, Jesus does not pronounce judgment, never rebukes, always approves of everything they want, "'walks with me and talks with me,' all the while coddling me."  The attempt is to literally create a god of their own image. 

Enter Matthew 23.  Though the chapter is a judgment on the leaders, this is a summation of Jewish history.  This is the God of the Old Testament, revealing Himself in the New Testament, and telling humanity that, "....I am the Lord, I change not."  He is just the same as revealed in the Old Testament as He is revealed in the New Testament, just as much Judge and Savior, "rod and staff," just as much the Hater of sin as the Lover of the sinner.  He says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom", and, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am Thy God.  I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."  This was the "manner" of the, "Word of God," as He walked the shores of the Galilee.  Just as then, people today cannot make Him consistent in their minds.

Our texts reveal the rebuke of sin, while also revealing what Ephesians describes as, "the love of Christ which passes knowledge."  Here we see the longing of The Creator, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem-- How often I wanted...your children...."  And, as we know Him from what all Scripture reveals, the Living Triune God is saying the same today to all humanity as in Jeremiah 22 and our text, "O Earth, Earth, Earth, Hear the Word of the Lord!...How often I wanted...your children."

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You for inviting me to live, "under the shadow of the Almighty....Under [Your] wings [I]...find refuge."  Amen.

****************************

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....Fan Into Flame...."

"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands."  (2 Tim. 1:6)

My Dad was the first to bring our text to my attention many years ago.  I remember once sharing it with a Romanian Follower of Jesus back during the communist era.  It lit up his life.

The Baptism, "in the Holy Spirit and fire," is in you and me as Followers of Jesus.  But that Baptism only strengthens us daily if we, "fan into flame," His glorious Baptism.  "Fan into flame," I interpret to mean what Jude says, "praying in the Holy Ghost."  In my hours of deepest need, deepest helplessness, deepest not-knowing-what-to-do, it was the glorious, "flame," of the Holy Spirit which sustained me.  It is nonetheless true to this moment.

Do not be surprised or discouraged if the thoughts come to you, "What is really going on here?"  The Enemy of our souls does not want you and me to walk in the Baptism, "in the Holy Spirit and fire."  He wants us to sit around a "fire" of embers, resting in past victories, yet barely keeping our head above water.  Beware greatly of a "theology" which lies to you, a theology which says, "Don't worry about all of that.  You are saved and filled with the Holy Spirit."  This is a "do-nothing" theology.  

I encourage you today to notice that no one else can, "fan...the gift of God," for you and me.  This is the reason the Holy Spirit tells us again and again, "....I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I never assume to have the fullness of Your Words, nor the full understanding of them.  I pray for more.  Amen.

************************

Washington, DC:  January 29 & 30

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2