"Act Like A Child"

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?'  Then Jesus...said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.'"  (Matthew 18)

Does anyone really believe this?  Just stop for a moment and consider who you think is "great" in the Kingdom.  Did a little child come to your mind?  You have heard the phrase, "Grow up."  Maybe not. 

Face it; when most speak of "great" Christians, they speak of  "mature Christians" (which I sometimes wonder what they mean by that).  They think of great "people of faith," miracle workers, leaders, and here's one for you, "Seasoned intercessor."  Our Lord Jesus strongly warns us of such attitudes.

The older we get the greater the pride, more to defend, justify, rationalize.  Of course, children are not innocent or without sin.  Yet there is still a "searching" mode, a sense of wonder about life.  Like you and me, they may "misbehave" at times, but even then the wonder is still there.  When I read that Jesus tells us to be, "converted and become as little children," a sense of wonder is what I think of, personages who know nothing or very little about life, but are, as we often say of little children, "wide-eyed."

I have encountered people in my life time who think they are inferior, not of much "use" in life.  Maybe that is a good place to start.  They have less to be proud of than the "big shots."  The Bible says, "Do not think more highly of yourself than you ought...."  The danger of thinking, "more highly," increases with age.  In Jesus Christ, however, it decreases with "age."  Here is "a word" for the Church in 2019, "Be converted and become as little children." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, forgive me for any times I sought "greatness" the wrong way.  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

"To The Unknown God"

"And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, 'We will hear you again on this matter."  (Acts 17:32)

Our text is from a culture which was full of searchers, but few "finders."  They suspected that there must be a god beyond what they could detect, but, having not found that god, they just set up a memorial which admitted such.  Sounds like modern America.

I read an article today which said that a transgender boxer broke the jaw and fractured the skull of the opponent.  The transgender person was a biological man fighting a biological woman.  This is the human race fulfilling the proverbial, "going to hell in a hand basket."  America has, "heard of the resurrection of the dead," the Gospel of Jesus, Who died on a cross, was buried, and rose on the third day for the forgiveness of sin, entrance into, "The Household of Faith," and a home in Heaven.  Reject Jesus, and the "theater of the absurd" will just keep getting more and more absurd.

I repeat that Biblical statement which people ignore and keep attempting to frustrate, "God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."  The boxing event to which I referred above reflects a culture gone insane, a culture which has, "....heard of the resurrection," but has, "mocked," made fun of those who believe such.  "God is not mocked."  I encourage you to read again Romans 1 & 2.  It is a description of the mocking Athenians.  It is a description of mocking Americans.

I am thankful that I have been among the ones who said, "We will hear you again on this matter."  I remember when I went to my first "Full Gospel Businessmen's" dinner.  Some left with the attitude of the first part of our text.  I left with the attitude of the second part.  What about you today?  This is not a one time decision.  This is an every day decision.  Mock or stay open to all Jesus says and is doing today.  Will you join me in saying to our Lord Jesus Christ, "We will hear you again on this matter"?

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray to never believe I don't have to live, "We will hear you again on this matter."  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

"....Who Will Stengthen And Protect You...."

"But the Lord is faithful, Who will strengthen and protect you from the evil one."  (2 Thessalonians 3:3, NASB)

Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us in John 10:10, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy."  But Jesus reminds us in today's text that He, "is faithful, Who will strengthen and protect you from the evil one."

Look at your life.  Can you not see this modus operandi of, "the evil one"?  Every day there are things which he fires at us to, "steal, and to kill, and to destroy," you and me.  This is why Jesus tells us to, "put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."  Fight life's battle on our own, and nothing but defeat follows.  It is only, "....the whole armor of God," which can protect us from what Ephesians 6:16 tells us are, "the flaming arrows of the evil one."  This is the victory which alone is in Jesus Christ. 

So allow the Holy Spirit to remind you today that, "....the Lord Jesus is faithful." Jesus has promised us , "....I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."  And please notice the "plus" factor of Jesus' promise of, "....have life...."  It is, "....life...more abundantly."  Maybe we can say that this is, "life," with attitude.

Father, in Jesus' Name, again I say, Thank You!  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

Jesus Is Always The Problem

"And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth."  (Exodus 23:13)

A corresponding New Testament passage is 1 Cor. 8:5, 6, "For even if there are so-called gods,..yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live."  Notice the wonderful clarity of stating just Who is God-- "the Father,..and one Lord Jesus Christ." 

If this is not clearly stated and lived out as the Community of the Redeemed, we are in violation of our text, and, the world will never have a "clear presentation of the Gospel."  I'm telling you today that to "marginalize" Jesus, as is the trend more and more in modern Christendom, is to by default, "mention the name of other gods...."  If Jesus Christ is not central, fundamental, in all we do and say, we are, "mention[ing] the name of other gods."

"Broken record?"  I won't fix it.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You that You cleared up the confusion of mankind as to who You Are in Jesus.  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

"Your Work...Your Labor...Your Endurance"

"We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 1:3, NIV)

"....your work produced by faith."  This is not just "church work."  This is life work.  It is impossible to live life in Jesus Christ without believing and obeying Jesus Christ, which is the definition of, "faith."  Every day you and I are bombarded by, "principalities and powers," by the, "spiritual forces of wickedness," whose sole purpose is to, "deny the faith," which is another way to say, "I give up."  Fight on, my dear Family Member.

"....your labor prompted by love...."  This is the call of life in Jesus Christ.  All thoughts, all words, all, "labor," whether Church, "missions," work place, family relationships, are commanded by our Lord Jesus to just, "as I have loved you."  Life must be, "prompted by agape," or all is empty humanism.

"your endurance."  The Word, "endurance," is most often translated, "perseverance."  The dictionary defines, "perseverance," as "doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success."  What an example of much of life.  Remember when you "got saved?"  Most thought that the "change" people talked about would occur, if not right away, at least by next week.  Yes, some experienced a flood of "answered prayers," admiration of some, etc. 

Then one day we "woke up."  We looked around and noticed that there was much of life which still needed, "....produced by faith,..prompted by love,...endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I repent of those seasons in which I despised the "time-process" in life.  Amen.

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Sarah is having some tests on January 24.  Please pray for all results to be negative.

 

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