True Sight

Are you one of the many people who are visual learners? If so, you’re not alone – most are! That’s true in all forms of learning, including in faith. Many people followed Jesus because of what they saw him do.

Jesus said to Thomas after His resurrection, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). But Thomas wasn’t the only one to struggle with doubting that Jesus was truly the king.

It’s been an ongoing struggle that many people have to deal with – believing without seeing it first. Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” And as followers of our king, it is imperative that we “live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Otherwise, we can easily be duped into believing something of this realm is more important than the kingdom of God.

Many have failed to be able to see who God really is. Eve was the first to fail at believing that God was all she needed. But “we’ve all done wrong and fail to see the glory of God’s standard” (Romans 3:23). But just like in Eve’s case, there’s someone always “prowling around like a roaring lion” who wants us to stay blind. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, “if our gospel is unrecognizable, it is unrecognizable to those who are perishing. The god of this age (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Blind Bartimaeus saw it, even though he was blind! In Luke 18:35-43 is this amazing story of a blind man who gained sight, but he really already had spiritual sight. When he heard that Jesus was coming through town, he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

He understood what the Apostles would later try to help the crowds “see” that Jesus was truly the heir to the throne that David spoke of in Psalms 110, “Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion…”

The scriptures constantly reveal the power of God and the authority of Christ (Messiah) to us so that we can truly live by faith. But we, like Bartimaeus, must trust God’s plan even if we are in the midst of a storm.

1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Not Power but Humility

Lord Acton, a noble of Groppoli, wrote this in a letter to a priest at the end of the 19th century: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men...” Acton was pointing out an inherent danger of obtaining power, prestige, and popularity – pride!

Paul said of the hunger for money in 1 Timothy 6:9-10, “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” As you read that verse in context, Paul had been addressing the need to honor those leaders who work hard among you… “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” (Deuteronomy 25:4 and Leviticus 19:13). But ultimately he was addressing the risky position of “desiring the office of overseer” both for those who follow their leadership and those who lead. Power is a sensitive quality to claim.

Jesus had already described the kind of leader that was worthy in God’s eyes. He said after He washed the disciples’ feet in John 13:13-16, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” He had said earlier in Matthew 23:11, “The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

In Luke 18:10-14, Jesus tells a parable of two men: Pharisee and a tax-collector. As we’ study through Luke, we can see how much attention Jesus gives towards the arrogance of those who “think” they are the righteous ones. They thought of themselves as the religiously powerful ones, which would prove to be their failing.

Seriously consider the point Jesus is making in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10)… “Blessed are the: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted because of righteousness… for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The power of God isn’t in worldly power but in humility. 

The Persistent Widow

Imagine it’s your first day of work at your new job. You get up early, get ready, head out the door, only to find your tire on your car is flat! In a desperate attempt to change it without getting dirty, you realize you can’t find your jack. Plan B. Call your neighbor and ask them if they’d be willing to take you to work, but you discover they are on vacation! So, you go another route; you call a friend across town and beg them to take you to work. The phone rings and rings, but…no answer! Finally, you call an acquaintance that you hope will be merciful to you and come pick you up. They agree, and you get your ride and show up with five minutes to spare.

In that scenario, the desperation drives you to do something you normally wouldn’t do: humble yourself and ask for help. Perhaps that scene is more real to you than you’d like to admit. When we are in a serious pinch, we tend to become bolder or more courageous.

As Jesus is describing the nature of God’s kingdom to His followers and the Pharisees, He shares the story of the Persistent Widow. It’s a story of a woman, all alone, needing something she can’t provide on her own. And Jesus reveals that it was her persistence that paid off.

In comparison, the Pharisees did not feel they were in a desperate situation. As far as they were concerned, they were a perfect example for the people. Just read Matthew 23:1-7 or verse 15, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” Even Paul had considered himself to be a higher caliber of person before coming to Christ – Philippians 3:4-6.

Satan constantly points us in different directions to chase after things that make us feel secure, but ultimately, they are “meaningless!”, like the author of Ecclesiastes says. False security tends to kill perseverance. Perseverance is the fruit of hope as Paul writes in Romans 5:2-6, “…we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

God’s kingdom isn’t like the kingdoms of this world. Therefore, we find security in His power to make all things right in the end. That’s what the souls under the altar learned when the slaughtered lamb opened the Fifth Seal in Revelations 6:9-11. They learned they would need to wait on the Lord’s justice to avenge the wrongs they had faced. We have to do the same thing – be patient, trusting, “never give up in doing good” (Galatians 6:9).

Promised Kingdom

Could you walk away from your friends, your career, your faith if it went against God’s will? That’s a serious question that people all around the world throughout the centuries have had to ask. Jesus said in Matthew 16:26-27, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done.”

Sin has a way of looking so sweet, so enticing, so easy and comfortable that it causes many to chase after it. In fact, John tells us, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world— the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)

The challenge is to recognize God’s way as superior to anything else offered to us. Is that easy? Not usually, but very worth it. Jesus told His disciples that His kingdom was prepared for people that know how to stay focused on the eternal (AKA–remain faithful). That kingdom is a beautiful promise that was made long ago, but we are still waiting for the full picture to be seen.

People like Noah and Moses faithfully prepared for and followed the pathway that would lead to God’s kingdom. We even see stories from the past that foreshadow the final coming of God’s kingdom–like the Exodus, or even Lot leaving Sodom. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4).

We’re told in Luke 17:32, “Remember Lot’s wife.” She had trouble leaving her past. In fact, her past consumed her, and she didn’t make it through the fiery trial her family faced. What about you? Are you facing a trial that seems too big to turn down, too hard to walk away? Find comfort in these words from 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Blessings in The Kingdom

It’s been my experience when I travel to a foreign country that I must look American. They just know it. What if God’s kingdom works like that? People know we’re part of God’s family by how we carry ourselves--what we say, how we say it, what we do, where we go, or where we don’t go.

Jesus indicated that we would be known by our love for others. John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples if you love one another.” Everyone will be able to see it!

Peter reminds early believers, in 1 Peter 2:12, “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.”

Our lifestyles tell a lot about the kingdom we are associated with. Paul wrote to the folks in Colossae about how to conduct themselves. Colossae was located in the tri-city region of the Lycus valley, known for its refreshing cold springs but also for its devastating earthquakes. In a place where both blessings and curses were recognized, it was important to live a life that reflected a blessing.

Colossians 3:12-14, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

These words were true for them as much as they are true for us. People may not always be convinced of what makes America great by reading the headlines, but when they get to know people that belong to the kingdom of God, I hope they see what a blessing really looks like! Be the light!

Being Grateful

If you read the headlines much, COVID-19 is probably going to be found somewhere in what you read or watch fairly quickly. It’s a virus that has consumed nearly every conversation. While there are many feelings being expressed about the steps the world has taken to protect us, at the end of the day, the inconveniences of it all can cause us to become more frustrated.

The exact number of those who have had the virus, those who have died from it, and those who have recovered, may be a little challenging to find. However, one thing that might be helpful to reflect on is that more recover than not. More people don’t even get it than do.

Another way to say it is, “be grateful for your health.” If you get out amongst people much (perhaps before Corona), you meet all kinds of folks: some better off than you, some not; some prettier than you, some not; some smarter than you, some not.

When you’re in a situation you don’t want to be in, remember it nearly always “could be worse.” Most likely, I’m writing to believers. And as believers, you can see how God has outlined a plan that can, and has, rescued us from a lot of awful things in this life. It’s our job to share this “good news.”

There were 10 lepers we read about in Luke 17 that had been ostracized from their families; they’d been regarded as rejects of society, yet they recognized what turning to Jesus was their only hope. What Jesus prescribed for them to do was to “go show yourself to the priest" and follow the law given by Moses.

Focusing on Jesus--and His way of living--isn’t limited only to those with diseases. His way of life is exactly what we need to promote in our hurting communities. Consider this passage from Romans 12:9-18 as a good pattern for us to follow. “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

These actions aren’t easy, but they help people be grateful for the blessings they enjoy and even help them through the difficulties they don’t enjoy. Be a blessing!

Law of Christ

Doing the “right and just” thing may not always be the best route to further friendships. However, ignoring sinful behavior or something that harms a relationship isn’t a good route either. Paul mentions in Galatians 6:1-2, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

What’s it mean to live according to the “law of Christ” as in Galatians 6:2? In the context of his letter, Paul is dealing with some “Jew vs. Gentile” issues like the lawyer who asked about how to inherit eternal life (Luke 10:25). Sadly, many followers of Christ make stipulations for “carrying someone’s burden. Jesus answers the lawyer by telling him the famous “Good Samaritan” parable. That story focused on loving people by helping people regardless of who they are or what they’ve done.

Jesus continued to illustrate through a series of parables the difference between worldly kingdoms and God’s kingdom (Romans 8:5-8). Perhaps Godliness can seem impossible to live out at times. One of the most challenging attributes to adopt is forgiveness. To forgive someone who has wronged you is incredibly difficult for many people. Why? Pride? Vulnerability? There might be many reasons, but it has been a continual plague on societies since the beginning of time.

Jesus highlighted something in Luke 17 that I believe addresses what it takes to forgive the way God does – FAITH! “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you…” (Luke 17:3-6)  A tree requires soil to grow, and it couldn’t survive without it. In the same way, it’s a foreign concept to forgive people who wrong you without seeking justice. Showing mercy, forgiveness, takes a lot of faith in someone who just hurt you in some way. It may seem like the relationship can’t grow, but Jesus was illustrating the power of faith in those situations. To have faith that NOT exercising justice may be best for the relationship.

Jesus carried our burden on His shoulders on the way to the cross, and His approach was unfathomable by religious leaders and people knowledgeable of the prophets. 1 Corinthians 2:7, “We declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.”

God’s wisdom of loving a neighbor as our self seems as impossible as planting a tree in the ocean, but to have faith that mending relationships by God’s way can mean growth in that relationship is still possible regardless of how they sin against us.

Increase My Faith

In a court of law, good evidence is critical. With it, a jury can feel more confident about making a difficult decision about someone’s freedom. But evidence is key in bringing justice. While that makes perfect sense in the legal arena, what about in the spiritual one?

Jesus said in Matthew 7:16, “By their fruit, you will recognize them!” Meaning that our actions serve as evidence of our faith, or our lack of faith; our love, or lack of love. How we treat people becomes one of the most opportune areas of our life to show a lack of faith. What I mean by that is that people let us down, people have secret agendas, people don’t always show us the respect we feel we deserve, and therefore people probably test us more than any other thing in existence on whether or not we will demonstrate “faith” in God’s will.

Jesus prayed in John 17 an amazing prayer of selfless love for all those who would follow His example. I’ve taken the liberty to modify verses 14-21 to reflect how “the world” is really the people, and “the people” He’s referring to are those who oppose God’s will that we “love one another” (Galatians 6:2). So, prayerfully consider this paraphrase of Christ’s last prayer before His arrest. “I have [revealed to them what Your will is] (Matthew 22:37-39); and [people] have hated them [for it], for [these followers don’t pursue selfish desires] any more than I am [selfish]. My prayer is not that You take them [away from selfish people] but that You protect them from the evil one. They [are not living by selfish standards anymore], even as I am not [living selfishly]. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent me [to reach out to selfish people], I have sent them [to reach out to selfish people. So, I set myself apart from that human weakness so they can follow My example]. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.”

Being “of the world” is more than just selfishness, but that is a flaw in humanity that causes more retaliation, more prejudice, more division, and more hatred than nearly anything else. The Pharisees' selfish desires were not only hurting their neighbors but also jeopardizing their own souls! “...unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20). What must we learn from them? What must we do to increase our faith in God’s plan for mankind?

The Why Questions of Life

Why? Such a deep question, or sometimes a thoughtless question. Sometimes it’s a lazy question. Truth is many people have the “why” question itching in their minds for a whole host of scenarios in life. We also find ourselves asking a lot of why questions when we read the Bible – “why is that?”

The big challenge is understanding what our Creator wants us to see. But in reality, it's no different than any other relationship we’ll ever be in. We might say of our spouse or a friend, “Why don’t they get it?” Or “Why do they continue to act that way when they know how it makes me feel?” There are just so many times we don’t really understand why someone acts the way they do… including our own actions!

The story of the Rich man and Lazarus has served as a sneak-peak into an “after death” scene for many people. Not all scholars agree that this is the intention of Jesus in telling this. But if not, then “Why tell it?”

One important step to take in trying to understand a passage of scripture is the context. The context is the setting: geographically, or the prior conversations, things like that. (Go back to Luke 14 for some help). Another important step is having an overall gist of God’s plan or His will. (A great example is found in Matthew 22:37-39.) Some might say, “How can I know the will of God?” Yet, that is in part the purpose of giving us a written word to go back through and discover how God reacted to one human behavior versus another. Romans 15:4, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5:17, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” In a sense, the rich man in Luke 16:19-31 was an example of a foolish man. He ignored what apparently was already being revealed to him by Moses and the prophets. Proverbs 10:8, “The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.”

We’re not told much about the rich man except that he had an opportunity to help someone in need with the wealth he’d been blessed to manage, but he completely ignored that opportunity. Why? Why didn’t he ever feel compassion for the hungry man lying at his gate with boils? Why didn’t he give him anything? How about us? What kind of opportunities are right at our gate that we’ve been blind to?

In this story, the moral was that the scriptures (Moses and the prophets) were revealing God’s will to the rich man so that he could have listened and obeyed and avoided that awful place. He chose to stay ignorant. Perhaps that’s the big lesson that we should take from this passage even more than whether or not this story is a snapshot of the afterlife or not.

“Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest…” (John 4:1-38 – read this passage to get the context) serves as a great reminder of our purpose down here.

A Rich Father

Fast food restaurants try to figure out the best combo meal deal, so you'll be enticed and satisfied enough to want to keep coming back for more. There probably is some combination of sweet deals, or loving words, or adventure that might catch your attention in life.

What would God use to catch your attention? Eternal life?! Being truly loved? Peace?

Jesus often used a series of parables or teachings to get his point across. One place in particular is Luke 15, the parable of lost sheep, coin, and son. They all tell a story that in some ways "entices" you to long for God's kingdom and how it functions.

But there may be a different set of parables that Jesus was using to help us "get it" than those three together.

The lost sheep and coin highlight the value God places on anyone in his kingdom - no favoritism! (Romans 2:11).

But what if the prodigal son, prodigal manager, and the rich man and Lazarus were intended to be "heard" together?

They all start in a story form, more so than the sheep and coin parables. They all address a rich man. The big difference is between the character of the rich men. One is sacrificial in his giving even to someone who didn't deserve it (the son), the next one focuses on his response to his servant who "blesses" the rich man's debtors with a kind of forgiveness of debts (but for a personal gain purpose), the last one tells of a rich man was stingy towards those needing "blessings."

When read together, it helps shed light on the meaning of the "unjust steward" (Luke 16:1-13). This parable has caused many scholars to scratch their heads in confusion.

God is the rich father who is willing to bless His children (Matthew 7:7-12), and even empowers them to bless other people with what He has entrusted to them (2 Corinthians 9:6-11). He doesn't want us to be stingy with what He has blessed us with (Hebrews 13:16).

In each of these stories, there is a mention of, or a reference to, the fact that generosity is a big deal to God and that's what all of the law and the prophets were pointing towards--a rich father who wants us to use the riches He bestows upon us to bless others.

A Father's Tale

Sometimes we read stories in the Bible, and they are either so familiar or so foreign to us that we can’t seem to find a focal point in the lesson. The prodigal son is one of Jesus’ most famous parables, but it’s more than a story of a forgiving father. It’s also a picture of how our Father’s kingdom functions. I found this fantastic summary of this parable that I wanted to share with you.

Luke 15:11-32
“Feeling footloose and frisky, a feather-brained fellow forced his fond father to fork over the farthings and flew to foreign fields and frittered his fortune, feasting fabulously with faithless friends.

"Fleeced by his fellows, fallen by fornication, and facing famine, he found himself a feed-flinger in a filthy farmyard. Fairly famishing, he fain would have filled his frame with foraged food from fodder fragments. “Fooey! My father’s flunkies fare finer,” the frazzled fugitive forlornly fumbled, frankly facing facts. Frustrated by failure and filled with foreboding, he fled forthwith to his family. Falling at his father’s feet, he forlornly fumbled, “Father, I’ve flunked and fruitlessly forfeited family favor!”

"The farsighted father, forestalling further flinching, frantically flagged the flunkies to fetch a fatling from the flock and fix a feast.

"The fugitive’s fault-finding brother frowned on fickle forgiveness of former folderol. But the faithful father figured, “Filial fidelity is fine, but the fugitive is found! What forbids fervent festivity? Let flags be unfurled. Let fanfares flare”

"And the father’s forgiveness formed the foundation for the former fugitive’s future faith and fortitude.” -- (Attributed to W.O. Taylor)

Would you be able to summarize this story based on what you just read? Truth is we often get hung up on words or one scene from the story, and we fail to see what the story is really telling us. The beauty of God’s word is that the more you see the big picture of God’s goal, the more you see how each teaching, miracle, or command leads us closer to acting like we’re part of God’s kingdom!

Lost Coin

On March 12, 2009, Bernie Madoff pleaded guilty to operating the largest private Ponzi scheme in history. He defrauded over $65 billion from clients that trusted him for the security of their financial future. Workers at places like Enron experienced an extreme loss of their retirements, and although some of that money has been recovered, many people will end their time on the earth with much less than they planned on.

What happens when our plans change due to someone else’s neglect or irresponsibility? Culturally speaking, it makes our blood boil to hear of those kinds of stories, especially when it involves those we love. However, what would it be like to have been one of his employees that didn’t know anything about the scam? Their next steps might make all the difference to those that knew them well. Did they help fight to get their money back? Or were they helping out in other ways to help people cope with their loss? Those people trusted Bernie to help them have a secure future, but they put their trust in the wrong guy!

Spiritually speaking, the Jews were supposed to be the mouthpiece for God’s kingdom; however, their track record proved that they did a lousy job of that. Paul said in Romans 2:17-24, “Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: 'God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.'”

In other words, they misrepresented the Messiah and God’s kingdom to their own people. Jesus repeatedly reprimanded the religious leaders for their hypocrisy. Consider the story of the Lost Coin (Luke 15) as an example of someone who lost something in his own house. That “someone” was the Jewish leaders who had been negligent of what was in their care – the Kingdom's message. The house represents the nation they possessed – Israel. The object didn’t know it was lost; it just stayed where the careless owner had left it. Jesus is revealing the humility required to admit something is lost and then the effort to find it.

God, and all heaven with Him, rejoices when people turn to God for the help that only He can provide. How about you? Do you need God’s help?

The Purpose of Parables

What does it take to get the message? Parents will often say something like that to their kids when they keep making the same mistakes. Employers say that to employees; coaches to players; generals to soldiers.

But the truth is we do continue to make mistakes when we should be learning from them. Paul said it this way in Romans 7:18-20, “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”

Any honest believer can completely own those words. Jesus said in Mark 14:38, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

However, sometimes the right story, the right time, or the right person saying it, can hit home perfectly. That’s why preaching is important; maybe someone else saying what you’ve been thinking about helps it all to make sense. (Just consider why there are four gospels, or why there were over 40 authors of God’s inspired word?!)

Jesus told parables as a huge part of His teaching ministry. But they weren’t just cute stories about God; they were memorable ways to get the concept of God’s kingdom into our minds. Ultimately, the parables serve as a kind of “chewable” version of what the Bible has spent over 1500 years explaining how God’s kingdom would function.

In God’s kingdom, the people are the important piece, not the crown, or the castle, or even the titles. He values each person, and He wants every last one of them to accept the invitation to join Him at the Table to celebrate His Kingship together… (2 Peter 3:9) “…[He’s] not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

God’s kingdom functions upside-down from the principles of this world, but it takes a great deal of faith and maturity to bear up under what seems “unfair” or “unjust” (Ephesians 4:2-3) and trust that God’s will has the power to overcome anything – in this life or the next!

People want things to function like they’ve always seen it function. Sometimes, even if it doesn’t work very well! As we’re trying to “get back to normal,” let’s try to explore what we need to do in order to function more like the image of God’s kingdom rather than our culture.

Promoting the Kingdom

How do you promote America? Are you proud of this nation? Imagine going to a land where very little was known about how America is supposed to function, or how its laws are implemented. Would it be easy to describe to someone who had never experienced freedom before? Or been part of a democratic republic like ours?

Jesus had a mission to reveal the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. It makes sense that God’s kingdom would have something similar to what God created in the first place. After all, it was sin that messed up His paradise. So, His kingdom would be a kind of copy of what Eden had started off being.

In fact, throughout God’s relationship with the Israelites, reminders of Eden were constantly being brought to their attention. Within the tabernacle, God had a scene that was to be observed that mimicked Eden.

In Exodus 31, God commissions Bezalel and Oholiab to build everything in the tabernacle “just as He tells them too.” Think how a homeowner tries to convey their plans and ideas to a home builder: they want it just right. So does God, and for a good reason.

Eden is seen in the Tabernacle, later the temple. From Adam and Eve being commissioned to care for God’s “temple” or Eden (Genesis 2:15) to the most holy place being where God meets with them every day (Genesis 3:8). The place was filled with images of trees, fruit, pools of water, a never-ending light, etc.

The point is that everywhere the Israelites moved to, they took this image of Eden with them. So, a subliminal message was always being planted in their minds about what God’s kingdom would “look” like, but Adam and Eve (and everyone else) failed to realize is how it functions. That’s what Jesus came to reveal.

Hebrews 9:23-24, “It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.”

After Jesus showed us a true and powerful love for all mankind by giving His life to save ours, He established a kind of diplomatic union (church) to go help other people see how His kingdom will function upon Christ’s return.

Take time to reflect on the importance of promoting God’s kingdom.

Favoritism Rejected

What if we could crawl inside the mind of God and see what He sees when He looks at us…all of us? I can only imagine, how on that day that He created mankind as the crowning pinnacle of the cosmos, what He reflected on during His Day of Rest. He saw something with great potential to powerfully impact all that God spoke into existence. But temptation took control of His creation. In fact, it was that very desire to “know what God knows” that caused them to fall (Genesis 3).

The rest of the Bible serves as a tool to get inside the mind of God. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:11-12, “For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.”

What the Spirit reveals is God’s unique look at us! Romans 2:11 reveals this simple truth about our creator: “God does not show favoritism.” Time after time, Jesus healed anyone who would seek Him. The religious leaders even recognized that in Luke 20:21, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach what is right, and that You do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.”

Unfortunately, Christians can fall under the same temptation as Eve and the rest of the world. We can want to be elevated to a higher position in people’s eyes, but that hunger usually comes at a price.

Jesus warned against that in Matthew 6:2-4, “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Or James said in James 2:1-4, “Believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism… If you show special attention to [someone], have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (5-8) Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? … If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing right.”

Consider how you can practice this kind of Christian demonstration during these odd
and challenging times. To view one another through a God-like lens, it may surprise
you the opportunities around you to bless someone in a special way.

Repentance: A Kind of Graduation

Graduation is a time of celebration when completing one phase of life and moving on to better things.

1 Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”

Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

In context, Paul is reprimanding the Corinthians for their divisive and selfish nature (1 Corinthians), and he’s encouraging the Philippians to continue in their love for people (Philippians 1:9-11). In either case, he’s promoting the concept of repentance! If repentance is turning away from one way of doing something and turning towards another, then we could say that repentance is a kind of graduating from an old way of living and starting a new way of living.

It’s true that moving on can be a little scary, but when you have the support of experienced “graduates” cheering you on, it’s much easier. That is what Paul spent most of his time writing to churches to repent or to give up that old way of living and embrace the brand-new road ahead that’s filled with promise and hope.

Hebrews 12:1-3, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Struggles

The struggle is beyond the planting and raising. 

From the first moments, a mother welcomes the little life of her baby into this world, she understands the responsibility that comes with being a mother. For some, the pressure is too great, but for many others, it’s a noble calling filled with ups and downs. In the end, raising children is the most fulfilling venture in human existence.

But the struggle doesn’t go away at graduation. Perhaps as the mother’s body nurtures that baby while it grows in her womb, so parenting nurtures that child’s life while it's still at home. Time will tell if the effort, the wisdom, the sacrifice, the struggle a parent goes through for 18 years was successful or not.

Every God-fearing parent surely longs to hear the news that John heard about those worshiping with Gaius in 3 John 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” But walking in the truth is more than going to church; it’s living according to the kingdom of God. This helps us see the roles of parents in a child’s life – to teach kingdom principles!

Proverbs 1:8-10, “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them…”

Psalms 119:9-11, “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Share God’s word with your children. They grow up to be men and women who will be faced with decisions of morality, faithfulness, and justice. How will they do it alone? Mothers wear the burden of parenting their entire life. To see their children utilize discernment and wisdom brings such a wonderful sigh of relief.

Understand

Why didn’t the Pharisees pick up on the many fulfilled prophecies by Jesus (over 300 by His crucifixion), during His ministry? These were the guys trained in the Torah, they read the prophets, and they knew the history – how could they miss it?

In reality, they chose to miss it! After all, King Herod called the religious leaders together years earlier to help reveal when and where the Messiah would show up (Matthew 2:3-6). And Nicodemus (a Pharisee) came to Jesus at night and confessed they knew (John 3:2). But what they “knew” and what they understood was different. At least, when we read 1 Corinthians 2:8, “None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

Perhaps the most logical explanation is they were jealous! Jealousy is a destructive force that has left a trail of collateral damage throughout history. Paul describes the human condition by summing up our actions when left on our own. Galatians 5:19-21, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: …hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions…”

Jesus, our king, came to earth to accomplish amazing spiritual things for us that through Him we can live not to the human nature, but to the spiritual nature. To do that it takes patience, kindness, forgiveness… all the fruit of having the Spirit that is mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23!

Our desire, as citizens of the heavenly kingdom (Phillipians 3:20), should be to truly embrace what the Pharisees didn’t want to understand. God’s kingdom has a new way to live that blesses people around us; it embraces times spent with loved ones and even total strangers. Right now, we are living in a unique time in history when our secular government has tried to prompt us to spend time together.

These are serious times with serious issues going on, but the positive side is we’ve had the opportunity to let our jealousies go and seek for ways to encourage one another. And all of this makes our longing to be near to those we love so much even stronger.

Example of Grace

When Jesus used references from Israel’s past, how do you imagine He reflected on those events, considering that Jesus existed from the beginning? The Gospel of John begins with a phrase that we instantly connect with the opening lines of the Bible… “In the beginning was the Word…” (John 1:1-5)

In other words, Jesus was there during every event in Israel’s past. From Melchizedek in Hebrews 7:3, “… [Melchizedek was] without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God.” He was the mysterious priest who met Abraham on his return trip from rescuing his nephew, Lot, in Genesis 14:18-21. Or, we read of the mysterious “one like the Son of God” standing in the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3:25). Basically, Christ was seen in Israel’s past long before He came to “dwell among men.”

As we journey through the Gospel, it would be wise to reflect on those prophets of the past, just as Jesus did. In Luke 11:29-32, Jesus says, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation…”

It can be an eye-opening event to finally read Jonah not as the runaway servant who happened to get swallowed by a “great fish,” but instead seeing his hatred for his neighbor (thus the reason he ran). Although it is easily justifiable to hate those who mistreat and abuse others, God still loved them enough to send a prophet to warn them.

As Jesus was addressing the Pharisees and those who were ridiculing Him for being in league with Satan (Luke 11:15), or the Jews' early response to Jesus' description of what it costs to follow Him, we begin to see the significance of Jonah’s story.

The story of Jonah picks up after the initial call to go to Nineveh. Jonah ran away instead. He wasn’t ashamed to tell others he was running from God, “They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so” (Jonah 1:10). Yet, God loved Jonah enough to save him from the storm, and he loved Nineveh enough to warn them of the cost of rebellion against His will. In the end, we read of Jonah’s successful deliverance of God’s message (even though he didn’t want to); and instead of praising God for His goodness and grace, he sits on a hillside watching the city hoping for the worst for them. He even said in Jonah 4:2, “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”

Jonah brought light to Nineveh, but his heart wasn’t light. Jesus’ words to His listeners show us a double meaning in context. The warning Jonah brought Nineveh is true for any who rebel against God – “repent!” (Luke 13:3), but the other deeper meaning directed towards those in religious authority was a reminder of Jonah’s darkness in his heart. Luke 11:35, “See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.” What an important reminder for all mankind! Praise God for His example of grace!

The Resurrection

As Paul stood before King Agrippa and shared his faith in Christ, he said in Acts 26:26, “This thing was not done in a corner.” Those few words ring true for all defenders of their faith. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection weren’t meant to be “hidden under a bush — OH NO! In fact, every part of Jesus’ earthly ministry was available for inspection by anyone, anytime, anywhere.

In fact, centuries before Jesus set foot on the earth in human form, the prophets had already spoken of many things involving His life. Over 300 prophecies throughout the Old Testament point to Jesus as the Messiah. God did not try to “sneak” the Messiah into human affairs under the cover of darkness and without warning. Instead, God made it pretty clear for those who had “eyes to see, and ears to hear” who the Savior was and what He’d do.

But there are still many who doubt – much like Thomas (John 20:25). Although there may be many things that people would say they can’t believe in concerning Christ – His life, His death, His miracles – it’s His resurrection that becomes the ultimate proof of His Deity. (Read 1 Corinthians 15).

Throughout history, there have been many authors, ministers, even atheists that have acknowledged Jesus’ existence and even what the Bible “claims happened.” For example, in Matthew 28:12-13, the chief priests met with the elders and devised a plan. They gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’” Their story helps to confirm that they recognized something had happened; even though their story was a lie, it testified that His body was missing.

Plenty of other people helped confirm these facts throughout early history. Consider the written works of Justin Martyr, 165 A.D. in his book A Dialogue with Trypho, or Josephus’ history, and the many writings of several other non-Christian’s and followers, who acknowledged either Jesus or the uniqueness of his followers, from Eusebius (260 A.D.) to Pliny the Younger (112 A.D.) to name a few commonly referenced works.

The Apostles believed the claims about His resurrection enough to preach that they saw Him after He rose from the dead, and they were even willing to die for that claim! The fact that the Apostles never buckled under ridicule, torture, accusations, and execution should tell us something about their conviction. Just as Paul said to King Agrippa in Acts 26:8, “Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?”

Faith During Coronavirus

Recently, Governor Stitt joined with other religious leaders to pray for our nation concerning the Coronavirus and the impact it is having on our lives. In scripture, there are several times we read about when one or more people gathered together to pray for a serious event in their time. (Acts 4:24-31; Acts 27:21-26 just to name a few.)

There are also many prayers offered up in the Psalms, and many of those become our kind of model in prayer. There are prayers for joy, prayers for giving thanks, prayers for deliverance, and prayers offered in anger or confusion. The key is realizing that prayer is communication to God. Like any relationship communication is an important ingredient to a healthy or happy relationship. In our human relationships we realize that just talking about it doesn’t always instantly solve it, but by communicating our fears and things we’re disgusted with, it helps resolve our feelings in more godly ways.

One prayer I’ll summarize is from Hezekiah in Isaiah 37:16-20, “O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and listen to all the words of Sennacherib, who sent them to reproach the living God. Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have devastated all the countries and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So, they have destroyed them. Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, Lord, are God.”

Sennacherib, King of Assyria, was devastating the land by killing, capturing, and destroying towns as he swept through the land. Many nations fell to his sword, but Hezekiah knew that his only true help was in God almighty.

I hope it doesn’t take much to imagine this prayer being offered up to God because of the evil coronavirus that is sweeping over our globe. Fear has gripped most of us, and the uncertainty and anxiety of our future can easily cripple us. However, this is what faith is about. Faith isn’t having access to a magic genie who can instantly solve our problems, any more than communicating a fear or problem with our spouse doesn’t instantly take away our problems. Rather, it is believing that God is the creator and that He truly loves His creation, even when they are going through hardship.

Peter’s reminder to the early Christians was that even if the hardship isn’t instantly removed – stay faithful. 1 Peter 5:9-11, “But resist [the devil, and be] firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Quarantine?

In Genesis 50:19-21, Joseph reassures his brothers that he had no intention of punishing his brothers for the wrong they did to him. He said, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” (Remember they were in Egypt because of a famine outbreak.)

While that may not be much comfort during the Coronavirus outbreak, we can find comfort in knowing God can use this serious problem as a way for his kingdom to really put her best foot forward. Or as Paul said in Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Throughout history, God’s kingdom has been most evident during difficult times. All throughout the persecutions of the second and third centuries, Christians still served the weak and helpless. Often times. their service cost them their lives in the process.

In other major outbreaks of pandemic proportions like the plague of Justinian (sixth century), or the Black Death plague (14th century), or the Cholera outbreak (1852), or the Spanish flu (1918) – all of these had high numbers of fatalities and no real cure. In fact, it wasn’t until 1938 that a vaccine for the flu was first developed.

How do WE turn something awful into an opportunity to promote God’s kingdom? It starts with the words Jesus said concerning the most important thing we can do to do the will of God… “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:10; 1 John 3:11, 23; 4:7-12…)

And Paul reminded us in Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Therefore, recognizing that the best practice in these situations is quarantine and good hygiene, we should “love our neighbor” enough that we do what is most sensible and considerate of those most susceptible to the flu, and simply respect the requests to keep in isolation for a while.

Probably a more expressive way that we can turn a bad situation into a good one, is by demonstrating the value of investing in our families right now. Similar to God requiring a Sabbath Day rest to be spent with family and NOT working so that we could appreciate one another better, perhaps a quarantine could be looked at and observed as a kind of Sabbath rest for our extremely busy lives.

Too many well-intended parents and grandparents have promoted the “busy life” to such a degree that families haven’t spent much time together at dinner or any other time in quite a while. So, perhaps we can see how observing the precautions help us keep families safer, as well as getting to spend more time with one of our most valuable possessions on the planet – our family.

Did Mary Get It?

Sometimes we go through life lessons that remind us to slow down and “smell the roses,” or at least determine what’s really important in life. We do that in all areas of life, and the wise people recognize what’s worth investing in and then do it.

In Luke 10:38-42, we read of an instance when Jesus highlights that realization for us. Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet was listening to what Jesus said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Jesus answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

What is worry? To give way to anxiety or unease; to allow one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. That’s one definition of it, but what’s worry really do for us? Jesus compared a type of soil to the effects of worry. He said in Matthew 13:22, “The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.”

Worry kills fruitfulness! It’s interesting that God told Adam in Genesis 1:28, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” In the garden, Adam had no reason to worry at all – he wasn’t even worried about not having any clothes! Once again Jesus reminds His followers about what is most important… (Matthew 6:25-34) “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? (33-34) “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Did Mary get it? Here’s an example of a woman who was seeking God’s wisdom instead of human wisdom (logic). Eve sought after human wisdom, but Mary was seeking knowledge from the “tree of life” – Jesus! It’s much easier to become Martha by thinking it’s our efforts that bring fulfillment and meaning in life. In Martha’s case, that would have meant a delicious meal; in our case, maybe that’s an appealing life. Can we recognize the difference between a good choice and the best choice? God wants us to be able to see the wisdom that comes from trusting in Him and feeding on His words!

Decisions, Decisions...

There are lots of decisions that we make every day, and the hard part is knowing how to do God’s will in all of them! But here’s a few categories that might make it a bit easier
There are:
Trivial decisions -- What color socks am I going to wear
today?
Prudent decisions --Should I choose history or geography in school?
Righteous decisions -- Should I spread hateful gossip about someone on Facebook?

These three different categories all involve important decisions, but some have a greater impact than others, particularly those decisions of Prudence and Righteousness. The Righteous decisions are usually a lot more straight forward to make, usually. Whereas the Prudent decisions, on the other hand, are much more grey; they involve the life choices that are not necessarily right or wrong in a moral sense but are still decisions that may have important consequences for your life and direction.

“What is God's purpose for my life?” This is a big question for many folks, which can cause people to either end up "making" God say what they want to hear, or they end up just as confused and aimless as before.
Proverbs 13:6, “Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.”
Proverbs 16:3, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

When you're faced with a prudent decision consider how much easier those decisions are when our focus is honoring Christ? Matthew 6:33-34, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

God's Special Tool

Imagine if God gave us a special tool to help us solve the problems of life… Actually, He has! God's word helps us tremendously, but we have to understand how it works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

The Torah (law) guides us beautifully in helping us understand the essence of God’s will. In fact,  Psalm 119 is a Hebrew acrostic (alphabetical poem) that is believed to have been used as a teaching tool and a praise for God’s law.

Jesus, or the word that became flesh, is also a tool to help us know the will of God, and the right thing to do. He gave us plenty of teachings that clarified the purpose of the law, and He did plenty of acts that proved He had the authority to interpret it the way He did.

Ultimately, His laws keep us safe from the temptations of Satan, just like He modeled in Luke 4. Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 10:13 how His laws and His words will give you what you need so that nothing will tempt you beyond the example of Christ, so that "He will also provide a way out so that you can endure [the temptation]" Just like Jesus did!

His example also becomes compelling evidence that Jesus is the Messiah, the one that promised to be the deliverer of all deliverers. We see how Jesus does things that echo the same things that Israel's most prized deliverer (Moses) did. In Luke 10, Jesus sends out 70 disciples to basically encourage people to live right, which is good. But we read in Numbers 11 where Moses sends out 70 as well. And with a little investigative work, it seems fairly clear why Moses sent them, and that helps us understand why Jesus sent those he sent.

As you dive into the Scriptures, you can be reminded of the lengths God has gone to for us to be equipped to “know” what’s right and avoid sinning. Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.”

King of Kings

In the movie, The Lion King, young Simba “just can’t wait to be king” so that he can rule over the land. However, he learns just how important and sacrificial being “king” really is through some hard twists of fate in his life. Being a king wasn’t about telling people what to do, but to model the highest level of integrity, loyalty, and faithfulness to those in the kingdom.

Unlike Simba, Jesus understood the sacrifices of a king. In Luke 4 when Satan was tempting Jesus to abuse His power and seek more of it by telling Him, “I will give you all [the kingdoms of the world, because] I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me!” But Jesus resisted the temptation to serve self. Instead, He quoted Deuteronomy 6:13, “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”

Even as a king, Jesus “didn’t come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45). In fact, His role wasn’t just making a kingdom stronger, but saving it eternally! Paul would later say in 1 Timothy 1:15-17, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners —of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

As Jesus ministered among His followers (and ultimately the world), He modeled something that was truly inspirational, and even transformational. His way of living and teaching helped people see what God’s plan had been the entire time. As the fulfillment of his mission drew closer to the end, more and more of the prophecies about the Messiah were coming to fruition.

On the Mount of Transfiguration, a handful of the Apostles witnessed Moses (the Law) and Elijah (the prophets) confirm Jesus as the one with true authority. This scene must have helped to give them even more confidence that Jesus was truly the king of kings; and had they been in the room when Pilate interrogated Jesus by asking, “Are you the king of the Jews?” they would have shouted, “YES!” However, they weren’t there, but they would do what Jesus asked Pilate about how He came to that conclusion, “Is that your own idea or did others talk to you about Me?” That’s our job – tell others about Jesus, our king!

How's Your Sight?

What happens when you can’t see? Recently, my daughter got contacts and glasses because she wasn’t able to see as clearly as she knew she could. Now, she can see fine. There’s hardly a time that you wouldn’t want to see, right? We like to be able to see what we’re doing and where we’re going.

However, there are some things we don’t want to see. Bloody or mangled bodies (for most normal people), or rude or criminal behavior. In fact, one of the most recognizable symbols in our legal system in this nation is Lady Justice, a statue of a woman holding scales in one hand and a sword in the other, but she’s blindfolded. She symbolizes fair and equal administration of the law, without corruption, greed, prejudice, or favor.

Ultimately, that’s the exact picture God wants us to see of Him. That He is without corruption, greed, prejudice, or favor (Isaiah 53, 1 Peter 2:21-25, Philippians 2:5-11, etc.) Jesus wanted His disciples to see and understand this about Him most of all. Because through their words, the rest of the world would be told about God’s plan to save mankind.

God wants us to see Him for who He really is. Satan, on the other hand, doesn’t! 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Satan has always used corruption, greed, prejudices, or favoritism to ruin the work God is trying to do in all of us. Our propensity to please self gets in the way of doing the will of the father.

Jesus shares a timeless parable that depicts the battle for our allegiance to His way. Luke 8:4-15, “…[The explanation] Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life and bring no fruit to maturity. But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.”

How’s your Christ-sight? Do you see what He sees? Or does the “the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life” get in the way? It’s “not from the Father but is from the world.” (1 John 2:15-17)

The Right Heart

Recently, my family and I watched Aladdin, a movie about a poor “street rat (boy)” who found good fortune by finding a magical lamp, where a genie lived. Aladdin was given a chance to ask for three wishes. It’s probably a secret desire of most folks to have the opportunity to ask for anything and—“Poof!”—it shows up instantly. But that’s not reality!

However, there was a time in the Bible when a young king offered 1,000 burnt offerings to God, seeking His mercy, guidance, and wisdom. That night, God came to him in a dream and asked him what he really wanted, to which Solomon replied, “...Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” (1 Kings 3:9)

Was it the number of offerings he offered that helped him get his “wish”? Or the posture of his heart? Throughout the history of the Israelites, the people often used the sacrifices as a formula for blessings rather than an ‘appeal to God from a pure conscience’ (1 Peter 3:21). Too many times the feasts, the Sabbaths, the fasting’s, and any other “ritual” was misused.

When Jesus showed up, He was going to show what God was really looking for in all of those “rituals.” Soon after His ministry began, as He was drawing people to Himself through His teaching and healings, He also addressed the abuse in the religious system.

In Luke 6, we read the “Sermon on the Mount” as a reenactment of Moses reading the law on the mountain. However, here Jesus breaks down who will really be blessed by God’s way of living.
Luke 6:20-26: “Blessed are you…
     who are poor (humble), for yours is the kingdom of God.
     who hunger now (longing), for you will be satisfied.
     who weep now (compassionate), for you will laugh.
     when people hate you … because of the Son of Man (faithful)…
     But woe to you who are rich (arrogant), for you have already received your comfort.
     Woe to you who are well-fed (greedy) now, for you will go hungry.
     Woe to you who laugh (ignore the hurts of others) now, for you will mourn and weep.
     Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you (proud)…

Jesus presented a better perspective of what God had been requiring all along. Seeing how Jesus demonstrated His obedience to God by serving people (Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”)

Paul described this new paradigm shift this way in Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Your heart matters! Give yours to God, and you won’t be disappointed.

Obedience Is Fulfilling

Many people struggle with faith in God because of unanswered prayers. However, with a more careful reflection of life’s issues, someone with faith in God might realize that unanswered prayers are actually answered in different ways. The key is aligning yourself to receive what you ask God for. What’s that mean? An expecting mother tries to prepare a room for their newborn before the baby is born. A teenager takes Drivers Ed and a test before they begin to drive. A wise person plans for retirement before they actually retire. Basically, they are aligning their life to accommodate what they are hoping to be blessed with: a child, a car, a relaxing retirement.

The same holds true in our faith. We ask God for blessings of all shapes and sizes. We ask because, at least to some degree, we’re hoping He will hear our request, our wish. Psalms 34:12-14 (1 Peter 3:12), “After all, who doesn’t have a desire for prosperity and good things in life? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from lies. Turn away from evil, and do good; search for peace, desiring it with all your heart. Because the eyes of the Lord are on those like that.”

Jesus reassured His followers of that basic idea about God. Luke 11:11-13, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Or John 14:13, “I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

The spoiled brat in all of us might be tempted to throw a temper tantrum if God doesn’t jump right on our request like a fearful servant. However, with maturity comes a broader view of our request and His answer.

When my view of my life is secondary to the expansion of God’s kingdom, I’m probably in the right mind-frame. This doesn’t mean we hate ourselves or neglect ourselves for the kingdom of God. Rather, we can see how our unmet desire--when handled properly--may do more good for others to hear about God’s kingdom (where eternal peace is extended to those who trust in Christ) over something more temporary.

The Bible is filled with situations where people weren’t able to think past today and right now in order to see tomorrow and the future. From people like Cain who went ahead and killed his brother-- a decision he later regretted--all the way to Judas who valued 30 pieces of silver for today more than the kingdom of tomorrow. Therefore, choosing to trust in God’s kingdom for tomorrow is the mature and wise approach in dealing with what we do today.

The Kindness Diaries--Jesus Style

Leon Logothetis is the founder of The Kindness Diaries, which has aired on Netflix. He used to be a stockbroker in London but gave it all up to conduct a hands-on humanity experiment of kindness. Leon left “home” to travel around the world showing kindness to others while relying on the kindness of others, too.

During his season one trip, he asked a man named Tony for some help for the night. Tony told him he’d love to but… he’s homeless. However, that didn’t stop Tony from inviting him to stay the night with him on the porch of an abandoned building. Tony didn’t know that Leon had plans of blessing him because of his act of kindness. At the end of the season, Leon helped Tony with a house and paid for his college so that he could fulfill a lifelong dream of being a chef. Today, Tony’s life is a walking testimony of the power of kindness.

Jesus also had a similar mission: to come to earth to inspire people to live to serve. By loving one another, God’s creation would find the most fulfilling peace possible to mankind. Yet, even in Jesus’ ministry, not everyone responded with kindness. How would He respond? Kindness!

Jesus said in Matthew 5:46-48, “If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

We’ve been called to a higher standard. Modeled by the Creator Himself. Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”  When kindness is part of every action we engage in, the world will know (Matthew 5:16); even if their motives aren’t pure or kind. Paul said in Romans 12:20-21, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads. Don’t let evil conquer you but conquer evil by doing good.”

His kindness was part of the way that Jesus would “set the captives free” (Isa 61), by empowering people to let go of the bitterness, jealousy, greed that seems to prevail in our lives too often. Jesus has “given us everything we need for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). Let’s go do it!