Gain the whole world

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? – Matthew 16.26

There is a mad rush today, well, I guess to be honest there has been a mad rush for a long, long time to gain as much of this world as we can. It just seems like it is much worse today.  Everybody want to get as big a piece of the pie as they can.

But what is all that going to get us at the end? What will the real benefit be even if I can ‘gain the whole world?’ What good will the whole world do me in 2118 or 2320 or 3547 or even 12657?

That’s a little rhetorical isn’t it? Of course even by 2075 the whole world is going to do me no good. Nothing I gain will be left. Everything the world holds in temporal and, like the rust, it will fade away. Everything we can see, by its very nature is temporary.

So what good does it do us if indeed we gain the whole world, but lose our own soul? Our soul is eternal and what we do about our soul will still have an impact in 12657 and beyond. Our whole focus needs to be our things eternal. Sure we have to get by in this world, we have to provide for our families and pay our bills and care for others.

But the mad rush to gain the whole world just isn’t worth it. Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Persistence

And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. – Matthew 15.22-28

Here is an interesting story. A Canaanite woman came to Jesus and called out ‘hvve mercy on me and take away my daughter’s demon.

Jesus’ response was a little surprising to say the least.

He ignored her. And the disciples tried to send her away. Jesus followed up by saying ‘I am sent to the lost sheep of Israel! It is not right to take the children’s food and give it to the dogs.’

But she persisted ‘even the dogs eat the crumbs from the table.

Then Jesus said ‘Woman, your faith is great, your prayer is answered.’ And he daughter was made well.

What are we to make of this story? Was Jesus really that hard and calloused? Did He really not care?

I think the point was different. Yes, the Old Testament said that Messiah was coming for the Jews, but Jesus pointed out with this lesson that anyone could avail of the blessing of salvation. Just as healed this Gentile woman He will bring salvation to all who seek Him.

But I think there is also a lesson here about persistence in prayer. This woman had the faith to keep praying even when the first response was ‘no.’ She just kept praying and eventually she got her answer because of her great faith.

Keep on praying. Keep on persisting. Keep on trusting.

The source of defilement

And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. – Matthew 15.16-20

The things that come out of our mouths, or from our pens, or from our keyboards today, Jesus says, and the things that really defile a man. The things that come into our lives from the outside can pass out and go away with the waste.

But the stuff that comes out of us is truly defiled because it comes a defiled source, our hearts. The heart produces all things of evil things. Look at the list - evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:’

It is not a question of whether or not the disciples washed their hands or how we observe some kind of rituals. What matters is our hearts.

The problem for us is that whatever is in our hearts eventually comes out in our words. That’s why James writes that no man can tame the tongue. If our words are wrong we need to fix our hearts.

That’s a really challenging concept. It gives me a lot to consider when words ‘slip’ out of my mouth or on to my screen because there is a lot more to it than just what I say.

‘Guard your hearts.’ The scriptures tell us, ‘for out of it are the issues of life.’

Traditions of men

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. – Matthew 15.7-9

Jesus rarely openly condemned sinners. He corrected them, He encouraged them to forsake their sins, but He reserved condemnation for one group of sinner. For all ‘normal sinners’ He had only compassion, but for one group He had wrath.

The object of His wrath? It is the religious who used their religion to control others and profit themselves. Jesus truly hated the abuse of religion. The ones He is talking to hear had replaced the word of God with the traditions of men.

Why was this such a bad thing? Why was it the one thing that Jesus railed on?

I think it is simply because it puts man in the place of God. Man imposes his own rules and regulations on top of what God says. Man takes away or adds to the word of God at man’s whim and fancy. They worshipped God with their mouths, but their true worship was in vain because they worshipped their traditions.

Early in my Christian life there were plenty of man-made traditions expected from some of the groups I was associated with. Do this. Don’t do that. Go here. Don’t go there. Read this. Don’t read that. Listen to this. Don’t listen to that. While many of these things were well intentioned and maybe even based on Bible principles some of them were nothing more that man’s opinions and standards with no basis in scripture.

The lesson for us is clear. ‘What does the Bible say?’ is our only guide. We can’t be guided by views or opinions or traditions unless they are in line with the word of God.

Why do you doubt?

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. – Matthew 14.31-33

I’ve been seeing this verse coming up for a few days now. I mentioned it in a Facebook Live video I did last week. I schedule my devotions about week in advance so knew it was coming.

And I knew that when I got here the Holy Spirit was going to have a field day convicted me of a struggle that I have with doubt.

Jesus had just rescued Peter when He looked to Peter and said ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt.’ I think Peter must have had a feeling in his gut that he would have again when Jesus looked at him after his threefold denial before the crucifixion.

‘Why did you doubt?’

When I hear those words I get that kind of sick feeling in my stomach. When I read ‘why did you doubt?’ the question strikes at my own heart. Despite all that God has done for me over the last 40+ years I still have to deal with doubts and fear in my life. There is one issue in particular that can wake me up with panic. The panic comes because at the core of the issue is my doubt that God will or God can do what He says He will do.

How can I continue to doubt? How can I fear? God hasn’t changed. I trust Him and I do not doubt my eternity so I can I doubt what He will do in this life?

Roger, why do you doubt? I can almost hear the words. I do believe Lord, help my unbelief.

When he saw the wind boisterous

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. – Matthew 14.30

Something we can pass over here that we shouldn’t pass over. When Jesus said come Peter got out of the boat and walked toward Jesus. Did you get that? Peter got out of the boat and WALKED ON THE WATER. Peter, a regular guy like you and me climbed out of a boat and WALKED ON THE WATER!! Don’t miss it – this is big stuff!

Now what got that at let’s move on. Peter gets out of the boat WALKING ON THE WATER towards where Jesus is approaching. Everything is fine – until…

A flash of lightning – a crash of thunder – a splash of waves! Peter took his eyes off Jesus and then there was a dash of fear. I love the King James wording here ‘when he saw the wind boisterous’ he was afraid.’

So, as we’ll see tomorrow, Jesus reached out His hand and saved him. He didn’t say first get baptised or do good works or offer a sacrifice or go to church or anything else. He just reached out and saved Peter.

Christ’s salvation, be it in the present storm or for eternal life is only a call away. Whoever calls on the Lord will be saved.

Peter made the mistake of taking his eyes off of Jesus and looking at the storm. The he fell. How often do you and I do the same thing? Maybe you are in the midst of a great storm today and have taken your eyes off Jesus.

He’s there. Maybe it’s time to say ‘Lord, save me.’  

Come

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. – Matthew 14.28-29

I love this one simple word of Jesus. Peter said ‘if it is really You Lord, tell me to come.’

So Jesus simply said ‘come.’

I love that image. To an entire world lost in their fears and their sin Jesus still calls out ‘come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.’

After the resurrection Jesus said ‘come and have breakfast’ - a breakfast that He had prepared for the disciples.

The very fact that we have a Saviour who has a nature of calling out for people to come to Him is amazing. Even back in Isaiah we hear the merchant in the market saying ‘come, all who are thirsty and drink freely.’

The problem is that too many people just ignore His invitation. He says ‘come’ and people say ‘I’m a little busy, maybe I’ll come later.’

Jesus is an inviting Saviour. He is calling out ‘come.’ His invitation is open all the time. Today is the day to go to Him.

It is I

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.  – Matthew 14.27

The disciples in the boast were in a panic. Not only were they in the midst of a vicious and violent storm, but now they saw a ghost walking in the water toward them.

Now they were really terrified and Jesus knew it. It called out them with amazing reassuring words – ‘be of good cheer, it is I, don’t be afraid.

The great truth for is that even though we may not see Him walking on the water we have the same assurance that we can be of good cheer, so that we can trust that He is there, and we can have confidence that we need not be afraid.’

Jesus could have ignored them. He had taught them about faith and they just would not cop on.

But no, His first words were words of comfort. Cheer up. It’s Me. Don’t be afraid.

In the midst of our storms we can have that same comfort. We have Bible which reminds over and over again that Jesus promises to be with us no matter where we are and no matter what we face. ‘I am with you always’ He said at the end of His earthly ministry. Fear is never of God – it is always from our weak flesh or from the devil.

We need not fear, but be of good cheer, in the storms.

Others

And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. – Matthew 14.22-25

Jesus was sad about John’s death. He was exhausted. When He first tried to get away a vast multitude followed Him and He performed the amazing miracle of the bread and the fishes. When He is done He sends the disciples away and He tries to get alone and pray, but…

Shortly into His prayer time, when Jesus is all alone, we read ‘but the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves in the strong winds.’ Jesus knew about their danger so at once picks up and goes down to the sea, walking on the water. 

More on that amazing walk later, but what caught my eye is how Jesus puts the needs of others before His own needs and desires. All He wanted to do was to get alone and pray, but others kept distracting Him. Who would have blamed Him for saying ‘I really need to go pray, somebody will feed those people and those disciples can handle that storm?’ After all, He had spiritual things that needed to be done!

But that’s not what He did. He stopped and fed the 5000. He went to care for the disciples. He put others first.

Sure, it is vital that we spend time in prayer and study and meeting with other believers. That is clear from the word of God. We neglect those disciplines at our own peril.

But let us also be aware and deal with real valid needs of others when the needs arise.

On John's death

And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. – Matthew 14.8-13

Of course Jesus was Deity on earth. He was fully God, but at the same time He was fully man. I don’t fully understand it but we can be confident that He was like us. He got hungry and tired and angry and sad.

It doesn’t actually say it here so I won’t press the issue, but I think we do see something of Jesus’ human heart in this story.

John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin. Their disciples were in contact with each other. John had already baptised Jesus and he continued his repentance and baptism ministry.

Now though John had been executed for his preaching. I think Jesus’ response it telling. ‘When He heard about it’ we are told, ‘He departed by ship into a desert place.’ It looks like with that news he wanted to be alone.

I appreciate that because I think we all get that way when bad news hits.  Some would say ‘suck it up and get on with it.’ But even Jesus sought time alone with God when He sorrowed.

We don’t have a high priest untouched by our infirmities – He understand. Therefore we can talk to Him with confidence.

Isn't that the carpenter's boy?

When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?" So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honour except in his own country and in his own house." Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.  – Matthew 13.54-58

Jesus was back home ministering among all the familiar things. His family lived here. His childhood friends were all around. He walked familiar streets. He would have seen his childhood home and Joseph’s carpenter shop. He would have seen all the old shops and places he used to frequent. I don’t know how His human side worked, but I have to think there was that blessed feeling of comfort and nostalgia.

He did what Jewish teacher always did and was called to teach in His old synagogue.

When He spoke his old friends and neighbours and family were stunned. ‘Who is this guy? Where did He get His wisdom and His power to do all these amazing things? Isn’t He the carpenter’s son? His mother is Mary and His brothers and sisters are all here. You can almost sense a ‘who does He thing He is’ as they were ‘offended by Him.’

Jesus’s response was, or course, classic – ‘a prophet is only without order in His own country.’

Then we read an amazing statement, ‘He did not do many mighty works because of their unbelief.’

Think about. Here is Jesus in His own home town and with all the great work He has done elsewhere here, because of the unbelief, He does not do many great works. That’s an encouragement to me. It lets me know that it is not about me. All I have to do is to be faithful. Eventually it is up to the hearers to decide what to do about it. If Jesus Himself has a place where ‘not many mighty works’ are done how can we expect to always do great things?

A mustard seed and the kingdom of God

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.  – Matthew 13.31-32

There are a couple of time when Jesus uses a mustard seed as a picture as an illustration of something that is small and insignificant that has great potential. A little later He will talk about how the tiny bit of faith can do great things.

But here He talks about how the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that when it is planted seems small and insignificant and like nothing can come of it. Then, one day it will be the greatest plant among herbs big enough for the birds to come and live in the bush.

It may seem to us sometimes in some of our ministries that we have not grown much beyond the size of that mustard seed. But the day is coming when the kingdom of will be the kingdom of all kingdoms when Christ will reign supreme and all earthly powers will fall by the wayside.

God does great things with little thing and He makes great things out of little.

Wheat and tares

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. – Matthew 13.24-30

The next illustration Jesus gives is that of a wheat field infested with weeds. The workers want to get rid of the weeds, but the master says ‘no, leave them so we don’t chance hurting the wheat. At harvest time we can separate the wheat and the weeds. Then we can bring the wheat into the barns and we can burn the weeds.

Later in the chapter Jesus explains the story. The field is the kingdom of God. The wheat are true believers and the weeds are false professors. God is not going to pour out His wrath in the false professors to prevent undue harm to the believers.

That explains why we see some of the activity that we see in the church today. It is why the church does not always act Christian. Among the wheat of the true harvest and some who are tares of chaff or weeds. They go through the motions, but there has never been a heart change. The wheat and the tares are going to survive by side so the church is never going to be perfect.

Until Jesus returns. Then comes the tragedy of the tares. All those false professors are going to be cut off. All those who rested in their works or hoped for the best who even we deceived will be separated from the wheat and face an eternity away from them and away from God.

We can’t assume that all Christians around us are the wheat. Folks need to be sure that each of us are truly wheat who have be delivered from our sins through faith in Jesus Christ.

Wheat or tare? Are willing to do a double check on our own hearts to see which we are?

The sower and his seed

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. – Matthew 13.23

Jesus begins a whole series of parables about the kingdom of God. He teaches great lessons about the reality of how is kingdom on earth is going to play out.

The first lesson deals with seeds and the soil they land on. He tells about a sowing who is throwing out seeds for the harvest. Some of these landed on rich soil where they took root and plants grew up. Some He threw on the hard stony soil and those seeds were eaten by the birds. Some of the ground was a thin layer of earth over stones. The seeds that landed there sprouted, but had no strength so withered away. Some though landed on good rich soil where they rooted, grew up and bore fruit.

Jesus then makes an application. The seed is the word of God. The soil is the hearts of men. Sometimes the word of God falls on hard soil and it is snatched away by the birds. Sometimes it falls on shallow soil which takes root but never stays long to bear fruit. But sometimes it takes root in receptive soil, grows up, and bears fruit.

We never know what kind of soil the seed will land on. All we can do is sow the seed and trust God to produce results in the receptive soil. We can’t get discouraged when it falls on hard soil of shallow soil. We trust God to allow it to settle on rich soil and bear fruit.

Ego Patrocius peccator

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God – Romans 3.23

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, - Ephesians 3:8

‘My name is Patrick... I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all believers. I am looked down upon by many.

I couldn’t help myself. I had to do a St Patrick's Day devotion repeat today. I think I did one the last couple of years, but today is a good chance to look at the testimony of our brother in Christ.

Reading The Confession is a great challenge for believers today.

• Patrick believed that man is a SINNER who violates God’s law and justly deserves His displeasure:
• Patrick believed that it is THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST that we are saved:
• Patrick believed we are saved by God’s GRACE, not by ourselves:
• Patrick affirms the second coming of Christ to judge the world in righteousness:

Patrick was a man much like us. He felt like he was called ‘to the uttermost parts of the earth’ because at that time there weren’t many places more uttermost than Ireland. He was deeply burdened to the Irish people and their need of the gospel. He was looking for the ‘soon return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.’

Patrick was a saint. He didn’t need a special designation. He was a saint just like all Christians are saints – sanctified and set apart by our salvation.

So let us as Christians enjoy a day set apart to honour our brother in Christ and let us do so in a way that honours the Christ who saved him and us.

Ego Rogerius peccator – My name is Roger, I am a sinner - what a great reminder.

Jesus' family

While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.  – Matthew 12.46-50

We don’t get a lot of insight into Jesus and His family. We get a few brief glimpses, but not enough to tell us a whole lot. We know about His mom. We don’t see anything about His foster dad after the trip to Jerusalem. We know He had brothers and sisters. We suspect none of them accepted Him as the Messiah until after the resurrection.

We also know that His family thought He was mad and were worried about Him. They went to talk to Him to try to convince Him to back off and take it a little easy. He was going to get Himself into trouble. They were right of course; He was going to get Himself in trouble. These are not bad people. They were genuinely concerned for their son and their brother.

They came to Jesus. Someone, probably a disciple, intercepted them and told Jesus that His mother and brothers were there to talk to him. When Jesus was told that they were there and wanted to talk to Him He did something that must have been unexpected. He waved toward the disciples and said ‘these are my mother and my brothers. These are my family.’

What that means for us is that today we are part of Jesus’ family. His Father is our Father. We are brothers and sisters of Christ. We are the family of God.

What a precious position that puts us in. In fact, the Bible says that Jesus is our big brother. All of the cares and troubles of this world pale in comparison to the truth that through faith in Christ and we somehow share in His relationship with Father. It’s almost more than I can grasp. It is more than I can put into words.

Replacement

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.  – Matthew 12.43-45

This an interesting lesson. Jesus tells the story here of a man who had been possessed by a demon and then had the demon cast out. The image is of the demon wandering about and finding no place to remain.

Meanwhile the man does nothing about himself and the demon finds seven other demons and comes back to dwell in the man who is clean, but still empty.

This sounds like a strange kind of story, but I think there is a principle here that we can apply.

As Christians our lives change. We see things in our lives that are not pleasing to God and we slowly and surely over time strive to get rid of them. When we do that it is important that we replace the evil with good and godly pursuits. If we don’t replace the bad things with good things we are liable, like the man in the story, to go back to our old ways. This principle of replacement is vital for us not to slip back into sin. We can’t be just be empty vessels and hope we don’t turn back. We must take an active role in replacing evil with good so there is no room for the evil to return.

Signs?

But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. – Matthew 12.39-40

This section kind of caught me by surprise. In the middle of Jesus’ charge to the disciples about their service for Him someone asks the question ‘Lord, show us a sign.’

I am not sure what they meant. Was it a sign that He really was Messiah? Was it a sign that He really was sending them? Was it something else?

Because of Jesus’ response I think they were asking for a sign that He really was the one and true Messiah. Plenty of false messiahs had risen up and fallen away. They did not want to be taken in again.

But Jesus would not give them a sign. He told that only an ‘evil and adulterous’ generation seek after a sign. He said no sign would come other than one they already had in the Bible. The proof of His messiahship would be that just as Jonah had spent three days in the heart of the whale He would only be three days in the earth.

I can’t imagine what went through their heads or what that meant. He goes on the say that after that the city of Ninevah would repent but that after He spent the three days in the earth He would still be rejected.

That’s it. Nothing spectacular. No dreams or visions or bright lights or anything. Just check your Bible and see what happens. We have the full word of God.

The word of God is all we need.

Words

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” – Matthew 12.33-37

Everyone knows the phrase ‘by their fruits you shall know them.’ Even most people who have never picked up a Bible know that one.

But what does it mean? What kind of fruit are we talking about here?

In this context the passage is all about the fruit of the tongue. You know a man by the words he speaks. It is from the abundance of the heart that our mouths speak. Our words eventually reveal the real us. A good man with a good heart says good things and an evil man with an evil heart says evil things.

Then we see just how important words really are. God says that on the day of judgement that for every wasteful word we speak we will one day have to give account and be justified or condemned.

Now, I realise that Jesus has paid the penalty for our sin, but He has done that for all our sins and it doesn’t mean we go blithely along sinning. The important thing here is to note that the wasteful worse of words is sin and judgeworthy and punishment worthy.

We must be careful with our words. Social media can be a curse or a blessing, but it is a place where we must be careful about out testimony. Our words reveal who we really are.

Take up your cross

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

Matthew 10:38

Nobody said this was going to be easy. The choice to be a follower of Christ is not one to be taken lightly. Deciding to follow Christ is a serious step. One must count the cost, be willing to carry the burden, and put his own life after Christ’s life. Just as Jesus took up His cross of suffering for us we need to be willing to take up our cross and follow Him. It means that we give up our life for His. Just like He gave up Himself for us we need to give up ourselves for Him.

This idea is seen in place like the Sermon on the Mount and in Peter’s word to the scattered church. It may mean, for some people, a radical change of life where we give up all we have for Christ and dash off across the world to share His word.

It may, and sometimes does. But more often it is notion of living where we are and shining the light of Christ and shaking the salt of the word of God to people we already know and who already know us. It means that we be the best citizens of our land, submitting to our government and its leaders. It means that we are the hardest workers on our job and seek to please our bosses. It means that we be the best husbands and wives because our homes are the surest way of showing the world what salvation looks like. It means that we are the best neighbours, always seeking to put the needs of others above our own.

It means that it is not all about us.

Mercy

But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.  – Matthew 12.7

For most of human and in most of human culture religion has involved sacrifice. Some required human sacrifice or even sacrificing children. Even the Jews required animal sacrifices. Of course our salvation depended on Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross.

But here Jesus is talking about sacrifices in religious practice. The Jewish leaders though that everything would be okay if they were diligent about their legalistic sacrificial system. If you did that right nothing else mattered. This despite the fact that over and over in the Old Testament God talks about love and mercy and caring and compassion. How did they miss it?

Somehow they did, so Jesus makes it clear here. ‘I would rather you be merciful than have all the sacrifices in the world.’

Jesus’s message is clear. Our hearts are more important than our religious actions. When God watched our lives what really joys His heart to see His people pouring out the mercy He has shown them to others. That means that people are more important that our religiosity. God desires merciful people more than religious people. Those who have received mercy should bestow mercy.

And of course, on the other hand, ‘blessed are the merciful for they will keep receiving mercy.’

Rest

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. – Matthew 11.28-30

Rest.

Just reading that word brings out a certain yearning in our hearts, doesn’t it? Most of us are so busy and occupied with the ‘carking cares’ of this world that we would give anything for rest.

Most of Ireland was forced into a few days rest last week when we were hit with a major snowstorm. While many we super busy with emergency services and caring for others a lot of us every day people could not even get out of our homes. It was nice for those us that fortunate.

But life returned to normal. Our rests here are always temporary when they are based on our circumstances. We have a brief respite and then back to the busy-ness of life.

But Jesus offers a different kind of rest here. He offers a rest that is permanent and which does not depend on circumstance. The rest He offers is the rest that comes when there is turmoil all around us. It is the rest that starts now and carries on forever. It is the rest that He is in control and He knows what is coming next. It is a rest based on the fact that He is God and good and that He is loves and that He loves me. It is the rest that says ‘cast all your cares on Me because I care for you. It is that rest that says ‘yoke yourself to Me and let Me share the load.’

There is rest for the weary soul. Let’s rest in Him, no matter what may come our way. We can do that as we learn to know Him better and see His meekness and lowliness and the fact that His attitude is the only way to get through this mess we live in.

Sparrows

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

- Matthew 10.19-21; 29-31

What a curious illustration to use. If there were ever an insignificant creature it would be the sparrow. Two of them sold for a small Roman coin. I think from what I have read it means that two sparrows could be bought for about one euro cent. That’s pretty worthless.

We are told here that God knows everything. He even knows when even the worthless sparrow falls to the ground. It never says that He is going to stop it from falling – but that He knows what is going on.

Then He tells the disciples that there are worth more to God He knows the hairs on our heads. It is clear that doesn’t mean we won’t have trouble, but only that He knows what is happening when it happens.

That ought to give us great comfort. Even when things don’t go right God is still watching and in control of the situation. He has it covered.

If God’s eye is on the sparrow, can’t we be pretty sure that His eye is on us as well?

What will I say?

But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. – Matthew 10.17-20

Jesus wans his six missionary teams that things are not going to be easy. ‘Beware of men, they will deliver you up…’ The hard truth is that this is not only applicable to the disciples – we later hear that anyone who lives godly in Christ will suffer persecution.

Those disciples, and us too, may very well one day be ‘brought before governors’ to be a testimony.

The very thought of that terrifies me nearly as much as a video of someone messing around from an extreme height, like above five metres. Thinking about it gives me a sick feeling in my stomach.

I imagine that’s about how these guys felt when Jesus sent them out. We know they were not the bravest guys ever. They were just like us.

Jesus though says ‘don’t be afraid. I will show you what to say.’

There are a couple of guys in the Bible who were afraid of not knowing what to to say. Moses made every excuse in the world to get out of being the spokesman for the people. Jeremiah said ‘I am only a child!’

But God would have none of their excuses. ‘I will give you the words to speak’ He said. Here he says it again to the disciples ‘you don’t need your words, the Holy Spirit will tell you what to say.’

Those times when we are afraid to speak I think we can take it that the Holy Spirit will give us the words to speak just like He did Moses and Jeremiah and the disciples. We don’t need to be afraid. Jesus says He will be with us and will strengthen us and here He even says His Holy Spirit will give us the words. Do we really have an excuse?

Wise as serpents

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  – Matthew 10.16

Going in to the world to talk about Jesus was never going to be easy. Jesus warned His disciples on this special mission trip, and His warning is good for us.

‘I send you forth like sheep in the midst of a bunch of wolves.’

Our message doesn’t appeal to the world. Nobody wants to hear that their sin separates them from God. We need kind of plan as we go.

Jesus told the disciples:

Be wise as serpents

He harmless as doves

We don’t just charge into the task without think. We use godly wisdom to know how to talk to people. Like serpents we need to be cunning and not needlessly expose ourselves to danger.

As dove we need meekness and harmlessness in our witness. We are not out there to pick a fight.

Rather than try to be the writer I am not, let me just post here what Albert Barnes put it in his Bible commentary.

‘Serpents have always been an emblem of wisdom and cunning, Gen_3:1. The Egyptians used the serpent in their hieroglyphics as a symbol of wisdom. Probably the thing in which Christ directed his followers to imitate the serpent was in its caution in avoiding danger. No animal equals them in the rapidity and skill which they evince in escaping danger. So said Christ to his disciples, You need caution and wisdom in the midst of a world that will seek your lives. He directs them, also, to be harmless, not to provoke danger, not to do injury, and thus make their fellow-men justly enraged against them. Doves are, and always have been, a striking emblem of innocence. Most people would foolishly destroy a serpent, be it ever so harmless, yet few are so hard-hearted as to kill a dove.’

As you go

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. – Matthew 10.5-7

Matthew 10 is an interesting chapter. Jesus sent out the twelve disciples. This was a sort of missionary blitz only to the people of Israel. Jesus came to the Jews first and this was the first effort. We know it is a special time because they were told to move quickly. They were told that is people received them, great, but if people rejected them to shake the dust off their feet and move on. They were given special signs and miracles to confirm their words.

Though this was a special mission there are some immutable truths that apply all of Jesus’ followers for all time. Some of the principles apply to all of those carrying God’s word to people around us.

The first one is pretty simple – as you go, preach. Preach that the kingdom of God is at hand.

The first part is what I want to focus on. I want to apply it to us today. As we got out in life from day to day and go about our daily business we need to keep in mind that our purpose as we go is to preach Christ.

As we go we ought to always have in mind that we are ambassadors for Christ. We go. We give to the needy. We love. We do acts of kindness.

But as we do all that – we preach the glorious gospel.

The harvest

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. – Matthew 9.36-38

After the Sermon on the Mount Jesus had spent some time doing a whole series of great miracles. He healed the sick and gave the blind sight and raised the dead and even healed a woman who had merely touched the hem of His garment.

But now, as He leaves the city, something happens. He turns back to the crowd and his ‘bowels are stirred.’ He sees something literally gut wrenching. As He looked at the crowd He saw them scattered like sheep without a shepherd. He turned then to His handful of disciples and said some to the saddest words ever spoken ‘there is indeed a plentiful harvest, but there are so few workers.’

Here we are 2000 years on and we still have the same issue. Experts tell us that in Jesus’ day there were about 300 million people on the face of the whole earth. That was indeed a big harvest field. Today we have a harvest field of seven billion.

But we have the same problem as 2000 years ago. Where are the workers?

Most Christians like going to church. We like fellowship and times together. We just like the comfort of being together.

But when it comes to the going out it gets much harder. The world still needs harvesters to bring in the fruit of the gospel. Where are the believers willing to gather the harvest? Our harvest may be our neighbour of co-worker or the guy at the bus stop or those in some unreached part of the world. God just wants us to be willing workers.

Eating with sinners

And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. – Matthew 9.10-13

Jesus was constantly upsetting people. Well, He was upsetting their ideas of behaviour and religion. Here He really ruffled some feathers. He had just called Matthew, a tax collector, to be a disciple.

And then, as he sat down to dinner the strangest thing happened. The place began to fill up with ‘publicans and sinners.’ The publicans were not put owners, these were something like revenue officers who collected taxes from the public. The sinners were an amalgamation of well know ne’er do wells. It’s the kind of crowd you wouldn’t necessarily expect a well-known teacher to sit down with.

The scribes and the Pharisees, the religious guys, couldn’t handle it. ‘What is Jesus doing sitting down to eat with all the dirty sinners?’ Doesn’t He know we can‘t defile ourselves with them?

I think we can hear that ourselves when we hang around the ‘wrong kind’ of people. There are folks who think that we should only spend time with other believers. Some take separation to the point that we separate totally from those who need us the most.

I once had a good friend here in Ireland that ‘if you want to get your message to people you are going to have to get your hands dirty.’ Jesus said kind of the same thing. ‘I didn’t come to bring the righteous to repentance, but sinners.’

If we are going to reach the world with the glorious news of salvation through faith in Christ alone we are going have to go those who need. We have to spend time with them. I can’t just go knock a door or invite them to church or hand them a tract. Those are all good and proper things that we should all do.

But our best witness is going to be with those we spend time with. They get to see us in all kinds of situations. We back up our words by our actions. We do things with them so they can see the reality of Christ in our lives.

And why do we do that? To get another notch on our gospel belt?

No we do that because we love people and we want them to have the same joy we have in knowing Jesus. We do it because we want to spend eternity with them in heaven. We do it because we want them to know that there is hope beyond the grave and we want them to be assured that they have that hope.