Men that wait for their Lord

Bible Reading: Luke 12

Luke 12:36-37 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

Expectation is the attitude of heart that disciples should have about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is coming again.  Let him find us watching for his return.  When I read this parable, I think of some young people whose parents are away and they are to take care of the house.  They want to return to a house that is in order and find obedient children that are ready for their parents to return.  However, sometimes the return home finds a party going on.  

The children who would get drunk and destroy the house do not love and honor their parents.  They are showing contempt for their parents.  Let us be as Jesus instructed us to be!  Let’s be servants who are watching for the return of the Lord.  Let us be about the Master’s business until his return.  Let us be so watching and waiting that we are not surprised by his return.  

It is certain that we do not know when he will return.  We do that he will return.  He could come later than we think.  It does not matter when, what matters is that we open the door immediately when he returns.  We are to be ready for him.  

Do you live with an expectation of the Lord’s return?  Do you invest the time you have wisely bringing glory and honor to Jesus and making him known?  The Lord will honor the servants who are watching for him.  He will serve them.  How amazing is that?  Jesus has served us in his life by paying the ransom for our souls with his own blood.  He also promises to serve us at his return by letting us sit down to a wonderful dinner.  Some of the very last words of the Bible are written in expectancy of the Lord’s return.

Revelation 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

When Jesus comes back, let’s be tending to the Father’s business.

In Christ,

Rody

He that is not with me

Bible Reading: Luke 11

Luke 11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

There is not fence riding with Jesus.  When it comes to following him, you are either in or out.  The amazing thing about this statement from the Lord is that he leaves not neutral ground.  When it comes to Jesus you are picking sides.  If you refuse to pick, you are on a side anyway.  

Many people have heard something about Jesus, but don’t want to be really involved with him.  They are favorably disposed to him, but they have made no formal commitments to follow him openly. These folks are against him.  We are choosing sides.  Which side are you on?

To be on Jesus’ side means to gather with him.  It means to gather with his church and worship him.  It means to work alongside him in the harvest and gather men and women through the preaching of the gospel.  If you are not gathering, you are scattering.  There is no sideline bystander who is not involved.  If you are not actively engaged in the mission of Jesus, you are actively engaged in thwarting his mission.  

You have influence.  If are gather with Jesus, you will influence others to gather with him as well.  If you are not gathering with Jesus, by your actions, you are scattering others who are influenced by your decisions.  Which side are you on?

To actively follow Jesus is to be led by His Spirit into the harvest that is truly plentiful.  He needs more laborers (Luke 10:2).  He is at work.  Will you join him?

In Christ,

Rody

Fit for the Kingdom

Bible Reading: Luke 9

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

A man wanted to follow Jesus.  He asked to be allowed to first god and bid farewell to his family at home.  The response is our verse for today.  This sounds harsh and I suppose it is but we must see the urgency and single mindedness of Jesus here.  Gospel work is harvest work.  It is a work that involves sowing and reaping.  In order to sow in good soil, the hard ground must be broken up with the point of a plow.  Plowing is plodding work.  It is slow but important.  Jesus knew the man’s heart (as he knows all of our hearts).  Apparently, he was telling the man that you cannot be a double minded man.  This fits well with what he earlier told his disciples:

Luke 9:23-24 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

To put your hand to the plow means to take up the work of preaching the kingdom of God.  The man who is looking back is not checking his plowing progress.  He is looking back at what he left behind.  Jesus is telling us that discipleship is a decision that must leave all behind because what lies ahead is better.  Self and life apart from Jesus are nothing.  To follow Jesus you must leave the old life look toward him.

Anyone who has plowed knows that you need to keep your eyes forward or you will get your plow out of the furrow and spoil the work.  You don’t need to look back because pretty soon you will be right back by the same spot and you can check your progress then because you make a small swath with a plow.  

The look back that Jesus is talking about is to look back fondly at a world that hates God.  It is regret for what you are leaving behind.  There can be no place for regret in a disciple’s life.  

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Instead, put your hand to the plow and:

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

In Christ,

Rody

The devil taketh away the word

Bible Reading: Luke 8

Luke 8:11-12 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

“The Word of God is like a seed,” said Jesus.  The Word of God has the power to save.  It has the power to impart eternal life.

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

When you and I sow the Word of God, we scatter it on a lot of different kinds of soils.  The Word is the same, but the soil is different.  One kind of soil is that by the wayside.  Jesus said this kind is ‘trodden down’ and the birds come and ‘devour it’.  You can see the picture.  That soil that is by the wayside is hard because it is the place where people walk.  There is little chance of it finding a nice, soft place to take root.  

This is the condition of many human hearts.  They have no concern for spiritual things at all.  Their heart is as hard as a footpath where there is much traffic.  When the seed of the Word of God lands on this hard soil, the hungry birds see it laying there and come and devour it up.  This is the hard heart of unbelief and apathy that hears the Word of God.  However, this heart is not concerned about eternal things and does not listen to the Word.  It is not long before Satan comes and snatches up this seed and it is forgotten almost as quickly as it was heard.  This is a spiritually blind person.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Satan is actively at work blinding people to the gospel of Jesus.  That Word, if believed will save.  The problem is that many are so apathetic toward spiritual things that they simply do not think about these things.  When they hear the gospel, it is not urgent and not good news to them.  They hear, but don’t listen and Satan quickly grabs it up.  Do you know anyone like this?  

Almost every week, we spend time out in the community surrounding where our church meets talking to people about Jesus.  We find an incredible amount of apathy toward spiritual things.  Many times we will ask someone if they think about eternity, heaven, hell, God, etc…  Many times they will smile, shrug and say, “Not really.”  

What can we do about that hard soil by the wayside?  First, we can plow it with the Word of God.  This is more reason to be out sharing the gospel.  Second, we must pray.  The Holy Spirit can work on that hard heart bringing reproof of sin, righteousness and judgment.  Pray and go hitch up the gospel plow.

In Christ,

Rody

The Profit of Many

1 Corinthians 10:32-33 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

The admonition of the apostle is to live in such a way as to not offend people.  He then divides all of humanity into three groups.  These three groups are the Jews, the Gentiles and the church of God.  No matter who you live among, try not to be offensive to them.  Seek to live in a way that pleases men rather than being offensive.  The key to doing this is to not seek your own profit, but to seek the profit of many.  This profit that the apostle is talking about is their salvation.

This is the apostle’s way of life wherever he was.  He wanted to live a winsome life in all wisdom.  He did not want to be a person who was offensive in his manner of life.  He was willing to give up personal privileges and wants in order to live in a way that did not drive people away from him but drew people to him.  The Bible says:

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Do you live in a way as to win souls?  Do you live to please others so you can witness to them?  Are you willing to give up rights so others might hear the gospel of Christ?

1 Corinthians 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

Paul wanted Jews to trust Christ and be saved.  Paul wanted Gentiles to trust Christ and be saved.  He wanted them both to be one new man in the Church of God.  

Ephesians 2:13-15 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.

We should all live our lives this way as followers of Christ. We need to be winsome and wise in winning souls to Christ!

In Christ,

Rody

Blessed is he

Bible Reading: Luke 7

Luke 7:23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

The plan of Jesus is not the same for every person.  Oh yes, the plan of salvation is the same.  We are all saved by grace through faith.  However, the plan for our lives is different for every believer.  When John was in jail, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the One they were looking for or if they should look for another.  Jesus answered by telling the disciples to observe his ministry:

Luke 7:22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

Jesus was doing the things that were prophesied of him.  The gospel was being preached.  Wonderful things were happening as people were healed and even brought back from the dead.  And John was in jail.  Why was the greatest one ever born of woman rotting in jail while the great ministry he came to prepare the way for was doing such wonderful things?  The reason is that John’s purpose was fulfilled and it was time for John to get out of the way and go home to be with the Father.  

Do you view death in that way?  As a Christian we all should.  The Bible says:

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

John knew when the way was prepared for Jesus that his ministry would decrease while Jesus’ would increase.

John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Now Jesus exhorts the disciples of John not to be offended in him.  What did he mean?  He meant not to get offended when things do not turn out the way you think they should.  Keep your eyes on Jesus and realize that we live to glorify him.  It does not matter what ministry flourishes as long as Jesus gets the glory.  It does not matter which earthen vessel he uses as long as Jesus gets the glory.  If he is glorified in your life – so be it.  If he is glorified in your death – so be it.  John was one of the most focused individuals in all of scripture.  From the very womb he was filled with the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:15).  John was a burning and shining light (John 5:35); and like a torch when the fire had consumed all the fuel, it literally burned itself up.  His task was complete and he could go home.  

Live for Jesus in all of life and give him the glory.  If life does not turn out the way you thought, realize that Jesus can be glorified in your life in a multitude of ways and don’t be offended at him.  Trust him!

In Christ,

Rody

Rejoice ye in that day

Bible Reading: Luke 6

Luke 6:22-23 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Jesus pronounced a blessing on those men hate because of Jesus’ sake.  Isn’t it amazing that this is the group he blessed.  But he was hated by this world and he promised his followers that they too would be hated by this world.  Jesus said men would do these things:

·         Men will hate you

·         Men will separate you from their company

·         Men shall reproach you

·         Men will cast out your name as evil

This is a definition of persecution.  Our brothers and sisters in Christ all around the world experience these things when they set out to follow Jesus.  The same happens in our country but on a much smaller scale.   Jesus tells us when this happens that we are to rejoice and leap for joy.  Why?  Because when you are reproached in this world because you love Jesus, you know that you have reward in heaven.

This is exactly what happened when the apostles were preaching Jesus in Jerusalem.  First, they were thrown in jail for preaching Jesus.  Then an angel let them out of prison and they continued to preach.  When they stood before the council they were told not to speak in the name of Jesus anymore.

Acts 5:40-41 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

They were beaten and they rejoiced!  Why because they were suffering for the name of Jesus and they knew that their reward in heaven was great!  Don’t be ashamed of the gospel of Christ!  The reward in heaven is great so rejoice!

In Christ,

Rody