Matthew 25
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Jesus loves us. But there are limits -
I know that sounds contradictory, but its not. Not at all. As a parent, I set limits on my kids - because I loved them. I knew better than they about such things that appeared inviting but which would rob them of life. In the same manner that I can be a loving father and expect certain things from my children, our heavenly Father can too. And He loves us like no earthly father ever could, ever will.
So - we love to say, "Jesus loves me," but are we ready when He calls? The church I attend is searching for a new pastor. And I have spoken with a couple of the potential candidates. The conversations end up going the same each time - "We are praying that the Lord would prepare the heart of whoever comes to lead us, as He prepares our hearts to follow. We want to be ready."
I sure hope I'm speaking the truth for all of us, or at least enough of us that we truly are ready when He calls.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
The gold standard
You know, those ad placements don't always work in favor of the advertiser: I have listened to the hourly financial report on a Los Angeles radio station for years. Lately, it has been sponsored by some company selling Gold. But for the past several weeks the final part of the report has been something along the lines of, "And Gold is off, to a new low of..." but AS SOON as the reporter ends that sentence, the ad for buying Gold comes on and says, "Gold. It's the only investment which has not dropped in value, even in these tough financial times...."
You never know if that advertiser is listening to the station or not - they may have ads placed on many stations, but they always tell us that Gold is the one investment we will always wish we had when everything else collapses, and they quote predictions of $3000 per ounce. It's still going down.
Matthew 6:20
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
You never know if that advertiser is listening to the station or not - they may have ads placed on many stations, but they always tell us that Gold is the one investment we will always wish we had when everything else collapses, and they quote predictions of $3000 per ounce. It's still going down.
Matthew 6:20
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sacrafice
I was reading in Leviticus this morning, and I have to admit that it can be dry reading. The detail which God demanded of the people in things involved in worship was amazing. The buildings and grounds of the tabernacle and temple, the clothes for the priests, the holy festivals and feasts, the diet of the people - all very carefully spelled out in fine detail. Today I read about the Burnt offering, the Grain offering, and the Fellowship offering. And the same thing popped up in all of them: the offering had to be perfect. The grain offering had to be made from "the finest flour," the animals had to be "without defect."
It hit me - as it has before - that the demands didn't quote any specifications for how the person was to be. No demands for special clothing, color, type, nothing. Why? Because the priest was not looking at the Israelite - the Priest was looking at the offering. THAT had to be just right.
God hasn't changed under the new covenant: He still looks at the offering, not the person. And our offering is Christ Jesus - the perfect offering.
John 1:29 (New International Version, ©2010)
John Testifies About Jesus
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:29 (The Message)
The God-Revealer
29-31The very next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and yelled out, "Here he is, God's Passover Lamb! He forgives the sins of the world!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Radical thoughts
God is our source of supply - and if you look up new testament references to "supply," you will get a surprise. God seems to be a communist. What? Now - before you react, I want to define some terms. That is so very important, because so many of us use terms incorrectly when we are naming types of societies. For example, the United States is not a Democracy. We are a Representative Republic. The difference is this: "Democracy" is mob rule. If everyone votes to go rob the nearest bank, so be it. In fact, even if a simple majority votes to go rob the bank... you get the picture. We use the 'Democratic Process,' and we have democratic elections, and we do try to spread "democracy" so it's easy to confuse things.
But in a "Representative Republic," we use the process of democracy, that is, people are elected by open and free elections in which the majority wins, but the people we elect (our representatives) are there to represent us and THEY are supposed to do all the law-making, taxing, and other government functions, in line with the wishes of the people who put them into office. Our nation's founding Fathers assumed that these representatives would use the Bible, God, and the rule of decency as guides in running the nation, but of course,if they did not, we could simply not reelect them next time around. Yeah. How's that working were YOU live?
"Communism" actually only means that people hold things in common. In it's purest form, it is the first century church - Acts 2:44ff says, " 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need."
The society they formed was interdependent. But they were driven by God, motivated by love, so they all worked hard at what they did, and then they gave it away to those who had need. I have to believe that they worked hard and gave willingly to the common good because they understood that they were interdependent and they could look around and see others doing the same.
But - in many modern-day communist countries, there is a problem. Freeloaders. It is inevitable that some will come to the conclusion that they don't need to work hard, for two reasons: 1. whatever they make will be given away to others, and 2. whatever they need will be provided by others. The key to this problem is a basic human characteristic: it is selfishness. If all you care about is what YOU get, communism breaks down fast. There is no motivation to keep working as hard as you can all the time for the common good, especially if you are the only one around you who is working hard.
So a ruler, king, leader, dictator, or oligarchy rises up and begins to control things. They SAY that they are just there to see to it that everyone works hard for the common good, and they claim to only want to see to it that a fair distribution of goods and services keeps everyone working hard and everyone fed. But in History, we see that Communist Countries have all ended up being run by an Oligarchy (one group of people who get rich while the working class gets poor) or by a dictator who comes to power and never leaves, generally bankrupting the country as his greed drives him to take more and more from the country and give less and less.
America - wake up. You have given in to a dictator, and it is wrecking us. In our case, the dictator is greed, or 'self.'
If God was the one who ruled our lives, we would work hard to honor Him. We would give to the poor to honor Him. We would share our much to honor HIM. We would be living in a state of pure communism: we would hold all things in common and none would be lazy NOR would any suffer need. I vote for a "benevolent dictator." One who is above corruption, beyond selfishness, and immune to greed.
But things might have to change. Things we have grown very used to having. For example, we might also not all have private homes. Instead, we might very well have the rooms of our houses filled with people who need a home. We might have to carpool, share the computer, own fewer things of our own. And we might very well hand money back and forth based on need rather than on work performed. Yes, the Bible teaches that a workman is worthy of his hire (pay,) but there are times when outside forces conspire and a hard-working person finds themselves in need.
And if there were competition among the brothers, it might be to see who can help people the most rather than who can collect the most toys our build and posses (privately) the best house. There are people in our country who were very much driven by the desire to employ an entire town which was out of work, and years later we have some huge corporation. This is one of the great strengths of Capitalism: you are motivated to work hard because you get a direct benefit from it. Get a good education, land a good job, and you get to start enjoying good things. But if God is truly our God, then we recognize that all good things come from Him, and as we work hard to gather good things around us, we would also work hard to see to it that our brothers and sisters get to enjoy those good things too, and in a capitalistic society that can and often does lead to a large income. Hospitality, generosity, giving, sharing, graciousness - these are all Godly traits which can and should be exhibited by Christians. Wealthy Christians as well as poor ones.
OK - enough. I know that our country isn't going to go there. Not in a hurry, anyway. I make my living selling luxury items to people with money to burn, and I am not ready to give it up just yet. But in the midst of it all, the church can rise up. Help one another. Be there for each other. And we can begin to learn to live in common - sharing selflessly - with one another.
But in a "Representative Republic," we use the process of democracy, that is, people are elected by open and free elections in which the majority wins, but the people we elect (our representatives) are there to represent us and THEY are supposed to do all the law-making, taxing, and other government functions, in line with the wishes of the people who put them into office. Our nation's founding Fathers assumed that these representatives would use the Bible, God, and the rule of decency as guides in running the nation, but of course,if they did not, we could simply not reelect them next time around. Yeah. How's that working were YOU live?
"Communism" actually only means that people hold things in common. In it's purest form, it is the first century church - Acts 2:44ff says, " 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need."
The society they formed was interdependent. But they were driven by God, motivated by love, so they all worked hard at what they did, and then they gave it away to those who had need. I have to believe that they worked hard and gave willingly to the common good because they understood that they were interdependent and they could look around and see others doing the same.
But - in many modern-day communist countries, there is a problem. Freeloaders. It is inevitable that some will come to the conclusion that they don't need to work hard, for two reasons: 1. whatever they make will be given away to others, and 2. whatever they need will be provided by others. The key to this problem is a basic human characteristic: it is selfishness. If all you care about is what YOU get, communism breaks down fast. There is no motivation to keep working as hard as you can all the time for the common good, especially if you are the only one around you who is working hard.
So a ruler, king, leader, dictator, or oligarchy rises up and begins to control things. They SAY that they are just there to see to it that everyone works hard for the common good, and they claim to only want to see to it that a fair distribution of goods and services keeps everyone working hard and everyone fed. But in History, we see that Communist Countries have all ended up being run by an Oligarchy (one group of people who get rich while the working class gets poor) or by a dictator who comes to power and never leaves, generally bankrupting the country as his greed drives him to take more and more from the country and give less and less.
America - wake up. You have given in to a dictator, and it is wrecking us. In our case, the dictator is greed, or 'self.'
If God was the one who ruled our lives, we would work hard to honor Him. We would give to the poor to honor Him. We would share our much to honor HIM. We would be living in a state of pure communism: we would hold all things in common and none would be lazy NOR would any suffer need. I vote for a "benevolent dictator." One who is above corruption, beyond selfishness, and immune to greed.
But things might have to change. Things we have grown very used to having. For example, we might also not all have private homes. Instead, we might very well have the rooms of our houses filled with people who need a home. We might have to carpool, share the computer, own fewer things of our own. And we might very well hand money back and forth based on need rather than on work performed. Yes, the Bible teaches that a workman is worthy of his hire (pay,) but there are times when outside forces conspire and a hard-working person finds themselves in need.
And if there were competition among the brothers, it might be to see who can help people the most rather than who can collect the most toys our build and posses (privately) the best house. There are people in our country who were very much driven by the desire to employ an entire town which was out of work, and years later we have some huge corporation. This is one of the great strengths of Capitalism: you are motivated to work hard because you get a direct benefit from it. Get a good education, land a good job, and you get to start enjoying good things. But if God is truly our God, then we recognize that all good things come from Him, and as we work hard to gather good things around us, we would also work hard to see to it that our brothers and sisters get to enjoy those good things too, and in a capitalistic society that can and often does lead to a large income. Hospitality, generosity, giving, sharing, graciousness - these are all Godly traits which can and should be exhibited by Christians. Wealthy Christians as well as poor ones.
OK - enough. I know that our country isn't going to go there. Not in a hurry, anyway. I make my living selling luxury items to people with money to burn, and I am not ready to give it up just yet. But in the midst of it all, the church can rise up. Help one another. Be there for each other. And we can begin to learn to live in common - sharing selflessly - with one another.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
He knows us better than we think
Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”
18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away."
So there!
18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away."
So there!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
A promise
Romans 8:34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
I don't know if there is much I could add to that! But I will say this: this life may not be able to separate us from the love of Christ, but it CAN make it tough to keep our focus.
Be strong my friends - in Him.
I don't know if there is much I could add to that! But I will say this: this life may not be able to separate us from the love of Christ, but it CAN make it tough to keep our focus.
Be strong my friends - in Him.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Father God
Romans 8:15 (New International Version, ©2011)
15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father.”
God as our Father - not everyone has a good picture of a loving daddy, so sometimes it is tough to think of God as our Father.
I had a good relationship with my Father. He's gone now, and I miss him, but I think back on all of the things he tried to do to make my growing up good. Scouts, camping, boating, teacher conferences, working side by side (I learned to do just about all of the construction trades by working on remodeling houses with him) and one very interesting thing - being gentle.
It took a lot to get my dad upset. He had to put up with my mom, who was a difficult person to all people around her. And Dad not only did it pretty well, but he actually Loved her! I can remember the day he was laying in a hospital bed, the doctor had told us that Dad was at the end. I was so very sorry all at once for the things I had never done with him, the things I had never said to him. I tried to sit there and pour it out, but in two words he helped me to understand that it was OK -
"I know." Combined with the loving look in his eyes, it was all I needed to hear.
He knew that I loved him, he knew that I would miss him, and he knew that this was just part of life - a painful part, but part of life nonetheless.
But Dad would not 'let go' until I promised him that I would take care of Mom. She was completely dependent upon Dad, the victim of a stroke and then Senility. As soon as I assured -held his hand and promised - him that Mom would be OK for the rest of her life, he relaxed, and only said two more words until he left us a few days later. Those two words?
"Precious Jesus." He said them over and over, and it dawned on me later that he wasn't calling out to Jesus, he wasn't begging, he wasn't searching - he was seeing. And he was being an example.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
