February 7, 2014
This is from the Parable of the Talents. Matthew’s gospel has this parable arranged in alignment with Jesus’ discussion of end times in chapter 24 and nested between His Parable of the Ten Virgins and His discussion of the judgment of the sheep and goats. Its placement and the parable itself point to the idea that Jesus will return and expect an accounting of our stewardship. God has entrusted certain gifts and abilities to each of us that are to be invested and used. He cares about our work. He wants us to be busy using what He has entrusted to us. How we manage our 3 Ts (Time, Talent, and Treasure) matter to God.
February 5, 2014
Has the gospel yet been preached in the “whole world?” Not yet. But surely, the time is coming soon. According to Wycliffe, there are 6,900 languages spoken in the world today, as the world’s population approaches seven billion. Of those, 180 million people (who speak about 1900 different languages) do not have a Bible in their heart language, nor anyone that is currently working on one. All the major languages have been translated. The ones remaining are small population groups. Of course, Bible translation is only part of the equation. Someone still needs to preach the gospel so that they can hear and understand.
January 30, 2014
Jesus described the new Kingdom economy to His disciples. He modeled the new servant-leader paradigm by washing His disciples feet and then dying on the cross for our sins. To James and John, who aspired to leadership, He didn’t rebuke them, He showed them a better way. Jesus radically changed the leadership model. He descended to greatness.
January 29, 2014
You can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat children. If they are patient and fun with little ones, it reveals something about their heart. If they are nervous and frustrated, this too shows. Jesus loved little children. He always made time for them. I’ve observed that most people who come to Christ, do so before adulthood. The older we get, the more our hearts harden. Yet, it’s never too late to see Jesus with childlike eyes and receive Him with a childlike faith.
January 25, 2014
Jesus took His inner circle of disciples, Peter, James and John, up on a high mountain. There the heavenly veil was pulled back for a moment and they saw Jesus in His glory. They also saw Moses and Elijah. Those who have questions about how far is heaven and whether we will know our loved ones who died in the Lord should take note. Heaven is near. And yes, we will know them.
January 20, 2014
What is this Kingdom that Jesus preached? It is like a treasure hidden. Yet, some find it. A treasure so valuable as to be worth selling everything you own. Yet, the one owning the land is apparently unaware of its presence and is willing to sell it, like Esau selling his birthright. It takes spiritual eyes to see this treasure’s worth. Only a few find it.
January 19, 2014
When Jesus was asked why He taught in parables, he answered with this quotation from Isaiah about the “hardened” hearts of the people. Jesus was aware of their unreceptive hearts, yet still poured out His. The Lord and His gospel still have that affect on people’s hearts. It either penetrates, making the heart new and receptive or it hardens it even more. When it is made new, it responds in sympathetic resonance to the sound of God’s heart. But when it is hard, sin dampens its heart strings, so that it is deaf to God’s love.
January 15, 2014
Following Christ is an all or nothing commitment. Surrender control. Open up your clinched fists. Give Christ your entire life. And then, discover the abundant life that Christ promises.
January 13, 2014
The harvest represents those who are receptive to the gospel seed. The workers are those who would plant and water the gospel. Jesus looked at the world with spiritual eyes and saw open hearts and a people without a shepherd. There are people today in our city and around the world that are open to the gospel. Who will work in these fields? I’m praying for more workers who will carry the gospel to our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and around the world (Acts 1:8).
January 12, 2014
When Matthew was called to follow Jesus, he immediately threw a party at his house for all of his lost friends. God has shaped each of us differently. Matthew threw a party and introduced his friends to Jesus. Peter boldly preached to thousands in Jerusalem and told them they were guilty of killing the Savior. Paul stood before the Athenians on Mars Hill and reasoned with them in front of the idol to the unknown god. God has shaped each of us for significant service. How has He shaped you?