Authority

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

AUTHORITY

Matt 26:47-54

47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. 50 Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for."  Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52 "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" 

NIV

It does seem a little of an overkill to bring a large crowd armed with swords and clubs. Has Jesus ever fought back? Are the disciples such large looming men looking for a fight? Judas and two men without any weapons could have arrested Jesus. But this was a big show of force, typical of the way the world operates. However our focus is not on the actions or way in which or with how many men Judas arrives, but rather on the words of Jesus. There is some discussion among translator about this statement Jesus makes to Judas, This translation makes it a statement, “Friend, do what you came for.” Others say, “Friend, why have you come?” It appears the original language could be seen both ways. Because we have no account of Judas responding to a question as well as the fact Jesus already knew why he came, it would make more sense to make his words as a statement. So with his approval of the action of Judas telling him to do what he came to do, the men step forward and seized Jesus. It would be well for us to note they did not take charge over him, as he was and will always be in charge of both what happens to him as well as us. That is a profound lesson in itself. Jesus has all authority.

Matt 28:18-19

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

NIV

Nothing happens without the authority of Jesus permitting it to happen. In this life we have governing authorities who create a set of rules, or laws for its citizens to abide by. There are those who function outside the authority of that law and when apprehended, depending on the severity of their actions are imprisoned for the appropriate time. In some cases death is the penalty. As with civil laws, the authority of Jesus has been abandon by many people, they operate outside his authority. If they continue to do so they are already imprisoned by sin and Satan, but in the ultimate or the conclusion of linier time, they will receive the death penalty. Jesus has all authority and thus Judas and the crowd are only allowed to seize him because this is the way it must be. He makes that clear after one of his disciple’s acts rashly with a sword. Jesus makes it clear that those who act in such a manner will die in that manner. That is to say operate outside his authority and you will die outside his authority, or you will not enter my rest, but rather perish. We do not know the motive of this disciple with the sword. Was he acting out of defense? Hardly so, as looking at the next few verses we see all his disciples fled. So then perhaps he was acting with a revengeful thought. Then why would a disciple of Jesus have a sword in the first place? Whatever the reason, Jesus does not approve and rebukes that kind of behavior. This should also serve to give us insight into how we should behave toward others. Revenge is never appropriate. Striking back in any fashion is not appropriate. However what we should consider is not so much our actions, but our thoughts. We may not lash out physically, or maybe verbally, but do we lash out within the confines of our mind? Certainly we witness some people who do lash out both physically and verbally when conflicts occur. Although we might be able to restrain ourselves from that kind of behavior, and then again we might even fail in that restraint, we need to be more aware of the attitude of our heart. The reason for this is clear. We are told that as we think so are we.

Prov 4:23

23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.

NLT

This translation gives the best insight to its meaning. It agrees with the other proverb about what a man thinks, so is he. Our thoughts eventually govern our behaviors. So we do not want to live in any manner by the sword, but rather be governed by the authority of Jesus. If it is our heart which drives our life, then we must surrender it to Jesus. We must live fully under his authority. 

Your will be done

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

YOUR WILL BE DONE

Matt 26:36-46

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."  37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."  39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."  40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."  42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."  43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" 

NIV

We should remember that Peter, James and John were the same three he took with him when he was transfigured and Moses and Isaiah were there as well. They certainly saw the glory of Jesus then and now they see the humility of the humanity of Jesus. He is exceedingly sorrowful, the Greek word carries the heaviest of heart meaning. Although we could focus on the sleeping disciples and perhaps we might learn something from them, we should focus on Jesus here. It would be inconsistent with his divinity, with his foreknowledge as we have seen him exhibit, that he would be sorrowful about suffering and the cross. The reason we consider this is that he would also know that he was going to be raised from the dead, and that he would return unto his rightful place in heaven. This was merely a path to get there, he should be rejoicing that his time in the flesh is about to end and he will be once again be in all his glory. Yet his sorrow was over our sin. He came for the express reason to go to the cross as the perfect lamb, the perfect sacrifice for our sin. Some of our scholars make the point the sweating blood was an overwhelming physical stressful condition. But his body was not weak, his body was perfect otherwise he could not be the sacrifice. He was without spot or blemish, pure as the white driven snow. His comment about the flesh being weak but the spirit is willing was regarding Peter, James and John. Surely he knew their love for him, their desire to follow him. He knew their spirit, he knew their heart, but he also knew their humanity, they flesh, the weakness of it. He has lived in the flesh, he had been tempted by all temptations we will ever face. Yet he and he alone could withstand yielding to them as he was also divine. He knew Peter, James and John and we are not divine and our flesh is weak. No matter how strong we are in our faith, no matter how much our spirit desires God, our body, our mind fails and yields to temptations. Again if we are to boast in anything, it would be our weakness. This is why Jesus needed to fulfill his purpose. This idea of him asking the Father if that cup could pass from him was not to try to escape the reason he came. This was again a teaching moment for us. We might ask the Father for all sorts of things, but it would be best for us to consider his will rather than ours. We might think we have the best insight into what our needs or even our wants, but again God sees our heart and knows our every thought. His will for us is so far better than anything we could devise. Jesus did not want to not go to the cross, although we have to also realize that in the flesh he was painfully beaten and the physical pain on the cross had to be enormous. There is no doubt in the physical he was not looking forward to the experience, yet he submitted to the will of the Father. This was the plan they had from before the foundation of the earth. This was already done in the eternity of time, in the all present time frame God moves in. Yet Jesus, on earth, was limited to the linear frame of time as we are. So he had to live through the experience in the physical. Yet he was willing to do so for us. We might have to live through experiences which may not be pleasant. We also need to consider many believers have suffered unto death for their faith. We have not been called yet to do that and we may never, but yet we need to always be not just willing to submit to his will, but be asking for his will to be accomplished in our lives. Again that is not our will, it is not asking him to accomplish the things we what to do, but what he wants us to do. It goes back to that Proverb regarding in our heart we make plans, but God orders our footsteps. Should we not be walking in the path he has set before us? Jesus was certainly all about doing that. If we say we are followers of Jesus then certainly we should be all about walking in the steps God has ordered. In reality unless we are praying a prayer of thanksgiving, praise or forgiveness, which then would be a prayer of pentation, we might well end every prayer with, nevertheless your will be done. 

It is possible

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

IT IS POSSIBLE

Matt 26:31-35

31 Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: "'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'   32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."  33 Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will." 34 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."  35 But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same.

NIV

We certainly know by now that Peter is a very rash, impetuses man. He opens his mouth way before he engages his brain. Sometimes he just does not think though things before he speaks up. Other times he is a very insightful man full of faith. By now he should know that whatever Jesus says is going to happen. It would have been better for him to question how would they all scatter, and how would he disown him. He could have asked if there was a way this could not happen. Is there something you can do to help me remain faithful to you? This statement he makes about the fact he would never disown him reminds us of the bizarre comments some Christians make about never sinning. How can any of us make such a pure fact statement about ourselves? There is just no way we can state with absolute certainly anything about our lives. We cannot say, “I will never” or “I will always” or even “I promise”. The odds are someday we will, some day we will not and some day we will break that promise. Instead of boasting about how faithful we will be, or how strong we are in our faith, we should instead boast about our weakness. It is not us, but Christ in us who produces any, in fact all the good in us. Of course we most likely would never consciously disown Jesus. We would have thought Peter would not have either. Maybe it was more an unconscious knee jerk reaction in his three times of disowning his association with Jesus. Then looking ahead to those three times, it appears it is not this spontaneous refusal to be seen as one of Jesus’s disciples. So we should look closely at how we live. Is there any possible way that at times we disown Jesus? That is to say do we, at times, not speak up when something is say about Jesus being a myth, or not divine, rather just a man, maybe a prophet, but still not a man who was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven. Do we speak up when someone uses the name of our Lord in vain? Do we speak up when someone tells us an off color joke, or do we just sort of smile? If our job is one the line, do we then agree to never speak about our faith? When asked, do we say we are a minister of the gospel or a follower of Jesus, or a born again, Spirit filled believer, or do we just say we are a Christian. The term Christian in this culture carries very little meaning as most all people think of themselves as Christian, with the exceptions of other religions or non-religions. But then even atheism is a religion. Peter was so full of himself, so full of spiritual pride. It would be better for us to forgo any pride and not even attempt to fool ourselves much less others. The beginning of all healing in relationships, first with God, and then we people is humility. We are weak, but he is strong. We fail, he never does. But let us resolve to make every effort to allow him to direct our path, give us the right words at the right time and live our faith out loud, not apologizing for loving the Lord. We should remember we too have freedom of speech, it is our God given command and our countries constitution right. But let us not be so bold to say or even think we would never disown him. We need to be aware it is possible in some way or on some level. When we think of the strength and faith of Peter, as well as the others who scattered at his arrest, we have to think it is possible we could falter.

His Table

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

HIS TABLE

Matt 26:26-30

26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."  27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."  30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

NIV

These are most likely the most repeated words in the postmodern church, in fact they are repeated perhaps throughout the whole of the New Testament church. Although the recital of these words does seem to be more prevalent in most of the more evangelical or mainline churches which practice communion with passing out both some form of bread and a cup of juice to each congregant. Some have taken up the practice of a common cup as well as a common loaf of bread, breaking pieces off for each.  Many actually use the words of the Apostle Paul:

1 Cor 11:23-26

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."  25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."  26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

NIV

These instructions continue about not taking these elements in an unworthy manner.

1 Cor 11:27-32

27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

NIV

Jesus did not mention these conditions when we shared these words with this disciple, however we also know that all scripture is God-breathed and therefore we cannot simply eat of the bread and drink of the cup in remembrance of Jesus without also considering the state of our sin. This is not just a ritual to participate in as a member of some church. This is a time of personal examination. This is a time that if we have unconfessed sin in our lives we need to get it out and confess before the Lord. Sure we might sit quietly in our seat or pew and converse with our Lord, but that is a certain course we should take before accepting the elements of communion. We just need to consider the word or the idea of communing with our Lord. The Idea that this was the last time he would drink wine until we all drink together in the glory of heaven or in the new city of Jerusalem. He was preparing to head to the cross. In telling his disciples that he would not drink of this cup until he drinks it anew with them in the kingdom of his Father, he was assuring them they would indeed be in that kingdom with him. This also serves to assure us that one day we will drink of the fruit of the vine in heaven with Jesus. What a glorious day that will be when my Jesus I will see. When we sit together, or recline around some table, or however it will be and have him hand us the cup and drink together with him. It is not the focus on the dinking which is the issue, but the fact we will be there with him having communion with him. This too should be a focus of our time in the present age. As we examine ourselves and confess any sin, but more importantly recognize the body the Christ. What does that mean? We need to know without a doubt that he was bruised for our sin, that by his stripes, the whip marks in his flesh, we were healed. Jesus suffered and died for us, to redeem us from the penalty of death. He paid it all. This is the state of our mind and spirit as we accept the bread and the cup. It is not a ritual, it is a spiritual experience remembering all that Jesus did for us, so that one day we too may recline with him at his table. Even in the singing of a hymn, it is not about the quality of our voice, but about the condition of our heart. This whole experience is about our heart. Let us rejoice, we are and will be at His Table.  

Is it I, Lord?

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

IS IT I, LORD?

Matt 26:17-25

17 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" 18 He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.'"  19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."  22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?" 23 Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."  25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."   

NIV

Again let us not get into the fray of wondering about the timing of the Passover and its relationship to the Sabbath. We must remember the Passover is tied to the timing of the first full moon after the vernal equinox, this may or may not be near the Sabbath. Besides this is not germane to the point of the passage. What jumps out at us is the question each of the disciples asked. “Surely not I, Lord?” In the Greek it may better be said as “Is it I, Lord?” It is not they were emphatic that it was not them, but they were questioning honestly, as if with the fear it was them. Their love for Jesus was unmeasurable, they had left everything to follow him. They had seen so much of his divine nature demonstrated. They knew he was the Messiah, the Christ. They still may not be aware his kingdom was not going to be one that overthrew the Roman occupying force. They may still have thought they would be a part of this new ruling class in his kingdom. But they loved him and were devoted to him. So when he told them one of them was going to betray him, they were gripped with fear and could not believe it would be one of them. So each asked the question. We are not told that Jesus assured each one they were not one who would betray him. But he told them how they would be able to tell. Judas must have dipped his hand in the bowl the same time Jesus did and then he asked if it was him. How could he be so deceitful? He knew it was him. He had already made his deal with the chief priest for thirty pieces of silver. It is interesting that thirty pieces of silver is the fixed price for a slave, a person of little value. This shows us the chief priests’ contempt for Jesus, as well as how Judas would betray him for any price. In modern money that would amount to about fifteen dollars. Judas betrays Jesus for the price of a slave. But the disturbing thing is that he sat there with the rest of them pretending to be just as aghast at the thought one of them would betray him. He asked the same question, most likely with the same demeanor as the rest. This brings us to how do we live. Do we look good on the outside, saying all the right things, showing our love for Jesus, but inwardly we are still trying to serve ourselves, our selfish ambitions and goals, our greed for financial security, our self-pleasures and desires for material things? The question is if that is a form of betrayal. If we are, which we are, to love the Lord our God with all, not some, of our heart, our soul, our spirit and our strength, then what exactly does that look like? Can we love him, be devoted to him and still be devoted to our selfish ways? Are we betraying his death on the cross for our redemption when we act in ways which benefit our own selves rather than the kingdom of God? Surely we have to work for our sustenance, that is a command God gave to Adam, to toil the ground all the days of his life. We too must then toil the ground, work for the food on our table all the days of our life. We cannot be so selfish to think we can store up enough for our selfish needs so as to not to work for our sustenance. Is that a form of betrayal? What about all the good deeds we do in church? What about all the times we give in the offering? What about all the things we have given up, those lists of do’s and don’ts? Do we trust him completely with every aspect of our lives?  Surely we have changed a great deal from how we were before we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. That has to count. But is there still areas in our life that would be a form of betrayal, all the while we are looking so good on the outside? It would seem the worse of it is that he wanted not to be exposed, but desired to remain hidden in his agenda. Yet Jesus, knowing all things, being divine knew all about Judas and his plot to betray him and he exposed him in front of the rest of the disciples. It would be best if we fessed up to the Lord any area in our lives that is not in conforming to his will. It would be best to be completely honest with God, as he already knows anything. Surely we would not want to be exposed before others for our failures, our sin, and our betrayal. So let us honestly ask with reverent fear, “Is it I, Lord?”   

His plan

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

HIS PLAN

Matt 26:14-16

14 Then one of the Twelve — the one called Judas Iscariot — went to the chief priests 15 and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

NIV

We know this was all part of the plan of God so that Jesus would make it to the cross to be the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world. We know this was the only way that he could justify himself to us, a sinful people. It was the only way that our redemption could be purchased. So we would have to conclude that Judas Iscariot was picked by Jesus for this exact reason. Some would say that God determines or destines some to hell and some to heaven. But this would be inconsistent with the fact we know God desires all to be saved so that none would perish. This is also consistent with the fact that we have to decide to believe. Now there is the thought which has floated around that Judas was aware that Jesus had to die for the sins of the world and that he was trying to help bring that about. But that would be inconsistent with what we know about this Judas.

John 12:4-6

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

NIV

What we do know is that Judas Iscariot was more concerned about money than about Jesus or the plan of God. Jesus being divine picked Judas in the beginning so that he would accomplish the plan of God. This is consistent with the truth that God can use the unsaved to accomplish his plan for his people. We have seen throughout the whole of the Old Testament, God using nations, kings which are not worshipping him to either capture or enslave his people so his plan for them would be accomplished. Many, if not all of the time it was because they had fallen away from him, turned to the ways of the world, and he needed to show them their need for him. Nevertheless the truth is that Judas was not a person truly devoted to Christ, but rather devoted to money. Jesus knew this and thus called him to follow him so that this moment in time would be accomplished. The one part of which somewhat remains a mystery is why at this time did Judas do this. Why did he wait until now, as if in cue, to go to the chief priests? Until now it was not Jesus’s time, but now it is and so the plan must be put into motion for the cross. Of course this plan was there at the beginning of time. But in the linear aspect of mankind this was the exact moment it was be fulfilled. So then what are we to learn? It would seem it goes directly back to the statement about not being able to serve both God and money.

Matt 6:24

24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

NIV

It is true that Judas in serving money, he was in fact actually serving the purpose of God. But he was not serving God, he was not devoted to Jesus, but rather devoted to himself as a thief, helping himself to the donated money. So he was in fact not devoted to God. He was an unsaved worldly man hanging around for his own needs. We should take a step back and consider are we hanging around to receive a blessing from God or are we simply devoted to him and wantt to serve him, do his will, accomplish the plan he has for our lives, which can only be done if we allowing the Spirit to guide our steps. If we are trying to live the good life as defined by the world, as Judas must have been, then we need to reevaluate our position. However this is not the case, as we are determined to live by faith, not by sight. It is not about what we have or don’t have. It is not about anything in this world, for we are aliens here. The only reason we are engaged with this foreign land is to be an ambassador for our Sovereign Lord. Our citizenship is not in the world, but in the kingdom of God. Judas was not a part of the kingdom of God as he had always been and still was up to his death a part of the world. There is no fence riding here, we are either in or out, on one side or the other. It is not grey, but a black and white situation. One or the other. We cannot serve both. It comes down to being either a Judas, for he was not a true disciple, or a true disciple. Who do we care the most about? It is easy to get caught up in the things of the world. It is easy to be distracted by stuff, by things, by ambitions, plans, desire for the pleasures of this life. It is even easy to be overly concerned about our health not just our wealth. It is easy to be self-centered rather than God centered. But in reality our life is not about us, but about God. We should be God centered, God focused, and God directed. Although we are jumping ahead a bit, it does seem appropriate to ask, “Is it I Lord?” When Jesus said that one among them would betray him, the disciples were so concerned they would do something against being centered on him and more centered on themselves. This is our life, we cannot serve two masters, we must serve God and God alone, so that his plan for us will be done. 

In memory

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

IN MEMORY

Matt 26:6-13

6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. 9 "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor." 10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." 

NIV

There is some discussion among our scholars as to who this woman was. It has been supposed she could be either Mary the sister of Lazarus or Mary Magdalene but if she were one of them Matthew certainly would have indicated so as well as Mary Magdalene did pour perfume on the feet of Jesus and wipe them with her hair, but not in the house of this man known as Simon the Leper and not just two days before the Passover. So this woman’s name will remain unknown, but that is not the important lesson here for us. It might be that we could say our good deeds or service to our Lord should remain anonymous, as this woman has. Yet Jesus made sure her service to him would be recorded and wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, she would be remembered for what she did. Her actions would be told in her memory. It would seem that throughout the ages many who are laid to rest have someone speak words about them at some point in the proceedings. There are words in memory of them, about their lives, about their person or personality and even about their deeds. Stories will be told of their interactions with people and what type of person they were. This will be done for us one day. What will be said about us? What will be told in memory of us? Will they say we loved the Lord? Will they say we were about doing things for the kingdom? Will they say what we did for the furtherance of the kingdom? Not so much what we did in church, but what we did for Jesus. Will they say we were a kind person, loving and caring for people? Will someone tell of the time we prayed with or for them in their hour of need? Will someone tell of the time we ask Jesus to heal them and he did? Will some tell of the time we shared the gospel with them and they accepted Jesus? Will someone tell of the time we were generous with our funds or time in order that their need was met? What will be told in memory of us? Were we a godly person? Were we a good father or mother? Were we a good brother or sister? Surely in most cases some good words are usually spoken in honor of the one laying there. It would be such a rare case someone would tell of how awful we were and how glad they are were gone. Yet what will they say? Will they say we were a man, or woman, after God’s own heart? At some point all that will be left of us here on this earth will be a memory of us. What will that be? Surely we will live forever in the presence of our Lord. This woman surely has been there already. But what she did here in this life was recorded in memory of her. What will be recorded in memory of us? There will be many images that have been taken of our lives. Some of those will live on for years after our passing. They are reviewed by some in certain proceedings of our being laid to rest. Some close family might keep one image in a frame on the mantel or dresser to remember our face, and be a remembrance of our time together. In some sense we will be remembered by those closest to us. But what of the world? What will they remember about us? Will they remember us at all? It could only be for the way in which we loved them as Jesus does. What will be their memory of us? It is not that we should live so people will say nice things about us at our death. That would be narcissistic in nature. But we live to bring glory to God. Will they say we did it well? Certainly this woman did not do what she did to be remembered, she did it out of her love for Jesus. This should be our life as well. What we do, we do because of love Jesus, not for what people will say about us.  We live not for the praise of men, but of God. Yet in doing so, there will be a memory of us left behind. What will it be? Many of the unsaved people of this world have large legacies, famous people who have volumes written and huge stores of images both still and motion of them. Famous people who have given enormous contributions to society either in the sciences or in some humanitarian way. They certainly will be remembered by many.  Great sports figures will be remembered by fans for years after they are gone. But these are earthly, human based acts. What will be said about how we served our Lord? What will be remembered about our life in Christ? Throughout our life here we are to bring glory to God, and in our death we should bring glory to God. So then people might say, in memory of us, we loved God. 

The path

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

THE PATH

Matt 26:1-5

26:1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 "As you know, the Passover is two days away — and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."  3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. 5 "But not during the Feast," they said, "or there may be a riot among the people."

NIV

We could certainly go down the rabbit hole trying to tie these words of Jesus to when exactly this Passover date was and whether Jesus ate the Seder meal during Passover which we call his last meal or anything else that the intellects wish to spend enormous amounts of research and discussion about. Yet in all reality none of that really matters. Now the Jewish Passover matters to the Jewish people who celebrate it. The date is fixed to the first full moon after the vernal equinox, which is the spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. So in order to tie this date in the time of Jesus it would have to be determined when there was a full moon in spring equinox the exact year of his crucifixion. We will leave all that to the intellects to determine as for the personal meaning for our lives, it matters not. We are not of the Jewish faith and we do not celebrate the festival. We celebrate Jesus. It is interesting however, that all the rituals of the Passover meal point to Jesus. The Jewish people miss them as they are still waiting for Messiah to come. Here, as we celebrate Jesus as one of the Godhead, we see his divine nature in that he knows the time, place and method of his redeeming mankind to himself. Yes, as he speaks these words he is fully man, but he is also fully God. Whether what he told his disciples was revealed to him by the Father or the Spirit or through his own divinity, it matters not. The point is he knew when it would take place. He came for this exact moment in time. It was his purpose, his own will based on his love for his creation to come to this place and time. It is interesting that it was not until he makes this statement that the chief priests and elders assembled in the palace of the high priest and plotted to arrest and in some sly way kill him. They may have wanted to in the past several months and might have tried to get him, but this is now the most organized full-fledged all out attempt to come up with a plan that can be completed to fulfill their hatred toward him. The fact is Jesus knew all this ahead of time. Their other attempts as weak as they were always failed because it was not yet his time. Now it is his time. This shows us that Jesus, not the chief priests and elders, were in charge of what was to happen.  It was his time and he was telling his disciples the time was now. We should learn from this. We might make our plans, but the Lord orders our footsteps.

Prov 16:9

9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

NIV

We might think we have a plan for our lives, but in fact if we are believers, if we are followers of Christ, then we should be aware of the steps the Lord has determined for us. Jesus came with a divine purpose. His life and death and resurrection was all in the divine purpose to redeem us to himself. If we are his followers then we need to see our lives as having a divine purpose as well. We are not his followers to live for our own passions and desires but to live for him and for his passions and desires. We have been called to walk in the light. We have been called to share that light, to let it shine so the world may see it, not to hide it. So let us journey on the path God has set before us.

About him

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

ABOUT HIM

Matt 25:31-46

31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' 41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'   45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." 

NIV

At first glance this would certainly make us think that our salvation is completely dependent on doing good works. It was the sheep who are at the right and thus the sheep represent the believers, the flock of God, the flock of the Good Shephard. The goats represent the wicked, those of another flock. Goats and sheep are not flocked or herded or penned together. At any setting in the culture Jesus spoke this, the right was a place of honor, the left a place of dishonor. This is why Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father and why we sit at the right hand of Christ. Yet we still must deal with the appearance here that our inheritance of the kingdom of God, or invitation into his rest, our reward of eternal life is dependent on our doing good works. Even our scholars of old spent most of their words trying to describe the list of how we should do things for the needy and the sick and the stranger. Yet we cannot help think that this is not the meaning Jesus was conveying here. Although it is true we should look after people in need, but then even the unbelievers do that. There are many humanitarian agencies or organizations that look after the poor and downtrodden. Even the poor who become in need of help can find it for free in many hospitals that may well be run by unbelievers. It would seem it would be a natural response of believers to afford help to these in need, however that is not the criteria for salvation, for being the sheep on the right. This has more to do with our relationship with Jesus than anything about good deeds. All which he says is about how we consider our relationship with him. What we do to the least we do to him. It is about us and him. The unbelievers do many of what he talked about yet they have no relationship with him. They do it for the poor and needy. They might even do it for their own self affirmation, thinking themselves great humanitarians. The point is we feed on the body of Christ, we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ, we are healed by the blood of Christ, and we are never thirsty because we have the spring of living water springing forth from us. We are the sheep because Jesus is our Good Shepherd. If works were the condition for entering into his rest he would not have told us that in order to enter the kingdom of God we must be born again. If works were the criteria than he would never have told us that if we confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that Jesus was raised from the dead we would be saved. If works were the method of salvation than he would not have told us that whosoever believes will not perish but have eternal life. No, it is all based on faith. He has told us that it is by faith we are saved. Yes we could go to James and see that living by faith produces works. That if we have faith in Jesus we will do good deeds.

Eph 2:7-10

 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast . 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 But this passage, these words of Jesus are showing the difference between those who have faith in him and those who do not. It is not about the evidence of works as we have said even the unrighteous do good works. If works had anything to do with our being on the right side then we could boast about the reason we were there. Our boasting would be about the quantity and quality of our good deeds. Yet the only thing we can boast about is our weakness.

2 Cor 11:30-31

30 If I must boast , I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.

NIV

Jesus is speaking about how we relate to him. Do we love him? Do we do what we do for him? Are we living our lives for us or for him? It is and always will be about him.

His benefit

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

HIS BENEFIT

Matt 25:14-30

14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' 21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 22 "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' 23 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 24 "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26 "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

NIV

Again we have to realize this is about the kingdom of God in which there is no money. Therefor we would be safe in saving this teaching has nothing to do with earthly money and our ability of making more from what we have, by wise investments. This would agree with the principle of transcultural truths. That is to say we should be able to teach the truth of God in every culture in every time in history. Not all cultures throughout the history of man were able to invest in the stock market or some form of banking to improve their earthy portfolio. Thus this truth has to do with how the kingdom of God works here on earth. God gives to each of us some ability, some gift or talent. To some of us he bestows a larger amount of talent, or ability. To some he bestows a slightly smaller amount of ability. This amount of ability is not the main theme of this parable. The point is what we do with how ever amount of ability the Lord gives to us. This also illustrates that all our abilities come from the Lord. If we ever think we are the source of our ability, we are so sadly mistaken or overcome with pride. God gives to each person according to his own assessment of how much we can properly handle. This is the very point, how we handle the ability God has given to us. Do we use our ability to further or improve the kingdom of God? We have to see that even in the case of the parable all the gain of talents was given back to the master. The servants were not able to keep any of it. So it is with our abilities. They come from God and belong to God and we are going to be held accountable for how we use them for his benefit. As in the parable, we all have been given some amount of ability or talent. If we are the type of people who never use what God has given to us, we will answer for it. That is to say we merely cannot be church attenders on Sunday morning and think we are true servants of the Lord. We need to be using our abilities to further the kingdom of God. How do we determine what abilities God has given to us? That seems pretty clear. We need only look inside and see what we are capable of doing in the kingdom. We all have been placed in various positions within the culture with a wide variety of skills. If we only use our education or professional training for the furtherance of our own position or station we might well be missing the point of our life. Everything we do should be for the purpose of bringing glory to God.

Col 3:22-25

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

NIV

Even our jobs or professional positions should be done as service to the Lord. He has given some people great abilities, but they must use them for his benefit, not theirs. Some of us have very little abilities, but whatever we have we need to use them for God. If we are sweeping the floor, we sweep to bring glory to God. Our employer should know we claim to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus, not just a church goer. They should know we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, in fact we might well have shared the gospel with them in some manner. Nevertheless, they are, as the world is, watching us, seeing how we react in situations, how we interact with people, how we sweep the floor. We should be the shining example of the best employee or in the case of those with larger abilities, the best employer. All we are, all we say, all we do should be for the benefit of our Lord. Are purpose is not to gain more for ourselves either in stature or materialism. Our purpose is to gain more for the kingdom, to be a benefit to the kingdom. This may take the form of being a servant to others, as Jesus has demonstrated toward us. Whatever he gives us, must be returned to him. So it is with all our abilities, they all must be used for him and given back to him. This would also imply, since they all come from him, we need to use our abilities in all humility. This would then mean whatever we do should not be for the praise of men, but of God. We cannot boast in our abilities in anyway, for they come from God.

1 Cor 1:26-31

26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.   31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."  

NIV

Let us boast in the Lord, for he has given abilities unto us for his glory, for his benefit. 

Oil

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

OIL

Matt 25:1-13

25:1 "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, 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. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12 "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

NIV

We know because this is a parable of what the kingdom of heaven will be like these words have absolutely nothing to do with virgins and a bridegroom, or any wedding feast. However, in some sense it is about the wedding feast in heaven, as we are the bride of Christ. Yet he speaks of the oil in the lamps. This could well be the gospel in our hearts, or those who truly enjoy God and his grace.  The bridegroom is no doubt Jesus. The ten virgins surely would represent the church, or those who are followers of Jesus. This concept of five being prepared and five not is the central theme of this parable. This would give us an opportunity for some self-examination. Are we like the five who have the true oil, the pure gospel of love in our hearts to keep it burning bright, or have we allowed the flame of the gospel to go out or grow dim? The five ready are those who do enjoy their relationship with God and his grace, his divine influence on our hearts. They are the ones who rejoice in knowing he has done everything for their salvation and they are the true followers, listening and doing that which God has called them to. They are looking forward to the day of his return. The foolish ones are those who do not truly desire to see his coming just yet. They have become distracted by this life. They are not pure followers of Christ, but merely appear to be religious but do not have the pure joy of the gospel in their hearts. They may even be the good deeds people, looking to the things they do as being the righteous acts which denotes them as followers. But it is the oil, the pure grace and love of God or faith which works in love, which needs to be burning in our hearts. If we use that which James says that faith without works is dead faith, then it is this faith, this oil which burns with the work of love. This would then look like this:

Luke 10:27

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

NIV

All deeds should be a result of love. God so loved us is the reason he sent Jesus in the first place. He has loved us from the very beginning when he formed us from the dust of the earth and breathed his very breath into us. Everything God does is because of love. The oil in our lamps, the love of God keeps our lamps burning. We used to sing that song:

Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning

Give me oil in my lamp, I pray

Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning

Keep me burning till the break of day

The break of day is the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. So then let us keep the flame trimmed and burning brightly. Let us be found ready for his return. Let us not allow the flame to grow dim because of the lack of the love of God in our hearts. Let us not allow the world to diminish our flame or be a cause for us not have enough of the love of God in our hearts.

Proper time

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

PROPER TIME

Matt 24:45-51

45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

NIV

Jesus has been telling his disciples what is going to happen regarding his return. They and we have been warned to keep watch for we do not know the hour of his return. We need to be continually aware it could be any moment. Now he asks the question regarding who is the faithful and wise servant regarding being ready for his return. Now because the idea of servants giving food to the household of the master at the proper time has nothing to do with suppling a meal to eat, the Lord has something else for us in this teaching. This in some sense does have something to do about occupying until he returns. But the food to the household might well be about feeding the household of God. This could be either the church or the whole of mankind. It is not about actual food that sustains the body, but about spiritual food that sustains the soul or spirit of man. Because he makes reference to the servant becoming wicked, Jesus is warning us to be on guard against certain types of thinking. It has been over two thousand years and he has not returned yet. Why hasn’t he? Why is he taking so long? Just look the wickedness in the world. It has to be just as bad as or worse than in the time of Noah. Certainty he should have been here by now. Well, heck, if he isn’t coming back for a while yet, then we might as well do whatever we want anyway, and later we will start doing the right thing. Does it really matter if I live a little? This is the thinking he is warning us about. We need to be about doing the business of the Father. We cannot afford to get lazy about sharing the gospel message, the real food. It is one thing to be a church attender, or even a member and look like we are spiritual. We might even be involved in some ministry at church to other believers, or being a Sunday schooler, or bible studier discussing all the details of passages. But if we just look like a believer and we are not feeding the household of God true food at the proper time we might just be the hypocrite Jesus is talking about. He is coming back and he is coming for those who have accepted him as Lord and Savior. The rest are going to be left behind and if they do not repent they will find themselves in the lake of burning sulfur. How can we justify not giving them the food of life, all the while being so spiritual? How can we justify becoming like the unbeliever, living to satisfy our own wants and desires, going about doing whatever we want? Sure we still say we are believers, we still attend church, and do all the church things, but have we separated that church thing from our life thing? Have we given up on sharing the message all the while taking on the ways of the world? Jesus is coming back and we need to be about our Fathers business. What is the business or the work of God?

John 6:29

29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." 

NIV

God’s work is about bringing his creation to repentance and belief in Jesus. Everything God does is for the purpose of bringing his creation back to him. The reason he gave the law was for that purpose. The reason Jesus came in the first place was for that reason. The reason he sent the Spirit was for that reason. God’s will is that none perish.

2 Peter 3:8-9

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

NIV

Therefore his work is to bring everyone to himself and therefore we should be about feeding his household, rather than becoming like them. When is the proper time to feed the household of God?

2 Cor 6:2

I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

NIV

Today is the proper time to bring the food of life to the people, the gospel message. So let us be found doing the work of him who sent us into the world. 

Keep watch

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

KEEP WATCH

Matt 24:36-44

36 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

NIV

How easy it is to simply go about our lives doing that which we do with little attention to the fact Jesus could show up at any moment. There have been some believers who quoted a verse, way out of context that we should occupy until he returns. Of course that quote is in the King James Version. Other translations say, put it to work, trade with it, or do business with it. The context is the master who gives his servants minas or a certain about of money and when he returns he wants to know what they did with it. Of course the master is Jesus and the point of the parable is not about money for Jesus does not want or need money to be increased by us. It is about the gifts he gives us and how we use them to further his kingdom. So then it is not about the idea we should go about occupying until he returns. We should not be about doing everything for the benefit of this life without the thought that any moment Jesus could return and call us home. The fact is we could be struck dead by a bolt of lightning or a stray bullet, or a speeding car or heart attack at the blink of an eye. That is how fast the return of Jesus is going to happen. Therefor we are to keep watch. Now there has also been some weirdo groups who gathered and did nothing but stand on a mountain top or within a room and waited for the moment they had predicted his return. Of course they were all disappointed, but nevertheless some of those groups all committed suicide as they were convinced that he was coming at that moment. Yet Jesus says no one will know the year, the month, the day or the hour except the Father. The Angels do not know, Jesus does not know, so how can we ever think we would be able to determine even the approximate time. Therefor we should keep watch. That would imply that throughout our entire lives we should be constantly aware Jesus could show up. This should give us some reason to consider what we do on a daily basis. Although we cannot be without some sin in our lives, we should not blatantly go about sinning as to satisfy our every whim and fancy.  Instead of continually being concerned about our future here on earth, we should be considering our future in heaven. This then would speak to the issue of putting so much effort in storing up treasures on earth.

Matt 6:19-21

19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

NIV

There is one scripture where we are told the God will make us rich. But then the whole reason is so we can give it to others.

2 Cor 9:10-11

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

NIV

So we are back to the idea that we should keep watch. Sure we have to work. Yes we need a home, a car, some clothes and food. Yes we even have time for entertainment and other activities, as we live the good life here in America. But these words are for all mankind in every culture and time. The idea is that no matter what we do or where we live we should always be aware at any moment it is all worthless and has no meaning as everything in this life will be left behind. Therefore we should consider nothing here as a treasure or of having any value. For if we do, if we put any value on anything material here, that is where our heart is and we might, just might miss out on something of real value, the resurrection of our being into the heavenly realm.  We have been warned that we cannot do both. We cannot put value on earthly things and on God at the same time. Instead of making preparations for this life, we should be making preparations for the life to come. What does that look like? It may well be in the attitude of our minds. It may well be the way we conduct our lives. The one thing it is for certain is that we need always be prepared for his return, always looking, always thinking about it, always keeping watch, never losing sight of that truth. We cannot afford to get distracted or sidetracked in other issues. Our purpose in life is to bring glory to God. To work, to endeavor to use all that he has given us for the benefit of his kingdom. This includes the gifts, the armor, the fruit, and all else he has blessed us with. What we have to ask ourselves is, are we doing that? But more importantly, are we truly keeping watch? 

It will be done

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

IT WILL BE DONE

Matt 24:32-35

32 "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

NIV

Certainly some of our scholars of old have been seeing all this that Jesus has been talking about as the destruction of Jerusalem which took place around 70AD. Although all that is true and those men were alive when it happened, our scholars of old put all the words of Jesus out of touch of their personal lives. If all he said simply dealt with now what we consider a past of close to two thousand years ago then these words have no meaning or merit for our lives and therefore should have been left out. If all scripture is God-breathed and profitable for correcting, rebuking, teaching and training in righteousness then these words of Christ should have a bearing on our lives and therefore we must reject the ideas of our scholars of old. It may also be true that Jesus spoke of both the destruction of Jerusalem and the destruction of the world. He may well have meant both the end of the Jewish state as it was and the end of the age of grace as we know. The term, “This generation”, can mean the people who were alive when he spoke it, or an entire period of time. The phrase he uses about heaven and earth will pass away certainly reveals he was also speaking of the end times when in fact this heaven and earth will be destroyed and a new heaven and earth will be created where the new city of Jerusalem will also be. This is the city which is described for us in the revelation to John. Jesus also said that his words would never pass away and that is for certain as we still have those thousands of years after he spoke them. His words will forever be for all time for he is eternal. Although we have the words of many who have written throughout the ages, including these words written here, will someday be burned up and long forgotten, but the eternal words of God will never be burned up or forgotten. Jesus uses the idea of the fig tree to prove the point that just as we are now witnessing the coming of spring, the budding of the trees and the life giving sap returns to the branches making them once again supple to the touch, the end of this age will also happen. We should forever be cognizant of this fact. Nothing we now know will be as it is when the end of the age comes. Just as we are told to put off the old self and put on the new self, so shall the earth. It will put off the old system which includes the season, weather, environment, everything we know about our planet will be completely different as it puts on its new system. Just to consider the new city of Jerusalem will be 1500 miles high. That is so far above the current atmosphere no one would be about to live in it under the current system. But everything will be made new. This we can be certain of and therefore we should give some thought to how much of this world's things do we want to have as compared to how much of the world to come do we want. There is coming a day when this generation will be done. We have considered the words of Jesus regarding the that fact it will not come until the gospel has been preached all over the world. This would then, as we also considered, mean we may well be the reason why the end of this age has not come. If we are not preaching the gospel throughout the whole world then this age will never end and the true state of peace in the everlasting city of Jerusalem will not come. So then how do we get on with getting on preaching the gospel to the whole world? Certainly we have paid or support a few people to go to some distant land to bring the Good News to peoples of that land. But what about the people who live in our neighborhood? What about the people we work with? What about the people we come in contact with on a daily basis? Have they all heard the gospel message? We have to consider we heard it sometime in our lives from someone. Some of us might have been children, others were already adults before we heard the Good News. There are people right near us who may be somewhat religious but have never heard about the need to be born again, to be filled with the Spirit, to have eternal life through faith in Jesus. We also know many have been deceived by false teachers and preachers with a false doctrine. Someone has to speak the truth into their hearts. Who will go? Who has be called to this task? If we don’t do it, who will? The gospel must be preached to all peoples before the end of this age will come. But we can be certain someday it will. As God is the author of our faith, he is also the finisher of it. He will get it done.  It will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

The gathering

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

THE GATHERING

Matt 24:26-31

26 "So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. 29 "Immediately after the distress of those days "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'   30 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

NIV

Jesus now comes to the part of his discourse where he tells how it will be when he returns for his people. He has given us all the signs which indicated the birth pains of the end of the age, but now the end is beginning. Jesus tells us he is noT coming as we would see some human arrive in our presence, either arriving from a distance or coming out of a house to greet us. He will be arriving in the sky, riding on a cloud. The song writer penned these words as the chorus to the song “These are the days of Elijah”

“Behold He comes Riding on the clouds!

Shining like the sun!

At the trumpet call

Lift your voice it’s the year of Jubilee!

Out of Zion’s hill salvation comes!”

We also know from the revelation to John all this will happen just as Jesus said. In fact everything Jesus said will always happen because he is Jesus, the Son of God, in reality who is God himself in the flesh. He will appear in a manner no man can actually imagine. We have heard another song about keeping our eyes upon the eastern sky for our redemption draweth nigh. However, this may be a bit wrong as Jesus will not come from the East nor the West or North or South. He will appear as only God could appear so that every man upon the earth will see him coming in all his glory and power. Then all the angels who are riding along with him on the clouds will be sent out and we will be gathered up to be with our Lord for all eternity. Praise God. What a great day, Easter Sunday morning to be at this place in the scriptures. This very day the Father raised Jesus from the dead to be the firstfruits of many who would be raised from the dead. It matters not when we die for we will be raised up and be with our Lord forever and ever. Of course there is some debate regarding when the rapture occurs. Although that word does not appear in the Bible, it is an event that happens. Whether we are individually raptured the day we die or we lay in the grave for a number of years before the event of be caught up with our Lord, or we are still alive when it happens, the point is that it happens. The angels will gather us up. It matters not that we are asleep or awake. We will be gathered up. This is also a time when the world will mourn. The whole series of books about being left behind have made a heyday with that idea. But the fact is many will be left behind and they will be sad, very sad. Some of them heard the message but scoffed at it. Some heard the message accepted it but so fell away. Some heard the message accepted it but the cares of this world overpowered them and they too fell away. Jesus spoke of all this in the parable of the sower and the seed. The fact is when all of mankind, all those who follow after dead gods, the other religions of the world will now know how wrong they have been. Just as the Egyptians were shown how God Almighty was far greater than any of their gods, so will the peoples of the earth be shown. Although we also know they are not without excuse. Even though they have been deceived by Satan giving them false gods to worship, they could know the God of creation by his very creation.

Rom 1:18-20

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse .

NIV

It is a shame to think how many have been deceived by Satan. Yet we also have so many who think they are Christians, but have been deceived by false teachers and preachers. We cannot ever be certain what is in the heart of each who profess to be a believer in Jesus Christ, but we can hope their faith is real, no matter what deceptive teaching they may be following. For that matter how do any of us know the church we attend, the denomination it is associated with has the right take on all the scriptures and therefore we might be wrong in our seeing the truth. This is why the whole of salvation rests on our faith in Jesus Christ as our one and only Savior. The fact that we must be born again to be among the ones gathered is the only criteria. If we confess Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, accepting his redemptive work on the cross and his death and resurrection and ascension into heaven, we are saved.  We serve a risen Savior, no other people can say that. We serve a risen Savior, he is in the world today.

“He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know he lives?

He lives within my heart.”

Only a God who lives can gather his people. So we have that hope, the truth that because we serve a God who lives, we will be gathered to him.