At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. Matthew 11: 25-26.
Chapter 11 reveals a very tough Jesus who upbraids and rebukes the villages in Israel who saw His miracles, yet refused to believe. He pointed the finger in judgment and claimed that some of the surrounding, evil cities like Sodom would've repented long ago had they seen the signs and wonders that Israel had seen. He even insinuated that those wicked cities would fare much better on the day of judgment.
Can you imagine the Savior speaking such words? But He did. He was very serious about belief, and He still is today. Israel was harshly judged in 70AD and the temple system and the city came literally and figuratively crashing down. Jesus wants all men to come to Him and believe. We are to follow where the evidence leads and believe what truth reveals. The Gospels clearly show that Jesus is Messiah!
Fortunately, since the cross and resurrection, we who have been born again IN Him are not subject to judgment, since He took our sin away when He died on Calvary's hill. That is very good news. We have to come to Him like a little child, trusting in His word, and then a fuller revelation of what all that entails comes as we walk out our faith.
That is exactly what happened to the disciples. When Jesus sent them out to minister, they marveled that they, too, had authority over demons in His name. He rejoiced to the Father that this wonderful revelation of the power of Messiah had been revealed to little children.
Wise, learned theologians try to understand the things of the heavenly father and the Holy Spirit, but they will always come away looking like fools. The truly wise will receive in faith, trusting as a child.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Monday, July 27, 2015
Matthew 10 - Be Wise as Serpents!
As Jesus amazes the multitudes with signs and wonders, including the opening of blind eyes and the loosing of the stilled tongue, the scribes and Pharisees mock and scoff, claiming He is performing miracles in the name of Beelzebub (the devil). Nevertheless, Jesus' heart melted with compassion over the multitudes, who He saw as sheep without a shepherd. He instructed His disciples to pray that more laborers be sent out to the bring in the harvest of human souls for the kingdom.
In Chapter 10, we see a tough, straight-talking Jesus who makes it very clear that His disciples will suffer much in sharing the Gospel with Israel. However, He also told them they would be fully provided for and protected in doing what was required. He exhorted them to be as wise as serpents but to be as gentle as doves, and that as He was demonized, mocked and scoffed, they, too, would be treated in a similar manner. He warned them that a servant is not above His master. Many of us today who step out and share God's word with the world have suffered this type of persecution.
Jesus also gave a warning touching the End Times (the period leading up to 70 AD and the destruction of the temple system and the city of Jerusalem). He warned them that they would be beaten, perhaps killed, betrayed by family, that they would basically lose their worldly life in finding their true life, which is the life of the spirit of God. Jesus makes no bones about the fact that those who refuse to leave worldly desires and pressures, perhaps even from family, are not worthy of being His disciples; those who refuse to acknowledge Him will not be acknowledged by Him before the heavenly Father. Essentially, Christianity is a commitment to be 100% sold out to Jesus. This is a black and white issue - there are no shades of gray!
Make the decision today and move forward IN Christ Jesus!
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