Bible Ballistics: BBs  #365    And Ye Ministered Unto Me???

 

“For I was an hungred,

and ye gave me meat:

I was thirsty,

and ye gave me drink:

I was a stranger,

and ye took me in:

36 Naked,

and ye clothed me:

I was sick,

and ye visited me:

I was in prison,

and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord,

when saw we thee an hungred,

and fed thee?

or thirsty,

and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger,

and took thee in?

or naked,

and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick,

or in prison,

and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them,

Verily I say unto you,

Inasmuch as ye have done it

unto one of the least of these

my brethren,

ye have done it unto me.”     Matthew 25:35-40

This great passage that Jesus spoke before His passion, has a lot of deep meaning and many want to take it apart and argue about who He is talking about, or who are the “my brethren”, and other such distracting questions. But I’d like us to simply receive what Jesus is saying to HIS disciples—both then and now. If I might be a bit simplistic, I think we need to take Jesus at His word! Jesus is calling us, His children whom He has saved, to act! If you or I see a need and have the resources and ability, then we ought to meet that need. Yet each of us in our uniqueness will often see different things according to our spiritual gifts.

For instance the teacher may see someone’s lack of knowledge or information and step up to instruct. A person with the gift of mercy will often see a need that others do not see—and seeing it they alleviate the lack to the degree that they are able. The person with the gift of giving, will often perceive a need unseen by others, and will set about to relieve the lack. A person who has the gift of encouragement may see someone’s loneliness in sickness or imprisonment in a way that others cannot, and go about to comfort and sustain that person. Someone gifted differently may see the one who is new—the one that no one else notices—and reach out to welcome the stranger.

What Jesus is calling us to do is utilize what we have been given. Just as we talked last time about that “cup of water”, Jesus has never called anyone to give what they don’t have—what they haven’t received from Him. He is calling us to use our gifts, our experiences, and our spiritual insight to minister as we go along, sharing the good news of the Gospel as we go.

Jesus calls us to “Go ye therefore”, literally meaning ‘as you go’, taking the truth of the Gospel, and meeting needs as you see them. Why: Because it is the way of the cross! We are also called to exercise hospitality—a lost art these days—but none-the-less, it’s what our Lord calls us to do.

“Let brotherly love continue.

2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:

for thereby some have entertained angels

unawares.

3 Remember them that are in bonds,

as bound with them;

and them which suffer adversity,

as being yourselves also in the body.”      Hebrews 13:1-3

So don’t go through each day with your nose buried so deeply in your cell phone, or your mind a million miles away, or discouraged with your own circumstances; instead LOOK UP!!! See where Jesus is leading you today. Watch for that opportunity to minister that HE is giving you. That kind word that some store clerk may need; that door that someone is having difficulty opening; that person ahead of you in the check out that is $5 short; that prisoner that God may lay on your heart. It doesn’t have to be a big thing—most often they are easy-to-miss opportunities—but ask God to help you have HIS vision, and to order your steps into the places where He has placed someone with a need that “You” or “I” can meet.

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133

What will you do with your resources—time, energy, money, compassion, enthusiasm, or encouragement, today? The choice is yours, but remember:

“…….For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required…..” Luke 12:48b

Remember–

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your   redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 9 No.22 But It’s Just A Cup Of Water!

 

We live in a culture of the “BIG”—big ideas, big business, big money, big gulps, big trucks, big churches, big stars (media, not the sky), and big problems, but we serve an even ‘bigger’ God! While that is a good thing, it can also be a confusing thing. But why? Because we live in this “BIG” minded culture, and that often skews our spiritual perspective, and we focus on size rather than God!

“And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross daily,

and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

but whosoever will lose his life

for my sake,

the same shall save it.” Luke 9:23-24

Jesus says what counts is our willingness to loose our lives in His, and follow Him. Jesus isn’t concerned about how big we are, or how great our works are in size, but how selflessly we are devoted to Him, and how closely we follow Him. Jesus wants us to faithfully follow Him, hearing and obeying His Spirit in every way—every day!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself

for me.” Galatians 2:20

Being ‘crucified with Christ’, means I have died to my desires and live for His. I need to grow in my knowledge of The Lord and His Word continually, seeking to know Him more, learning to recognize His voice, and willingly and faithfully obey His leading. Just following Jesus!

While we are all the special creation of God, we are not all the children of God—only those who come to God through Jesus Christ are the ‘children’ of God.

“But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe

on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”     John 1:12-13

We are “born……of God”, “born again”, because Jesus would give His life for us!

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again.”   John 3:5-7

Unless we are “born again” we are not God’s child, but when we are “born again” we are “birthed” into God’s family and kingdom through Jesus’ sacrifice for us. What less could we do but give all of ourselves to HIM. God takes our all—all our weakness, all our frailty, all our inability and transforms us through HIS ability.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”  Philippians 4:13

Do you get it? Paul didn’t say he could do “big” things through Christ, or even that He could do “great” things, but that what we can do is:

‘all things—

through Christ—

which strengtheneth me—’

Jesus simply calls us to follow Him anywhere that He leads—God will provide. He didn’t ask you to pick-up, think-up and work-up great ideas, plans and programs; but simply to “take up his cross daily, and follow”. Did you catch that? We are to take up our cross, and to do it “daily”, as we “follow” Jesus! Following Him where ever HE leads—close or far, big or small, long or short—He calls us to simply “follow” Him!

Yet Jesus doesn’t give us each the same gifts, but He does call us each to be faithful with the gifts that we are given. So the issue isn’t whether we have big gifts, or prominent gifts, not whether we have speaking gifts, or serving gifts; what matters is our willingness to love and “follow” Him!

“As every man hath received the gift,

even so minister the same one to another,

as good stewards

of the manifold grace of God.

11 If any man speak,

let him speak as the oracles of God;

if any man minister,

let him do it as of the ability

which God giveth:

       that God

in all things

may be glorified

through Jesus Christ,

to whom be praise

and dominion

for ever and ever. Amen.”     1 Peter 4:10-11

Whatever God places in our hands, is to be used to serve Him faithfully so that Jesus Christ may be praised and glorified, and that the world may know Him! No matter how small or insignificant we may feel, God has a purpose, a good work for us to do. It doesn’t matter if we are tall, short, old or young, vibrant and healthy or disabled in some way, out-going or introverted, God has brought us to this place and time, and He is still calling us to simply follow HIM! Even as He addressed his disciples in Mark’s Gospel:

“And he took a child,

and set him in the midst of them:

and when he had taken him in his arms,

he said unto them,

37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children

in my name,

receiveth me:

and whosoever shall receive me,

receiveth not me,

but him that sent me.

38 And John answered him, saying,

Master, we saw one casting out devils

in thy name,

and he followeth not us:

and we forbad him,

because he followeth not us.

39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not:

for there is no man which shall do a miracle

in my name,

that can lightly speak evil of me.

40 For he that is not against us

is on our part.

41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water

to drink in my name,

because ye belong to Christ,

verily I say unto you,

he shall not lose his reward.”     Mark 9:36-41

Jesus will reward us according to what we do with His gifts to us, not according to what we don’t have, or with what someone else has! In Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25, let’s take a look at what He said about those to whom He gave the talents (In this passage, talents are a monetary amount not an ability to do tasks or perform!):

“After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20 And so he that had received five talents

came and brought other five talents, saying,

Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold,

I have gained beside them

five talents more.

21 His lord said unto him,

Well done,

thou good and faithful servant:

thou hast been faithful

over a few things,

I will make thee ruler over many things:

enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

22 He also that had received two talents came and said,

Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold,

I have gained two other talents

beside them.

23 His lord said unto him,

Well done,

good and faithful servant;

thou hast been faithful

over a few things,

I will make thee ruler over many things:

enter thou into the joy of thy lord.“.   Matthew 25:19-23

Here are two of three servants mentioned in this parable; the third one is the only one who received a rebuke—and a condemnation, not because He didn’t do what the others did, but because He did nothing.

“Then he which had received the one talent came and said,

Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26 His lord answered and said unto him,

Thou wicked and slothful servant,

thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not,                                 and gather where I have not strawed:

27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers,

and then at my coming I should have received mine own            with usury.

28 Take therefore the talent from him,

and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29 For unto every one that hath

shall be given,

and he shall have abundance:

but from him that hath not

shall be taken away even that which he hath.

30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant

into outer darkness:

there shall be weeping

and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:25-30

Without going into a lot of detail, I’d like to point out a few things about this encounter. What we find here, instead of a faithful servant, willing to use what his “Lord” had given him, is one who took what he had and blamed the character of his Lord for his choice to disregard the call upon his life and work. He rejected the gifts that were given to him. He feigned fear and inequity as his reasons for not using that which God had given him. The response of Jesus reveals the true contrast between the one who had bowed before Jesus as Lord, and the one who rejected God and all of His grace. Jesus describes this one in some powerful ways:

‘Thou wicked and slothful servant’—he chose self.

‘thou knewest’—he rejected truth for sloth.

‘Thou oughtest therefore to have put’—he knew

truth but chose not to go God’s way.

‘Take …… the talent from him’—he lost what

      he refused to accept and utilize.”

This servant refused to receive God’s grace or use His gifts, and there are only two choices in this life; choose Jesus and live, or refuse His salvation and die.

“For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”     Romans 6:23

If we don’t receive God’s grace in Christ’s gift of salvation, we will have our own sin debt to pay. But when we receive Jesus Christ, and serve Him faithfully, we will receive a reward from our king! And while it won’t be measured by ‘weight’ or ‘size’, it will be according to faithful and obedient service to The Lord and King, Jesus! But those who choose to reject the salvation that Jesus died to provide, will loose even what they think they have! I didn’t say it, Jesus did.

“For unto every one that hath

shall be given,

and he shall have abundance:

but from him that hath not

shall be taken away

even that which he hath.”

And what is it that we ‘have’ or ‘have not’? It is the salvation that Jesus provides at Calvary through His own blood.

“And this is the record,

that God hath given to us eternal life,

and this life is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life;

and he that hath not the Son of God

hath not life.” 1 John 5:11-12

So the question isn’t how big are your gifts, but how willing are you to use the gifts that God has placed in your heart and in your hands? May we earnestly seek to know Him more and serve Him loyally, knowing that Jesus Christ is coming for us soon, and we will each give an account as those in the parable of the “talents”. What are you doing with what God has given you? Are we being faithful to put our gifts to use for our King? A time of accounting is coming, and it won’t be by ‘size’ but by the measure of our faithfulness—even of a cup of cold water!

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation

gold,

silver,

precious stones,

wood,

hay,

stubble;

13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest:

for the day shall declare it,

because it shall be revealed by fire;

and the fire shall try every man’s work

of what sort it is.

14 If any man’s work abide

which he hath built thereupon,

he shall receive a reward.”     1 Corinthians 3:11-14

Paul tells us that Jesus is the only foundation that we are to build on, but we must choose how we build and with what we will build. I believe that the contrast between the two types of building material is simple, we can choose to build with God’s material (Gold, silver or precious stones —things that man can’t make, only discover and mine for use!) or we can choose to build with the fleeting materials of earth (Wood, hay or stubble, that which man can obtain, reproduce and utilize, but which won’t survive the fire!). We can each choose to do it God’s way or our own way, and many today are claiming to do “God’s Work” but doing it “man’s way”. It saddens me, but I think this is the cause for much of the ineffectiveness of the church today. We must be faithful with God’s gift of salvation to us, as well as the service gifts He gives us. But we must use them HIS way—not man’s way! And to recognize the difference we must immerse ourselves in His Word, Prayer and the leadership of His Holy Spirit.

So my question for each of us today is, “What are you/am I doing with the cup of water Jesus has placed in our hands”? He is coming “in the twinkling of an eye”, will we hear “well done” or “depart”? It’s your choice—choose wisely!  (See Matt. 7:16-28)

Bible Ballistics: BBs  #364    The Wages Due???

 

We have been talking about the price that Jesus paid for our salvation, and our debt to Him for the saving grace which He has provided; which should be evident through a life lived in devoted love and obedience to the Lord who saves us. Why would we ever not want to repay in love that which we have received from God—eternal life, abundant life, and a future hope. All because Jesus came and gave Himself for me/for you. I would like to take a few minutes this morning to encourage you and remind each of us that ‘payday’ is coming—and just because we don’t get our reward today (So to speak, because Jesus is my reward every day that I live!), it is coming. And the reward will reflect that which we have given of ourselves to Jesus in this life!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

which according to his abundant mercy

hath begotten us again

unto a lively hope

by the resurrection of Jesus Christ

from the dead,

4 To an inheritance

incorruptible,

and undefiled,

and that fadeth not away,

reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept

by the power of God

through faith

unto salvation

ready to be revealed

in the last time.

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice,

though now for a season,

if need be,

ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:” 1 Peter 1:3-6

Peter reminded those early believers of the hope that never fails—the hope of glory that Jesus gives to those who will come to Him in repentance and faith.

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles;

which is Christ in you,

the hope of glory:” Colossians 1:27

Christ Jesus gives to us a wonderful salvation—the gift of eternal life, His very presence in our hearts, and the hope of “glory” that we will share in eternity with Him—Jesus our God, and we His children—together forever apart from the presence of sin, death and hell!

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”   2 Corinthians 9:15

But we need to remember that we will give an account in regard to our stewardship of God’s gifts and calling upon our individual lives. Here are a few of the scriptures that remind us of our accountability to God (And remember, there are only one of two wages to receive, death or eternal life, See Ro. 3:23, but there are rewards for faithful service.)

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest:

for the day shall declare it,

because it shall be revealed by fire;

and the fire shall try every man’s work

of what sort it is.

14 If any man’s work abide

which he hath built thereupon,

he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work shall be burned,

he shall suffer loss:

but he himself shall be saved;

yet so as by fire.”     1 Corinthians 3:13-15

“For whether we live,

we live unto the Lord;

and whether we die,

we die unto the Lord:

whether we live therefore,

or die,

we are the Lord’s.

9 For to this end Christ both died,

and rose,

and revived,

that he might be Lord

both of the dead and living.

10 But why dost thou judge thy brother?

or why dost thou set at nought thy brother?

for we shall all stand

before the judgment seat of Christ.

11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord,

every knee shall bow to me,

and every tongue shall confess to God.

12 So then every one of us

shall give account

of himself to God.” Romans 14:8-12

May we ponder these truths today, and while these refer to the judgment of the saved, if you don’t know Jesus, there is a different judgment to consider. That one will be not only according to your works, but condemnation will come on those who have rejected the ‘Blood of the Lamb’ who died for “the world” of men! (See John 3:16) Revelation 20 reveals the sentence for all who reject Jesus!

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged

out of those things

which were written

in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them:

and they were judged

every man

according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written

in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”     Revelation 20:12-14

I pray that you will choose wisely! And if you have already chosen and received Jesus, may our lives reflect His saving power, presence, grace and glory to those God places in our path. I pray God’s blessings on your day, dear ones!

“But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour is not in vain

in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Amen and Amen!!!