Extra Mile

As I was reading the account of Jesus crucifixion the other day in Matthew 27 the verse of Simon from Cyrene stuck out to me.  I thought about this unknown and unsuspecting character who became famous for carrying the cross of Jesus. 

32 Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. 
Matthew 27:32

Simon was forced to carry the cross and because of the Roman law we know that a Roman soldier could force any non-Roman citizen to carry his baggage for a mile.  So no one was surprise when Simon was asked to carry the cross. Simon didn't have a choice in the matter, he knew the law and did what was asked of him. I am pretty confident at that moment that Simon was not thinking, "Wow, what an opportunity for me to take my place in history and be remembered as the guy who carried the cross for Jesus!"  He was forced to carry the cross and we recognize his contribution to the historical event even today.  

Then I remembered the teaching of Jesus when he said, "If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles."   (Matthew 5:41) Just think if Simon was honored by carrying Jesus' cross because he was forced to carry it, how much more will we be honored if we choose to carry the Roman soldier's baggage two miles.  What does that look like today? 

- when someone who has a need we can meet we don't just do the minimal, we do the extravagant
- when someone needs a new pair of pants we buy them two
- when someone needs someone to talk to we schedule a second opportunity to meet with them

In our busy lives we tend to do the minimum and hope it is enough, but Jesus says go the extra mile!   

Steal the Hearts of People

In 2 Samuel 15 we can read that one of the consequences of King David's sin was the rebellion of his son Absalom.  Vs. 13 says a messenger came and told David, "The hears of the men of Israel are with Absalom."

Absalom was able to steal the hearts of the people of Israel through -
1. Hard work - he got up early every morning and went and met with people
2. Deception - he would tell people what they wanted to hear so they would believe that he cared about them when David did not
3. Empowerment - Absalom empowered people to believe he would solve their problems if he was in control.
4. False humility - Absalom would not allow people to bow down to him, but he we reach out to them and honor and kiss them.

Jesus warned his disciples many years later - Matthew 24:4-5 Jesus answered, "Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name claiming, "I am the Christ, and will deceive many."  And continues in vs. 24 - For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect - if that were possible.

In our spiritual journey there will be many things that try to steal your heart!  God has created a new spiritual heart within us and the enemy so hates the new life in you, he will do whatever he can to rob you of the joy of the Lord!

I often say that the enemy is not all that creative.  He keeps doing the same things to try and trip us up.  Absalom used deception, half truths, false humility and many of the same old tricks of the enemy.  I was reminded by a friend though that said, the enemy might not be that creative but he is crafty!

Above all else guard your hearts from the enemy that is trying to steal your heart!

Life Rocks when We are Living Rocks

Peter called Jesus the living Cornerstone and his true follower are living rocks.  Basically saying that life rocks when we are living rocks!  

1 Peter 2:4-5 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.  And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests.Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 

Life doesn't seem to rock when we are rejected by people - I am painfully aware of my need to be loved and accepted in my life.  As much as I wished I was an island and I could stand alone - the sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me... the reality is rejection is difficult because one of our huge human needs is acceptance.  But God knows rejection is part of life and so we might as well get ready for it and be prepared for rejection when it comes.  The life giving part of rejection is our connection with Christ.  When we are rejected because of of our association with Him, then we can know He is with us and we can know He is fighting for us.  Of course when I am rejected because of my own selfish and sinful decisions, that may be a different reaction from Jesus.  

We are being built into a spiritual temple - When we are alive in Christ, He is building us up together to make something that honors God.  We become a place to worship and honor God.   When we get feeling like our lives are lacking purpose and meaning, we can repeat this passage to ourselves - I am a part of God's spiritual temple. If God is building it, it is awesome!

We are holy priest - as living stones who are part of God's spiritual temple our role is to be a priest.  We get to help other people have a connection with the awesome God who has brought us spiritual life.  We were just dead stones - hard hearts - cold living - spiritually dead.  Now we are ALIVE and we can help other people experience life in Christ.  

We offer sacrifices to God that He finds pleasing - When we take time to meditate on Christ and to connect with Him through scripture and prayer, we are offering God a sacrifice.  A pleasing sacrifice!  I think too often we see our lives and our existence as a lousy sacrifice that God surely isn't please with because we could always do better or more.  But God knows our hearts and is pleased not because the world thinks our sacrifice is great, but because form our hearts we honor God. 

Keep Living Real Life in Christ!

Pay is Not a Gift

Is it payday yet?  We all like it when our check comes in and we receive our payment for the work we have done.  You may love your job and the work that you do, but you still want to get paid!  You still want to receive your just reward for the time and energy you put into your work.  But this concept of getting paid for work sometimes messes with our concept of God and grace.  We have a hard time wrapping our heads around the concept that we can't earn grace and love from God.  

Romans 4:4-5  A person who works is paid wages, but they are not regarded as a gift; they are something that has been earned. 5 But those who depend on faith, not on deeds, and who believe in the God who declares the guilty to be innocent, it is this faith that God takes into account in order to put them right with himself.

It is hard for us to accept that God gives us grace freely if we just believe and have faith.  It makes so much more since to us to earn God's grace.  If I can just be good enough and clean up my bad habits, then I maybe I will be good enough for God to forgive my sins and accept me as his child.  But when we approach God in this manner we find we are never good enough and we can't clean our lives up enough.  

Only when we surrender to the reality that what God is offering can't be earned can we accept is as the gift that it is!  After I receive it as a gift I long to show my gratitude to God by living His way and not my way.  I long to honor God with my life and not just honor myself.  I realize that following God's way is the best possible life for me!  I long to discipline my life to put myself in a place to keep this relationship with God because His grace and love are amazing!  

Betrayal

Betrayal is one of the most painful experiences of life.  To have someone you care about, someone you trust, someone you counted on, turn against you is very painful. It takes someone close to us to really hurt us, or at least the closer the betrayer the more severe the pain seems.  

Betrayal is usually painful because it tends to take some planning.  Judas agreed to betray Jesus and then it says in Matthew 26:16  From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.  Judas had opportunity to change his mind and to take a different course of action.  It wasn't a spare moment decision - it was intentional and planned out. 

Betrayal is also part of the human experience.  We have all betrayed others and we have all been betrayed.  I think this is partly why it was prophesied and fulfilled that Jesus would be betrayed.  To remind us that Jesus experienced the same things that we experience.  He knows our deep pain of betrayal.  

I know in my life betrayal has lead to a deepening of my trust in God.  When my support system crumbles at my feet, I learn to depend and trust in Him a little more every day.  How will you act/react the next time you are betrayed?  How will you act/react the next time you betray a friend? 

Let's Just Hold On Until Jesus Comes

It often seems to me like the church in our day has gotten to the place where we are so confused about what to do that we have decided to do nothing.  We have given up on the political process because we have been burned.  We have given up on culture battles because we have made so little progress.  We feel like if we share our opinion we are labeled as haters and misunderstood.  

But Jesus reminds us in his parable about three servants who are given money to invest that the one servant who did nothing with what was given to him was the servant that the king reprimanded.  

Matthew 25:24-27  “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’

26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate,27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

So doing nothing with all that God has blessed us with is seen by God as being wicked and lazy.  Not just lazy!  Wicked.  

Of course the good news is that in the same chapter we are informed of what to do when you don't know what to do.  Serve other people and especially serve those people around you who need help and are marginalized by society.  

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’  (Matthew 25:40)

Three Names

In Matthew 23:8-12 Jesus is teaching about the problems with the Jewish religious leaders of the day and he says:   “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Don't call anyone Rabbi or teacher.  The word literally means "great in number." Someone who has great knowledge to pass on to others.  

Don't call anyone Father.  The word means one who imparts life and is committed to it.  

Don't call anyone Christ.  The word means the anointed one of God.  

Some take this concept literally and don't call anyone teacher, father or Christ. Other people use these terms liberally without thought of this passage being literally applied.  

It seems to me a good application is to put God first in these three areas of my life.  God first in my knowledge and wisdom.  I seek knowledge first and foremost from the Lord.  Other teachers and insights are great, but the Bible and the Holy Spirit are my primary teachers.  God is also first in providing and sustaining my life.  I realize that without Him I am nothing and I can't make it a second without Him.  Jesus is my one and only anointed Savior!  He continues to rescue me and I must continue to depend on Him!