Worshipping, Doubting and Making Disciples

“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted.” (Matthew 28:16-17)

Judas Iscariot, one of the original twelve, had betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. After a short while he was so filled with guilt and remorse that he committed suicide. Now there were eleven.

These eleven were imperfect believers. They worshipped, but some doubted. It was to this mixed group that our Lord gave the original “Great Commission” to go into all the world and make and baptize disciples.

When your church meets the next time, not everyone in the assembly will be perfect. In fact, you and I are imperfect. It seems that our Lord can “draw a straight line with a crooked stick.” That’s what He has been doing from that day to this.

Did you notice that even though there were doubters among them, they worshipped the Lord Jesus Christ? If you wait for your church to be perfect to worship or make disciples, your church will do neither.

The Truth of the Resurrection

“And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, ‘say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole Him away while we slept.’” (Matthew28:12-13)

There is a religious cult whose members will come to your door and attempt to teach you strange things from their bible. Their founder said concerning the empty tomb, “As for this man Jesus, we do not know what happened to him. His body may have been dissolved in the gasses of the tomb. Or, perhaps after lying in the coolness of the tomb, after a while he revived and just got up and walked out.” That is more absurd than what the elders told the soldiers to say.

All the truth of God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation is verified in these three words found in the Gospels, “He is risen.”(Matthew 28:6; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:6) What a wonderful, glorious, powerful, sufficient and praise-worthy Savior is Jesus.

He Is Risen

“And the angel answered and said unto the women, ‘Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead…’” (Matthew 28:5-7a)

Jesus is not in the tomb. Go to the graves and tombs of the founders of the world’s great religions and be assured that their bodies are there. Go to the tomb where Jesus was placed and forever hear it repeated: “He is not here: for He is risen.”

Look at the verbs in our text: COME, SEE, GO, TELL. That’s it in a nutshell. There is so much to tell. Luke tells us in the Acts of the Apostles that Jesus showed Himself to be alive by many infallible proofs being seen of the apostles forty days following His resurrection. Paul tells us in I Corinthians 15 who some of the eyewitnesses were: Peter, then the twelve, then more than five-hundred brethren (Christians), James, the apostles and then Paul himself. The Gospel writers are careful to include the women as eyewitnesses.

There is one established fact that cannot be denied and that is, Jesus is alive!!

The Tragedy of a Dead Bible

“Pilate said unto them, ‘ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as you can.’ So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.” (Matthew 27:65-66)

In what is known as Thomas Jefferson’s “dead bible” all the miracles and things supernatural have been removed. The final words in his bible are, “and rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed.”

What a disappointment. Aren’t you glad your Bible doesn’t end there? The Gospel story is not complete without the story of the resurrection. It was Jesus who said, “Because I live, ye shall live also.” (John 14:19) Our text for today in Matthew’s Gospel is not the end of the story.

Many false religions are like Jefferson’s dead bible; they are true as far as they go but they do not include all the truth. A poor lost soul would remain lost if his only hope were the crucifixion and death of Jesus without His resurrection.

Forsaken of God the Father

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

Our Savior quoted the Old Testament scriptures when He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. On many occasions He let us know the Bible was dependable and without error. Here, on the cross He quotes Psalm 22:1 in Aramaic as His fourth saying from the cross.

The agony of the Father’s departure from Him was the worst agony of all. He suffered as every unsaved person dying without Christ will suffer for eternity – separated from God. Jesus, who knew no sin of His own, became sin for us. (II Corinthians 5:21) Habakkuk tells us that God is of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on iniquity. (Habakkuk 1:13)

He did not just die for my sin; He became my sin and your sin and the sin of all mankind. He was forsaken of God His Father, and died a horrible death that you and I not have to spend one agonizing minute suffering alone and without God in hell. As you read these lines thank Him for loving you so and if you have never received Him as your Savior I encourage you to do so now.

Watching the Side-Show

“And sitting down they watched Him there.” (Matthew 27:36)

Wicked men had just nailed the hands and feet of the Son of God to a cross just outside the city of Jerusalem. They had come to this spot and sat down so they would not miss the main attraction. That sounds noble enough, except when you realize the main attraction, or the main event, was designed to forever rid the world of this miracle-working prophet from Galilee.

Many people are attracted to this man of Galilee, this one who called Himself the Son of God, for the “side-show effect.” If He ceases to be the biggest show in town they will drop off and fall away. Others are truly repentant of their sins and they trust  Him for salvation. I hope you are in this latter group of people and that you are committed to doing His will and letting Him control your life, whether or not it is the popular thing to do.

Be Ready for the Lord's Return

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:44)

Just as certainly as the Lord Jesus came into this world the first time, just that certainly He is coming back to raise the dead in resurrection power and snatch away the church in the rapture. Three hundred and eighteen times in the New Testament we are told He is returning.

To “be ready” as the text implores, one must first “get ready.” To be ready to go on a trip one must get ready. Getting ready for His return requires two things: repentance from sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

He has not told us when He is returning, just that He is returning. We must be ready or be left behind to face the terrible “great tribulation” that will come on earth following His return. He is giving mankind the opportunity to get ready, but no one knows when that door of opportunity will close. Are you ready?

Counterfeits

“For many shall come in my name, saying, ‘I am Christ: and shall deceive many.’” (Matthew 24:15)

The tellers at the bank do not need to attend classes studying every possible counterfeit one-hundred dollar bill to be able to identify a counterfeit one-hundred dollar bill. They only need to learn to identify a legitimate one-hundred dollar bill. If a bill comes through that does not meet the standard of the genuine bill then they know it is counterfeit.

If you want to identify false Christ’s and false doctrines you do not need to study the many false religions and false Christs of the world. Simply read and study the Bible and spend time with the real Christ and learn about Him. False doctrine and false Christs will stand out and be more obvious than a three dollar bill.

Heed the Advice of Jesus

“Tell us, when shall these things be?” (Matthew 24:3)

Man has an insatiable appetite for wanting to know when Jesus is coming again. We have heard all sorts of speculative forecasts into future events related to His return and the end of the world. In the mid 1980’s three comets were supposed to line up in perfect order and then, watch out, the following October the second coming would take place. The date came and went and as you know, nothing happened. The forecasters said, “Oh, we miscalculated by a year. But, watch out next year.” I can almost hear that woman’s voice on my GPS in my car: “Recalculate. Recalculate. Recalculate.”

Jesus gave His disciples two pieces of advice which would serve us well to heed. First, He said, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matthew 24:36) God alone knows the date of the return of Christ. Man’s speculation from ignorance only confuses folks and never helps. The second piece of advice is, “Therefore,be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:44) Our concern is to be ready all the time. Be expecting Him any hour of any day or night.

Could Jesus return today? He could, but I am not speculating. He could return today, tonight, this month, this year or next year. Someone reminded us that we are not on the "time and place committee." We are on the "welcome committee." We are to be ready.

Pray Believing

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:22

Jesus had come into Jerusalem in what has come to be known as His “Triumphal Entry.” Before going to the cross, and during His last few days known as Holy Week, He called attention to prayer and the importance of having faith when we pray.

When we pray we must do so in the will of God. “…if we ask any thing according to His will He hears us…” (I John 5:14) It is impossible to pray in faith for anything which God condemns in His Word. God’s will never contradicts His Word.

We must have faith when we pray. An old gospel quartet song says, “Prayer is the key to heaven, but faith unlocks the door; words are so easily spoken, but prayer without faith is like a boat without and oar.” 

The Barren Fig Tree

“And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.” Matthew 21:19

Jesus, as God in the flesh, had the same physical appetites and senses that you and I have. Verse 18 says that He was hungry. As God, He had created all vegetation including all fruit trees (Genesis 1:11), as well as this fig tree.

Just as He was disappointed with the fruitless fig tree which bore leaves only, so also He was disappointed with Israel, represented by the barren fig tree. The fig tree was His to do with as He chose and Israel also was His to bless or to judge.

A little later He would weep over Jerusalem and announce that they would be desolate, forever barren as that fig tree.

Beloved, our Lord is in control of all things. The whole world is His by virtue of creation. He allows us to strut around, bear foliage, remain fruitless and reject Him. One day He is coming back in power and glory. Are you ready for His return?

The House of Prayer

“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, ‘it is written, my house shall be called the house of prayer;’ but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21: 12-13)

Jesus twice cleansing the temple in Jerusalem should be adequate proof that He is not pleased when His house becomes a place of merchandise instead of a house of prayer. The first cleansing is recorded in John 2:13-17.

The building where your church gathers for worship is not the church. However, it has been dedicated to God as a place where God’s word is preached and taught. It is a place of prayer, confession and fellowship with God and fellow believers. It has been paid for with the tithes and sacrificial offerings of God’s people. The place should be honored for what it is and for what its purpose is.

Let us not make God’s house a place for circuses, side shows and entertainment. We can meet God anywhere. People should especially expect to meet Him in the house of God.

Who is the Man Jesus?

“…whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:15)

This was Jesus’ first question to his disciples upon arriving at Caesarea Philippi.  How one answers that question concerning the person of Jesus will determine his eternal destiny as well as how he lives his life on earth.

Who do they say He is today in this “sophisticated,” “educated” society? A major religion of our day says Jesus really existed but that He was a wonderful prophet on an equal par with their prophet and that He did not die on the cross because He was rescued from crucifixion. Since there was no crucifixion, there was no death and consequently no resurrection. Beloved, that also means no salvation.

Some folks recognize Him as a great miracle worker, a great preacher, a great teacher, or a wonderful example of perfection. Some will even say He is a savior or that He is the savior but not my Savior.

It doesn’t matter what others say about Him or think about Him. Who do you say He is? Can you confess as Peter did that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God?

The Half Has Not Been Told

Jesus said, “The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.” (Matthew 12:42)

We find the record of the visit of the queen of Sheba to Solomon in I Kings 10:1-13 and also in I Chronicles 9:1-12. She came to observe, to ask hard questions and discover the secret of the king’s success. She was so overwhelmed that she exclaimed, “…I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me…” (I Kings 10:7)

Jesus said that a greater than Solomon is here, referring to Himself. He is greater than Solomon in wisdom. He has wisdom to impart to us. He is greater than Solomon in wealth. Solomon had gold, silver, horses, chariots, stables and many sheep and cows. Jesus owns the whole universe including earth and all that is in it. He is greater in works. Jesus is the creator of all things. He is greater in wonders. No one can duplicate His wonders of a glorious sunrise or beautiful sunset, of life on earth or eternal life in the beautiful place He has gone to prepare for His children.

One day, if you are saved, we will stand in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ and declare, “The half was not told me.”

Step Out On Faith

“Why are you fearful, Oh ye of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26)

Often God’s work goes undone because we fear that which we cannot see ahead. We fear that we might fail if we attempt to lead someone to faith in Christ. We fear sharing our testimony with someone. We fear that we might look foolish and embarrass ourselves.

Many men have been called of God to preach the Gospel when they were young. They feared that they might not be able to provide for their families on a pastor’s small pay. An elderly gentleman I knew wept when he told a group of young people how he feared as a young man to step out on faith and answer the call of God on his life to preach the Gospel.

People fear to teach a Sunday school class because they fear criticism and also fear that they might make a mistake in the Biblical presentation.

The Bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) So, surrender your life to Him, do what He tells you to do, trusting Him to see you through all the storms, the wind and the waves.

When People Expect Bread

“Or what man is there of you, when if his son asks bread, will he give him a stone?” (Matthew 7:9)

Jesus is declaring how our prayers are answered according to our request and God’s generous love. God doesn’t mock our earnest prayers. Jesus declared Himself to be the Bread of Life. He is the only Bread that satisfies when we hunger and thirst after righteousness.

Following His resurrection Jesus told Simon to, “Feed my sheep.” He, nor any other pastor of a flock of the Lord’s sheep, is to give, “stones” rather than the “Bread of Life,” to the spiritually hungry.

When people gather before the preacher in the house of God they expect the Bread of Life to be presented. Jesus is the only one who can forgive the lost sinner and save his doomed soul. Jesus is the only one who can nourish and comfort the saint traveling the road of life with all its difficulties.

Preacher, pastor, evangelist, don’t be guilty of substituting stones for bread when you go to the sacred desk or when you are visiting the unsaved, the sick, the shut-ins, the hurting and the elderly. A stone that looks like bread is still a stone.

Seek Ye First…

“But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:33-34)

The people of our day work feverishly, laying up money for retirement, investing in this and that fund, anxiously wondering if there will be enough funds to see us through to the end. Such thinking stops us from doing the work God has bidden us to do.

A little poem says, “Said the sparrow to the robin, ‘friend, I would really like to know, what makes these anxious human beings rush about and worry so?’”

Replied the robin to the sparrow, "Well, I think that it must be, that they have no heavenly Father, such as cares for you and me."

As the dear old song says, "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."

Amen - A Study of the Lord's Prayer

Today is the seventh in a series of seven devotionals examining the Lord's Prayer.

“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:13) 

The Lord Jesus closes the Model Prayer with a wonderful recognition. We started with, “Our Father which art in heaven.” We close with our text recognizing the superiority of God over the entire universe. As the Psalmist said, “From everlasting to everlasting thou art God.” (Psalm 90:2) When we pray we are to remember to whom it is we are talking.

The Model Prayer closes as we might expect, just a simple “Amen.” The word “amen” means, “that’s the way it is,” or, “so be it.”

So, there you have it, a short, concise simple model prayer of just sixty-six words. And since we are encouraged to pray to God in a secret place, such as our closet (Matthew 6:6), we are not trying to impress others with our ability to string together a list of high sounding words. The main thing is to pray humbly, honestly and in faith.

Deliver Us From the Evil One - A Study of the Lord's Prayer

Today is the sixth in a series of seven devotionals examining the Lord's Prayer.

“...But deliver us from evil…” (Matthew 6:13)

Satan is like a roaring lion, walking about seeking people whom he can destroy. You and I are not exempt from the eyes of the evil one. Job is an example of someone caught in the sights or “cross-hairs” of the devil’s aim.  We are told to put on the whole armor of God for we are in combat with the devil and his forces of evil, his demonic angels. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

In the Model Prayer the last request is that we be delivered from evil, or as most translations have it, “the evil one.” It is a worthy request. We cannot stand against Satan in our own strength. Michael the archangel and the devil were in a dispute over the body of Moses. Satan wanted the body of Moses because he knew that if he could present the body of Israel’s revered leader to them, they would turn from the living God to the dead corpse of Moses. His body would thus become an idol and God would destroy them for their sin of idolatry. The Bible says that Michael turned the fight over to God and said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke thee.” (Jude 1:9)

If Michael the Archangel of God knew that he was no match against the devil, who are we to think we can be successful against him without the strength of almighty God?

Facing Temptation? - A Study of the Lord's Prayer

Today is the fifth in a series of seven devotionals examining the Lord's Prayer.

“And lead us not into temptation…” (Matthew 6:13)

The word, “tempt,” or “temptation,” is used in two ways in the Bible. It is used for solicitation to do evil. It is used also to test, as in proving us. Jesus was tempted by Satan to do evil in the beginning of His ministry. Satan also tempted Eve to do evil.

When you and I are tempted to commit sin it is not the Lord tempting us. James 1:13 says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed."

The word, “tempt,” or “temptation,” is also used as in testing or proving us. The old song says, “Tempted and tried we’re oft made to wonder, why it should be thus all the day long…” The Pharisees came to Jesus on different occasions, tempting Him with trick questions, testing Him.

The child of God, being led by the Master’s hand, makes a request that the Father guard him from either of the two kinds of temptation. The Psalmist, David, said, “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3) James says , “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (testing ); knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” (James 1:2-3) God will not tempt us to do evil, and if He tests or tries us or allows us to be tested, it is for our good.

As We Forgive Our Debtors - A Study of the Lord's Prayer

Today is the fourth in a series of seven devotionals examining the Lord's Prayer.

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)

When the Lord saved us we had a debt we could not pay and he paid a debt He did not owe. He took my huge debt of sin and placed it on His account and took His righteousness and placed that on my account.

As we live life we encounter temptations and unfortunately, because we are human, yield to those temptations and they become sins. The Bible makes a promise that, “if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive out sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) 

Sometimes people sin against us. Christ, in this model prayer, makes it plain in verses 14 and 15 that if God has forgiven us we must forgive others. To forgive means, “to wipe the slate clean.” That’s what Jesus did for us. Jesus is teaching us that when we pray we are to seek His forgiveness and if someone has sinned against us, we must forgive them.

Our Daily Bread - A Study of the Lord's Prayer

Today is the third in a series of seven devotionals examining the Lord's Prayer.

“Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11)

Apparently, our Lord is suggesting that this portion of the model prayer is to be prayed in the morning, seeing it is a request for the supply of our daily needs - this day’s needs. We would not wait for nightfall or bed time to ask God to supply daily needs of bread for hungry children. Who says we cannot pray more than once a day? David prayed morning, noon and night.  (Psalm 55:17)

This verse reminds me of the manna which God supplied to the Israelites while they were in the wilderness. Every morning there was a supply of manna on the ground or on the grass and the people gathered enough for each day. If they tried to store some it would stink and breed worms. Every morning God supplied it except on the Sabbath. They could gather enough on the day before to take them through the Sabbath. On that day there was no stink nor were there worms. Amazing.

There is at least one more truth in this verse that must be pointed out. God does indeed want us to pray for our daily needs. I have heard people say, “I don’t bother God with my needs. He’s much too busy to fool with me and my needs.” They are missing tremendous blessings. He wants to hear from each of us.

Thy Kingdom Come - A Study of the Lord's Prayer

Today is the second in a series of seven devotionals examining the Lord's Prayer.

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

In this prayer Jesus is teaching His disciples to pray. This is a model. Nowhere are we told to repeat this prayer word for word as though it is some sort of magical phrase. It is a model. Thy kingdom come. With the coming again of the Lord is the coming of His kingdom on earth. As it is now, His kingdom is within us believers and we are in His kingdom by virtue of the New Birth. The Bible tells us there is a reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ for all those Christians who long for and look for His coming. On the Isle of Patmos John prayed, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20) 

Are you looking for and praying for His coming and the coming of His kingdom? The true believer desires God’s will to be done, not only for his own life, but that God’s will be done in the lives of the multitudes around the world. Someone said, “Prayer is not asking God for what we want, but rather asking God for what He wants.” God’s will is always done in heaven. May our prayers be that His will might be done on earth also.

When You Pray - A Study of the Lord's Prayer

Today begins a series of seven devotionals examining the Lord's Prayer.

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Matthew 6:9)

In this model pray, often called the Lord’s Prayer, our Lord is answering a request of one of His disciples to teach them to pray. (Luke 11:1) He opens the prayer by telling us that God is to be addressed as, “Our Father which art in heaven.” He is to be recognized as being above all - above His creation, above earthly fathers, above all royalty – He is the “Heavenly Father.”

In the beginning of our prayer we are to hold His name in reverence. His name is a hallowed name, a holy name. When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, engraved in stone by the finger of God, it was written, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain." (Exodus 20:7) We must come into His presence with reverence, humility, honor and praise.

Grace

“And Jesse fathered David the king; and David the king fathered Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah.” (Matthew 1:6)

Someone asked, “How do you explain God allowing David to be the king of Israel after committing adultery with the wife of a soldier in David’s army, who was fighting a battle? And the king in an attempt to cover his sin had her husband murdered in battle? (II Samuel 11) One word explains it: GRACE.

There have been no sinless people serving in any position in the Bible. In the listings of the genealogies of Jesus in Matthew and Luke we see adulterers, prostitutes, murderers, fornicators and idolaters, but no perfect people. Only one sinless Man is listed in the Bible and we crucified Him.

The Bible is not about perfect people. It is about the grace of our perfect God. It is about God’s offer of forgiveness to sinners. If God waited for sinless, perfect people to get His work on earth done it would never get done. God uses people who acknowledge their imperfections and sinfulness to tell a lost world where to find forgiveness.

The Two Greatest Commandments

“On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:40)

A young  lawyer, attempting  to  entrap  Jesus,  asked Him, “Which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:5, “Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy might” Then Christ quoted from Leviticus 19:18, which says, “…thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself…”

When we look at the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17, we can see that the first four commandments have to do with loving God, and the last six refer to loving others. Jesus Christ is the only one who has ever kept the Ten Commandments. All of us have, “sinned and come short of the glory of God.”(Romans 3:23) The law shows us how dreadfully sinful we are and how desperately we need the Savior. That is why we must receive by faith God’s Son and what He did for us at Calvary.

This would be a good day to receive Christ if you have not done so.

What Shall We Do with Jesus?

“…What shall I do then with Jesus who is called Christ?” (Matthew 27:22)

Following a local option election on whether or not our city would be “wet” or “dry,” my preacher father, who had taken a very active part with the anti-liquor group said, “I’m afraid the devil is laughing at us pastors. If we had spent as much time and effort presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ and trying to get folks saved as we did in trying to get them sober we would have accomplished both, salvation and sobriety.”

Pilate’s question to the multitude is valid for us today. Millions upon millions of dollars, much time and much labor have been spent to save the population from big, corrupt government. But, during that time what did we Christians do with Jesus and His purpose for coming into the world?

It is a question we should ask before we undertake any project, large or small, whether at the court house or the church house. “What shall we do with Jesus?” There are many worthy projects, such as the local option election mentioned above. But, if a project puts Jesus on a shelf or stands Him in a useless corner, we need to re-think the project.

Heart Change

“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies…” (Matthew 15:19)

Why do people do bad things? What causes someone to go on a shooting spree and kill innocent people? Why do people steal? Why do people lie about other folks? These evil instigators need a change of heart, like everyone else in Adam’s race need a change of heart.

Changing one’s ways of living will not change one’s heart. Changing one’s heart will change one’s way of living. (II Corinthians 5:17) Changing religions is not the same as changing one’s heart. Changing where you attend church is not the same as heart change.

The deceived, unregenerate heart of man will make him think that being as good as his neighbor is what satisfies God. Such deceived thinking comes from an unchanged heart. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked…” (Jeremiah 17:9)

Jesus and only Jesus the Son of God can change the sinful heart of man.

An Invitation to You

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

As a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ I have given many invitations for people to come to Jesus. I have heard many invitations from other preachers through the years. When we preach and give an invitation to Christ we are doing what Jesus did and what He authorized us to do.

The invitation to come to Jesus is “inclusive” and not “exclusive.” The word “all” includes everyone who is laboring and is heavy laden. Additionally, the word, “ye” is plural in number. It means everyone. People in Christless religions, bowing down to sticks, stones, the moon, stars and the sun are laboring in an attempt to please God and be accepted of Him. Many people are laden with sin and guilt. Many are laboring with health problems and financial burdens. Whatever your burden or whoever you are, Jesus invites you to come to Him and accept His promise that He will give you rest.

If you are struggling with some sin, perhaps a sinful habit, Jesus invites you to come to Him. Often people struggle with guilt. Take it to Jesus. People labor with expectations and demands of their religion. They find it difficult to keep all the rules and regulations laid down by some religious leader. “Come to me,” Jesus says.

No burden you have is too great for Him. Take your burdens and cares to Jesus. His invitation is inclusive and you are included in the invitation and His promise to give you rest. As the old hymn says, “Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.”

Bear Fruit, Not Foliage

“And when He saw a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.” (Matthew 21:19)

I have a picture of my son when he was a little boy about five or six years old. He is standing in our garden, between two rows of potatoes. The potato vines are up to his shoulders. With all that foliage I anticipated a bumper crop of potatoes. But, I was wrong. The potatoes were few, very small and hardly worth digging. It was the worst yield of potatoes I have ever seen. I was very disappointed.

The Bible says Jesus was hungry. He came to the fig tree and found no fruit, but leaves only. He was disappointed. The fig tree has long been a symbol of the nation of Israel. Jesus had observed the nation and its fruitlessness and used the cursing of the fig tree and its withering and dying as a lesson in what was soon to happen to that nation. Israel continues to be fruitless to this day but after the Lord comes back that will change.

There is a lesson for Christians in this event. God wants us to bear fruit, not foliage. The church of Sardis, in Revelation 3:1-7, had a name that it was alive, but was dead. It was all foliage. The fruit of the Spirit living in us is, “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.” (Galatians 5:22-23) Foliage is no substitute for fruitfulness.

Be Ready - Maybe Today

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:44)

Before you set your feet on the floor beside your bed this morning did you think, “This could be the day Christ returns?” Before you had your breakfast, before you left your house for school or work did you anticipate the coming of Christ?

Our Lord tells us in Matthew 24 that as it was in the days of Noah before the flood, life before the return of Christ would be going on as usual. Many years ago a Scottish preacher would ask when he stood to preach, “How many of you believe Jesus will return before I finish my sermon?” Sometimes a few hands would go up, sometimes three or four and sometimes no one would lift a hand. Then he would read our text in Matthew 24:44 and preach on being ready for the Lord’s return.

The New Testament mentions the return of Christ 318 times. Just because He didn't return yesterday doesn’t mean He might not return today. Are you ready for the Lord's return?