Who Sinned

I mentioned yesterday I might have some wisdom today. I vary rarely feel like I have any. Today is no different. I will deviate some and use some material from Matthew and John’s Gospels.

Often when bad things happen we ask “Who sinned?” There is a pervasive attitude today that thinks if bad things are happening to someone they must not be obeying God and if someone is wealthy or living the good life then God must be blessing them. This line of thought is far from the truth.

Jesus said of God in Matthew 5:45 (NIV)

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Things in this life happen to everyone regardless of moral character. Tsunamis and Hurricanes affect both the good and evil. We tend to think, “Well they must have coming, God is punishing them in this.” Well, I think we can say something bad is happing, but we cannot judge the individual it happens to, God’s motives, or why something may have happened. Because, we do not know the mind of God.

Jesus’ disciples asked the question this way…

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
John 9:1-3 (NIV)

This blind man had no idea the bad things that happened to him were to demonstrate God. The disciples were wondering, “Who Sinned?”, the blind man probably thought he was suffering or bad things were happening to him, but Jesus saw things as God did. He knew why the man was blind.

Now I will challenge you. When was God displayed in this man’s life? Was it when Jesus healed him just a few verses later? Was it during his “trial” in front of the “blessed” Pharisees who wanted to discredit Jesus? Or was it when Jesus confronted the Pharisees and judged them? Can you be the judge.

I really love what Jesus said at the end of this passage in John chapter 9, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” You see, Jesus, came into the world to save sinners. The blind, poor, suffering, hurting where who Jesus came to minister to and he judged the wealthy, the “blessed”, the privileged, the really blind.

When bad things happen to people, who sinned, depends entirely on what you can see.

Be blessed.

Thankfulness

I have been working with a brother going through some rough times. Really rough times. I have no way of even coming close to understanding what he must be dealing with. His trials cover just about every loss you could have. Family, job, home, and health. He has literally lost just about everything.

I think of all the verses in Luke that talk about giving things up or how the followers of Jesus will suffer or do without. And I have not experienced loss, trouble, or suffering for Christ. I am so blessed. I truly feel humbled. Maybe I will have more wisdom tomorrow.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for your tender care. Thank you for health, for work, for our families. Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for your saving grace. Thank you for taking care of us when we suffer because that is when we may be closest to you. Lord, help me hold tightly to your hand. Amen. 

Scripture Fulfilled

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

There were many prophecies fulfilled about Jesus. This is the one Jesus chose to read to announce his ministry. His ministry is to the poor, prisoners, blind, and oppressed. Are you one?

You probably are. Spiritually poor, a prisoner to sin, blind to God’s reality and oppressed by sin. The Good news? The Lord’s favor is upon us. Jesus.

Thank God we are free.

What Good is the World

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? Luke 9:25 NIV

Ever thought about what good is the world? I can think of some really beautiful and good things. Sunsets, the smell of fresh cut grass, the hug of a child, the sound of the night on a cool fall evening. So much of God’s creation is so wonderful. There is a lot of good things in the world to enjoy. But this is not what Jesus is getting at.

My question: Of what benefit is having all the good things this world has to offer, but completely miss the point of living? None. We can enjoy the good things God has created. We cannot make them our purpose for living. We cannot serve two masters.

Here is something amazing. Jesus risen from the dead, living today, loving you. He just wants you, all of you, AND you wanting Him, all of Him. Everything.

Our Hearts Were Burning

After Jesus rose from the dead he walked with two men on their way to Emmaus. They mourned the loss of Jesus. Little did they know the risen Lord would walk with them on their way.

Jesus asked them what they were talking about. Discovering they were talking about rumors of his resurrection, he explained to them all that was written about him in Scripture.

When they realized who he was they exclaimed,

Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?

Scripture is a powerful thing.  The Hebrew writer says,

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

No doubt, spending time with Jesus would be an awesome experience. Today we have the same benefit when we spend time in prayerful study of the Word.

Take some time to do some reading.

Good Gifts

How much time do you spend really trying to get the best gift for your spouse, children or friends? I search and think. I try real hard to get just that special something I know will surprise them or make them happy. We all do. We find it natural to want to give the best to the people we love.

At the end of Jesus’ teaching on prayer in Luke 11. Jesus ends with this…

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

Do you think Jesus meant what he is saying here? God loves us so much. He is good. As good as we get giving gifts, God is even better. What is more, we are not talking about mere money, trinkets and junk. He is talking His Holy Spirit!

God, you are an awesome God. You love us more than we can even imagine. Forgive our unbelief. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Take hold of me today. Amen.

Where Am I Coming From

Today, I want to share some of my core beliefs and the foundation for my writing. For anyone interested, my topics come from my life and studies. The material reflects how the Word (Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Scripture) impacts my life today. I trust the Holy Spirit to help me understand God’s Word better and I expect to understand it better down the road a little.

Core Beliefs:

1. God is real, active and totally in love with each of us.
2. The Bible is God’s written Word. He divinely inspired it’s authors, has preserved it through centuries, and today we have it to study and argue about.
3. God is working in my life to produce son likeness in me. Whether you like it or not He is doing the same in your life.

When I explain what the scripture says, that explanation is what it says to me. My thoughts and opinions are just that. You may take them as you see fit. If I am wrong feel free to correct me. I am very open to correction.

I am 100% convinced that God sent Jesus into this world to save sinners, I am one, and he gave his Word for us to know Jesus. Knowing Jesus is the key to salvation and knowing Jesus is the key to knowing God.

I am on a life long journey to know God. I study His word to understand his will for me, His mind, and His Love.

Who is on the Team?

Once the apostle John came to Jesus and said…

Master, we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.

I can just see John and the disciples saying, “Hey you can’t do that, WE are the chosen ones.” You see, the Jewish world of the day was divided into sects and groups each claiming to be one up on the competition. All claiming to be God’s real group while tearing down everyone else.

How many times do we look at the Church down the street and write them off. I judge a coworker I disagree with and discount the spiritual influence she has on others. I hate the preacher whom I think said something off beat.

Jesus’ response to John, “Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you.” We often forget all the scriptures that teach how much God loves us all, that we are to mind our own business, or that God is the judge. He loves us so much He gave Jesus to be our example and savior. We do not know completely how God is using each and everyone of us to further his Kingdom.

We Christians need to stop throwing rocks at everyone doing good. And instead, praise God for his ability to use any of us sinners.

Scripture from New International Version, Gospel of Luke 9:49,50.

This Man Welcomes Sinners

Who are you? I know you know. I often describe myself as a geek, father, husband, CEO, employee, and the list goes on. How about categories by race, gender, political party, or socioeconomic group. Ever thought human, mortal, sinner?

From birth we are taught we fit with some group. For some it becomes the thing that wholly defines our world view. We see everything, read everything, and judge everything through the lenses that define ourselves. We exclude based on all the ways we can pigeon hole people.

Not so for Jesus. Jesus is found associating with every walk of life in his day. He touched leapers, wined and dined with the social elite, picked friends from the rich and the uneducated, and he even welcomed sinners.

The Pharisees (religious elite) accused Jesus with these words from Luke 15:2, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” It was far beneath the Pharisees to get dirty, humble themselves, or serve. Because they saw themselves so perfect, they could not recognize Jesus for the savior he is. Jesus came “to seek and to save what was lost.”

Who are you? I am a sinner, how about you?

Sell What You Have

One of Jesus’ pet topics was riches. People in his day were consumed with being rich. There was also a huge divide between the Haves and the Have nots.

Jesus said in Luke 12:33ff

Sell your possesions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I have often heard people say, “Jesus said that to the rich young ruler, not to me.” Oh, but he did. This passage is not taken from Luke 18, but Luke 12. He has just finished his lesson on worry. Then he asks you and me to look around our homes at all our stuff and think of our family members, neighbors, and strangers who are poor. I know I am adding my words here but don’t you think that is what Jesus ment?

I think I still love all my stuff too much. I certainly do not have this all figured out or practice it perfectly. Do you? Jesus was always challenging the culture of his day. The challenge has not gone away.

What have you got that needs to go?