Shout Out! Wake Up!

The Pharisees didn't get it. The Sadducees didn't get it either. Jesus' words to them weren't meant to be hateful but wakeful. He was going to die on the cross for them too. But the words remain as true now as they did then.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former." Matthew 23:13-23

The words Jesus said were a shout out to the religious leaders to follow throughout the centuries up until now. But it's not just for religious leaders in the church. It's also for the religious leaders in the home.

Going to church once a week does not mean you are a Christian. Giving tithe and lots of money in the offering plate does not make you a Christian. Being able to quote copious amounts of Scripture and able to argue church doctrine does not mean you are a Christian either. 

To be a Christian, you must be born again (because our first, fleshly birth is solely of this sinful earth) -- this is the first step. It means a changed heart. It means you love God more than yourself. And it means you love others more than anything else in this world.

Unfortunately, many people find it easier to love the stranger on the street than to love their own family. Spouses, children, siblings, parents - sometimes they are judged and condemned by the "Christian" at home and no one sees it outside the home. 

BUT occasionally, it slips out. The hate, the jealousy, the hypocrisy - and when it is seen by others, it is a shock and a horrific witness for others concerning God. 

Jesus weeps for families that hide their darkness inside their walls instead of letting Him in and dispelling the darkness with His light and love.

I am as guilty as any man when it comes to making mistakes, saying the wrong thing, hurting others family member's feelings - BUT I try to not only say, "I'm sorry, forgive me" but I turn to Christ and ask for the power to change and overcome my faults and failings. One thing I can say though, I have never gotten on facebook or any public forum and cursed my children or bring a personal family problem out into the public eye to show our dirty laundry. Family problems, issues and needs should be handled privately. I'm not talking about asking publicly for prayers concerning needs such as illness or a death in the family or even the stories about broken pipes and overeating or yelling about a football game. I'm talking about the nasty, mean spiteful things that people say to each other in private that spills out onto the keyboard and then on facebook.

If you call yourself a Christian and you do such things then you are a terrible witness for Jesus who died on the cross of Calvary.

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7

Portraits of Jesus

Portraits of Jesus
January 2, 2014
The Alpha and the Omega
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8

It is appropriate that we begin this new year with a verse that adequately portrays the Lord of time and space. This Biblical portrait of Jesus Christ appears four times in the Bible and only in the book of Revelation. The title comes from the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet - alpha and omega.
As the Alpha, Christ is the source and giver of life. He is the spring from which the river of truth and grace flow.
As the Omega, He is the fulfillment of all our hopes and aspirations. Everything in life finds its answers in Him who is the first and last. In this self-designation, Christ vividly portrays Himself as the supreme "I Am." As the timeless I AM, Christ assures His people that He is the all-sufficient, ever-present, and always approachable Savior.
Implicit in this portrayal is the recognition that Christ is more than the Alpha and the Omega. He is also all the other letters of the alphabet! Jesus Christ the center and the circumference encircling all things: the past, present and future are under His control.
Thus, how appropriate to begin this new year with the powerful affirmation that all history centers on the One "Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." In this affirmation, we are reminded of Christ's radical breakthrough into human history, His full and complete salvation, His presence in our lives today, and the confident assurance that He is coming back soon as the indisputable Lord of the universe.

"From Jesus Christ has come every ray of heaven's brightness that has fallen upon the inhabitants of the earth. In the plan of redemption, Christ is the Alpha and the Omega - the First and the Last." - Patriarchs and Prophets