Depart From Me, I Never Knew "Bradford Pears"....

Ah.... Spring time.
It's the season of new growth and life. The air is crisp, clean, and warming with gentle breezes blowing away dead leaves of fall for a carpet of soft new grass shoots to burst forth....


It's also the season intense storms from warm and cold fronts battle for territorial rights, pollen layering everything under a blanket of yellow stain, and sinus headaches and sneezing from..... well, you know.


Don't get me wrong. I love spring. I think that's why God chose Christ's resurrection to crown the newness of earthly growth with the redemption of spiritual ones. But it's the herald of this season which has been on my mind and sinus cavities recently:
The Bradford Pear Tree.


For those of you who have never experienced this beautiful, white blossomed tree, let me tell you a little:
Developers love to line new housing areas and other large buildings with them because they are fast growing and have a full look to them (thick with branches). The problem is that the angles at which those branches grow tend to be weak and if a strong storm comes along, the limbs often break off. Another issue is their root system is very shallow and they love to pop up "suckers", meaning if you have one, you will have more if you don't mow them quickly, or the entire tree will blow over at high winds. They are also ornamentals, meaning that though they are a "pear tree", they never produce fruit. That's a nice thing if you don't want any, but then why is it called a Pear tree? Finally, is the fact that those beautiful, white blossoms smell like dead fish. A beauty to behold, but not to inhale.


So this has been my thought for the last week or more: Why do so many, so-called, Christians behave like Bradford Pears? They hear the "Gospel" and grow quickly, but their roots are shallow and when trials or strong temptations come, they break apart. They look pretty on the outside, but if you get too close they small like death. Also, they produce no fruit. (Galatians 5:22-23)  These people are like the ones Jesus describes in the parable of the sower in Matthew 13. They are the seeds sown on rocky ground and among the thorns:
 ¹⁸ "You, then, listen to the parable of the sower: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn't understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. ²⁰And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. ²¹ Yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived. When pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles. ²²Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the seduction of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²³ But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 times [what was sown]."
Matthew 13:18-23


We all need to take stock of ourselves spiritually:
Do we produce fruit? Through the Spirit.
Can we weather the storms? -Through Christ.
Are our roots deep? -In faith?
Do we smell of the right kind of death?


 ¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ, and spreads through us in every place the scent of knowing Him. ¹⁵ For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To some we are a scent of death leading to death, but to others, a scent of life leading to life. And who is competent for this? ¹⁷ For we are not like the many who make a trade in God's message [for profit], but as those with sincerity, we speak in Christ, as from God and before God.
2 Corinthians 2:14-17


My great passion and concern is that one day, when standing before our Lord, Jesus Christ, these Bradford Pear Christians who have done "many great things" will hear, "I never knew you! Depart from Me..."

 ¹³ "Enter through the narrow gate. 

For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction,and there are many who go through it. ¹⁴ How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

    ¹⁵ "Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing 

but inwardly are ravaging wolves. ¹⁶ You'll recognize them by their fruit. 

Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 

¹⁷ In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 

¹⁸ A good tree can't produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

 ²⁰ So you'll recognize them by their fruit.

    ²¹ "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, 

but [only] the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. 

²² On that day many will say to Me, 

'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name? 

²³ Then I will announce to them, 'I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!

   Matthew 7: 13-23

Are Your Lemons Sugar Coated?

Today I found something I wrote about 4 years ago.
What do you think?

Are Your Lemons Sugar Coated?

Have you ever had a fish bone stuck in your throat? Hurts doesn't it? You know it won't kill you that instant, but what if it punctures your throat? Or gets lodged there long enough to become severely infected? Every time you swallow, it sends a searing pain through you body, so you try not to, but instinct has you gulping like a fish out of water. You know you need help, but don't know what to do.

            Now imagine someone passes by and offers you a palm-sized yellow object which sparkles. They tell you that it will get the bone out and save you, and they even offer to let you lick it a little to see if you like it. You try a timid taste and realize it is sweet! That, of course, makes you swallow again in pain, but you now have hope. You thank them profusely, and accept the life saving object gratefully. Beaming over your new treasure, you take a small bite and nearly drop it in disgust: It is horribly sour!  How could that possibly save you? Reasoning with yourself you begin to think that perhaps you are just supposed to keep licking it. As you do, the pain in your throat becomes gradually less, but deep down you know that the bone is still lodged there and that most likely you are becoming numb with pain. Well, nothing is wrong with that, is there? Perhaps that is all there is to it, and it is welcome enough. There is the nagging thought that you still have to get the bone out, so you decide to try biting it once more, but after all the sugar your mouth is coated in, it tastes even worse than before! Now what? If only that person had told you what to expect! If only you knew if it is suppose to be sour! How will this really save you?

Do we as Western Christians even recognize the full flavor of the gospel anymore?

When we are sharing the gospel with others in industrialized nations, do we tell them what they desperately need to know in order to be saved, or are we so worried that they will not be interested that we sugar coat it?  The Lord Jesus Christ never promised it would be easy: In fact, just the opposite. In John 15:20 Jesus says, “Remember the word I spoke to you: 'A slave is not greater that his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you...” ¹ It is not all sour however! Jesus also says in Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” What are we truly more concerned of? This “...momentary light affliction...”(2 Corinthians 4:17) or the eternal?

If a person speaks of God, do we wipe the sweat from our brow and check off one more for the kingdom of God? Don't think that because someone believes that Jesus is the Son of God they are saved. Remember “...the demons also believe- and they shudder!”(James 2:19) Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?' Then I will announce to them, 'I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!'” 

How can we know then? The apostle John says in 1 John 2:4-6, “The one who says, 'I have come to know Him,' without keeping His commands is a liar and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him: the one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked.” Is the truth in us and in those we are witnessing to? Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

What can we do? We work out our “...own salvation with fear and trembling”, knowing that it is “God who is working in you enabling you both to will and to act for His purpose.” (Philippians 2:12-13) We look forward to the day when we will hear our Master say, “Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your Master's joy!” (Matthew 25:21) Why? Just as Christ, we do this for the joy that lay before us! (Hebrews 12:2)

So, as we share with others that Jesus Christ is the Son of God... “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...”(1 Corinthians 15:3-4) are we giving them sugar-coated lemons, or are we allowing God to make the lemonade?

¹ See also: Matthew 10:22, Luke 21:12-19

Wolves in Sketter Clothing

It's warm enough the Sketter Eaters are coming around again. If you have never seen one, they look like large, lanky mosquitoes and usually cover the eastern side of my house near dusk in the summer time. I use to kill them until learning that they do not bite humans, but rather feed on regular mosquitoes. They are now my friend.

When I saw the first of the season the other day it reminded me of  Matthew 7:15-16a; "Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. You'll recognize them by their fruit."

We as Christians (True Sketters) must love everyone unconditionally, but are also told to keep a look out for the evidence of fruit. Don't forget this can be a long process. Some fruit may take months or even years to come to fruition. This doesn't mean we shouldn't trust, it just means we need to be diligent in prayer, asking for discernment to know what is of God and what is not. We must try to guide those around us lovingly, but trust God to accomplish His good will even in the midst of some rotten fruit. We trust Him alone completely to reveal all fruit in its truth at the proper time.

Next time you see a Sketter Eater, offer up a prayer to God, asking Him for discernment. Allow Him to separate the Sketters from the Sketter Eaters.

Fish

I discovered yesterday that I thought I had God figured out some. Usually, God works at the last possible second, so that's what I was expecting, to be quite honest. I had prayed for Him to provide something - and fully expected Him to - when desperation set in. But He surprised me! I was settling in for a long wait, when WHAM! He blessed me!

Sometimes my Abba loves to spoil his little girl...

Thank you to those of you who helped Him do this. I am humbled. Spend some time today to praise him for giving us fish instead of snakes! I sure am :D

Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.


What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask of Him!
Matthew 7:7-11

Nothing

God reminded me yesterday that I know nothing.

Actually, He reminded me that what I think I know isn't worth knowing and has been taking up most the space of the "nothing" I should know. Uh-huh.
What "nothing" is that?

1 Corinthians 2:2
For I am determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (Emphasis mine)

What does it look like to know nothing among people except Christ? I am so grateful Paul elaborated...

1 Corinthians 2:3-7
And I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and power, so that your faith might not be based on men's wisdom but on God's power.
However, among the mature we do speak a wisdom, but not of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. On the contrary, we speak God's hidden wisdom in a mystery, which God predestined before the ages for our glory.


There are two "nothing"'s in "knowing nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified."  The first is to unbelievers. We are to show nothing but the power of the Spirit to them, so that they are not convinced with fancy words and sound logic, but with the Spirit. In this way we will not help them deceive themselves so they someday hear, "...I never knew you! 'Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!'" (Matthew 7:23)

The second "nothing" is for those who are mature in Christ. We are to speak nothing of this age and it's wisdom's understanding, but of  "God's hidden wisdom in a mystery". It's nothing that should make any sense to a sinful and unbroken heart, but it's life and beauty to us.

There is a great freedom and trust in knowing nothing; For we are then free to trust God in everything.

What's The Difference?

A few days ago I was reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan, and he was talking about what lukewarm Christians look like. There was a statement he made that I've had to mull over and slowly digest in the last few days time. It truly pierced my heart. Chan says, "The truth is, their lives wouldn't look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God."

Think about that for a bit.

OK, so no church on Sundays (or Wednesdays if you are really good). That can easily be replaced by sleeping in and a ball game or two. That also means not reading your Bible and the extra (meal time, before bed, etc) prayers. That can be replaced by a sitcom and a little extra Farmville. Can't all the time we spend with other Christians easily be transfered to a Club setting?

Seriously. Think about it. How different would your life be if you stopped believing in God? I'm not saying you would have to stop believing in your morals. Non-Christians can have those. You wouldn't have to stop being a productive member of society. Again, non-Christians - especially Americans - can do this just fine. Giving to charitable organizations and helping to make the world a better place can be a wonderful religion. There's no need to believe in God to do good and make yourself feel better.

Why do you need God? Do you even depend on Him?

Would your life change very much at all?

...The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God's creation says: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,' and you don't know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, and white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be committed and repent.
Revelation 3:14-19


Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter to kingdom of heaven, by only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?' Then I will announce to them, 'I never knew you! Depart from Me you lawbreakers!'
Matthew 7:21-23


Oh Father, forgive us our complacency. Help us to rely on You in everything we do, and may bringing You glory be our hearts desire and way of life!

The Apostle John- No Longer #1

We are studying 1 John in my Life Group (Sunday School) this month, and I'd like to talk about it over the next few days.

When we think of the Apostle John, we tend to first think of him as “the one who Jesus loved” (John 13:23). His writings are full of talk about love. The problem is that our society often tends to view love as lacking strength or boldness. It's just being super nice to people no matter the consequences. The most well known verse, up until recently, has been John 3:16. “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” This niceness we've been taught to show has been taken to the extreme so that now the most quoted verse is Matthew 7:1. “Do not judge, so that you won't be judged.” They problem is that most tend take them out of context.

Please take some time to read John 3:16-21 and Matthew 7:1-6 below. It is still not the full text around these verses, but it gives one a better understanding of their context. First, ask God to open your heart to what He would have you glean from these Scriptures today. There is always something He wants to teach us. Then, read them slowly with some pencil and paper. See if there is something you need to jot down in order to look up later. It might be a thought or question that occurs to you. Make sure to take the time to explore it over the next few days.

John 3:16-21 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condem the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. This, then, is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and the people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

Matthew 7:1-6 “Do not judge, so that you won't be judged. For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye but don't notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and look, there's a log in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Don't give what is holy to dogs or toss you pearls before pigs, or they will trample them with their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.”

Do you see a connection between these two passages? With these verses as a base, we'll take a look at 1 John tomorrow.

Comfort Food-NT

Yesterday I told you of some Biblical passages which are special to me in the Old Testament. Let's continue today with the New Testament.

Matthew 7:21-23 In these few verses lie the deepest burden of my heart. Here, Jesus is telling them that not everyone who says to Him, “'Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven.” (v.21) I truly believe that the Lord has called me to work in the church in order to eventually reach those who do many wonderful things in the Lord's name, but never really know Him. I've begged the Lord many times to please send me to a far away country where they are complete heathens who don't even know His name. Instead, He sent me to Nashville, Tennessee- The buckle of the Bible belt! If you begin to know me for long, you will hear this verse over and over. My Lord has engraved it on my heart as a prayer and desire to reach the “churched” who don't know Him.

1 Corinthians 1 This chapter goes along with my desire to serve the church. It also helps, as does Ecclesiastes from yesterday, to keep my desire for worldly knowledge and wisdom in check. The salvation and love of God is both completely illogical and pure logic at the same time. There is no perfect explanation. It is of the Spirit. We can not expect those who do not know Christ to understand our love and devotion to Him. It's foolish to them. But remember, “...God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom...” (v.25) Have compassion on them.

Ephesians 6:10-20 I have to admit this gets my blood pumping. It was the first passage I learned to love as a teenager, and at that time I desperately needed to know who my fight was against and what I could do about it. Who needs a super hero motto? This is perfect! A belt of truth, armor of righteousness, a shield of faith able to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one... and more! Whenever I read this, in my head I start hearing a good fight song and someone yelling, “Let's get ready to rumble!!!”

James I love the entire book! James says it all straight forward without mincing words. Here are a few of my favorites from each chapter in the book.
James 1:2-4 “Consider it a great joy when you encounter various trials.” Not a typically human way to look at life, but what a great outlook.
James 2:17-20 “Do you believe in God? ...So do the demons, and they know to tremble!” Salvation is more than just knowing something.
James 3:1 “Not many should become teachers...we will receive a stricter judgment.” This is a sobering reminder of our responsibility to the Word of God and of the effects of our words.
James 4:15 “Instead, you should say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'” I am not in control and should stop acting like it.
James 5:13-14 “Is anyone among you suffering... cheerful... sick...?” God gave us other Christians to minister to and be ministered by. We need to let each other know when we need prayer or have great joy in the Lord.

Revelation This is my personal opinion, but I believe I will live to see what is described in Revelation, so this is like a Biblical GPS for me. Plus, I tear up with joy and anticipation every time I read about Christ coming in victoriously as a conquering king and how we will have a beautiful new heaven and earth. I get so excited! I want to shout with John, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev 22:20

There is so much in the New Testament I had a hard time narrowing it down to just these, but I hope you've enjoyed this gleaning. What are some of your favorites?

Say, “Shibboleth”

Recently I've been reading in the book of Judges. When I came to chapter 12, I was amused by how the Gileadites determined if a traveler was a refuge from Ephraim. They were told to say “Shibboleth”. If they couldn't pronounce it correctly and instead said “Sibboleth”, they “seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time, 42,000 from Ephraim died.” v.6

Forty-two thousand! All because of how they said a word.

As I started thinking about this, I was reminded of another passage: Matthew 7:21-23. Jesus is telling the people that not everyone who says, “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Many will say, “'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?' Then I will announce to them, 'I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!'” They knew the right word, they just didn't know THE WORD.

I found something interesting in the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: “Shibboleth, means "a stream"; Sibboleth, "a burden." The Eastern tribe had, it seems, a dialectical provincialism in the sound of Shibboleth; and the Ephraimites could not bring their organs to pronounce it.” The correct pronunciation of the word meant “a stream”. When we submit our life to the Lord, Jesus says, “...the water I give him will become a well of water springing up within him for eternal life.” (John 4:14) However, if said wrong, the word meant “a burden”. Isaiah 53:4 prophesies about Jesus that, “...He Himself bore our sicknesses, and He carried our pains...” When we cannot truly claim Jesus, we have no one to carry our burdens and must have them laid upon our own shoulders.

Notice there was no faking it either? They couldn't say the name correctly unless they were truly sons born of the right region. There is no faking it with God either. Unless we are born again as His children, we can NOT claim the name of Jesus.

How many people around you know that Jesus is Lord, that “...there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we might be saved.” (Acts 4:12), that do many wonderful things in His name, yet do not know Him?

Pray today for the wisdom to recognize these people, even if one of them is yourself. Also, ask Him for guidance in helping them get to truly know the Lord Jesus the Christ.
Pray for them to be able to say “Shibboleth”.