January 2

Some Cain questions that will serve us well when we are considering acts of generosity, our material response to Jesus.

First, is my gift sacrificial? Notice that Abel gave from his best and Cain just gave "some.". If there is no sense of material loss, then chances are we have only given a "some" gift and not a "best" gift.

Second, is my gift obedient? God has much to say about what we give and to whom. When God killed the first animals to create clothes for Adam and Eve, He was instituting the principle of a life sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin, a prophetic moment for what Christ would be for us. So Cain's sacrifice was not in keeping with what God required, an animal sacrifice. Cain gave what he wanted to give instead of deferring to God's demand. We do not have animal sacrifices anymore but we do have a God who speaks! Are we listening, are we giving what He asks and to whom?

Finally, is my gift cheerful? Not only did Cain fail in giving sacrificially and obediently, but he gave begrudgingly. 2 Corinthians 9:7 reminds us that God loves a cheerful giver. This great text in Genesis confronts us with the sobering reality that we are either being accepted by God or controlled by sin. The attitude of our hearts when we give is a key determiner of which path is ours, God acceptance or sin controlled.

Give well!

Pastor Fred

January 1

In reading Genesis 1-3 this morning, I was struck once again by the words God spoke of Adam and Eve that are known as the "curse of sin." We must not forget that the pain and hardship referred to by God are not merely physical.

The vulnerability of every woman, the Eve in her, still looks for relational affirmation elsewhere that only God can give. She seeks fulfillment in her children and husband that only God can provide. She strains relationships, demanding of them what they cannot supply, Creator love.

In the same way, man equally suffers. Our vulnerability, the Adam in us, still looks for purpose affirmation elsewhere that only God can give. We seek fulfillment in our tasks, our careers, our projects, our endeavors that only God can provide. We strain the manifold purposes of life, demanding of them what they cannot supply, Creator respect.

We may be vulnerable to the curse, but we can be free from its control... as devoted followers of Christ, we have been liberated from the power of the curse! Romans 7:24-24, "What a wretched man/woman I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Pastor Fred

Matthew 7:3-5

Have you ever considered that Jesus calls the one sin a plank and the other a speck of saw dust, not because the plank is the more egregious sin but because the eradication of the plank from the one has the greater potential to build the Church? You can't build a house with saw dust but you can create quite a structure with planks.

This text is found in Matthew 7:3-5. Now read it in conjunction with Matthew 16:17-18. He's building...the question is, are we supplying the planks He desires to build His Church?

Pastor Fred

Privately

In Matthew 24:3, Mark 9:28, Mark 13:3, and Luke 10:23 we are compelled to ask ourselves if we are close enough to Jesus to have private conversations.

Think of all the people you know. How many of them are casual acquaintances vs. close personal friends? How awkward would you feel to ask a casual acquaintance for a private conversation? Which is Jesus for us? If we feel awkward having a private, intimate conversation with Jesus, it is a sure sign our life with Him needs to move into the arena of friendship (John 15:14-15).

Let's go deeper in love with Him together!

Pastor Fred

What Are You Wearing?

Matthew 22:1-14 is one of those parables that if we are not attentive, not prayerful, not inquisitive, we will not only miss the truth God intended for us to have, but also, embrace a false truth that will be damaging.

A cursory glance at this text leaves us feeling as though God is unfair, lacks compassion, is compulsory, impulsive, egotistical, legalistic...a very dangerous path of interpretation. We see the judgment toward those who reject the king as being fair and righteous; however, his judgment towards the one who came, who accepted, who abandoned his other pursuits to be with the king but is "simply" wearing the wrong clothes appears to be treated unnecessarily harshly, cruelly.

Let's look more closely at those who didn't come. If we dig a little, this too seems a little unfair. In what way? Well, to include the three noted in the same list. Doesn't it seem unfair to list a person who simply returned to work, another who returned to the farm with the one who mistreated innocent people and in a fit of rage, murdered them? Really? Jesus is teaching us something deep...that the sin is in the rejection of God, not in the alternative choice. How are you rejecting Him today?

As we continue, we come to the wrongly dressed guest. How could his situation warrant such a brutal response from the king? Because in the parable, the king is God and coming to Him, choosing Him is not enough. We must come to Him on His terms. Clothing in this parable represents righteousness and the clothing being worn by the guest, self-righteousness.

Read Isaiah 64:6, that all our righteous acts are like filthy rags or as one translation puts it, polluted garments. Just because we are at church does not mean we have fully chosen Him! May we be ever mindful that being present is not fully choosing the King. We must answer His call AND embrace His ways!

Pastor Fred

The End

One of the keys to the Lazarus text is remembering that our definition for "end" is seldom the same as His.

In John 11:4, Jesus proclaims that "...this sickness will not END in death but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." I know for me, the END is typically felt when my circumstances appear to make that for which I had hoped no longer attainable. END is about limits, about the realm of possibility, about reality. Lazarus breathed his last and his family concluded he had come to his END.

Are you in the midst of a situation that feels as if it is over? There is a fine line between denial and faith. Oh God, may we live there...that still your Son may be glorified through it. May we risk denial for the possibility of hearing Jesus say again, "Come out!" Bring us to an END so we can stand in the midst of one of your miraculous beginnings.

Waiting at an END...

Pastor Fred

Same God?

Have you ever read Luke chapter 12, verse 32 and verse 47 and asked how this can be the same God? Because reading them alone can leave two entirely different impressions.

Verse 32 reads, "Do not be afraid, little flock, your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom." Wow, that makes me feel accepted, loved, cared for...chosen! I'm great, celebrating, dancing even!

Then, I get to verse 47, "That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does do what his master wants will beaten with many blows." In the verses prior, Jesus states in the parable that a servant can be assigned to a place with unbelievers! Okay, now I am very, very afraid! I find this such a striking contrast because the consequence is not just the Kingdom being withheld, but in addition, a very real punishment being exacted.

This is why we read the whole Bible and use phrases like, "We understand all Scripture texts in light of the whole of Scriptural texts." If I only read verse 32, I have a perception of God that no matter what, the Kingdom is ours if we are His. If I only read verse 47, I am constantly trying to survive, just trying to avoid wrath with no hope of favor.

Jesus left these two insights into the heart of God next to one another, not to confuse us, but rather to complete us, to ensure that our understanding of the Father is whole.

May we all be given fully to His will, His ways, walking out of consequence and walking into favor!

Pastor Fred