Jesus tells a story of a man beaten and injured. But the leaders in his tribe pass by this man without helping. Surprisingly, a sworn enemy helps this beaten man to safety and pays for his care. Jesus reminds us that we can discover good behavior in other tribes (and poor behavior in our own).
Jesus is innocently praying when a corrupt, unjust government comes to arrest him. Everything about this situation is wrong. So Peter pulls out his sword to fight this injustice and protect Jesus, cutting off a Roman soldier’s ear. But Jesus tells Peter to put away his sword, rejecting the false theology of the Zealots. Instead, he heals the soldier’s ear. Jesus teaches us to overcome evil with good.
Jesus’ followers were not exempt from idolizing power. Jesus’ students argued on numerous occasions which of them was the greatest or should hold positions of power in Jesus’ kingdom. But Jesus had to correct their thinking. Jesus taught greatness was achieved through humility and service.
Jesus tells a story about a villain who plants weeds in a farmer’s field of wheat. The farmer’s employees ask the farmer if they should go and tear up the weeds. But the farmer says this would be destructive and foolish, as they would not be able to properly judge between the wheat and weeds. Jesus teaches us to grow peacefully alongside others and leave judgement up to God.
Jesus knew that we all are prone to self-deceit. Humans have a tendency to easily focus on the sins of others while ignoring the sins that live inside of us. So he illustrates this to us by telling us to first focus on the plank of wood in our own eye before trying to remove the splinter in the eye of someone else. Jesus teaches us to focus on fixing our own sins before we try and fix the sins of others.
Jesus’ students had all sorts of questions about faith and politics. One time they asked Jesus if they should pay taxes to Caesar. Jesus asked for a coin which was inscribed “Caesar, Son of God”. The coin said Caesar was God. Jesus responded by saying, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and God what is God’s.” In other words, the problem was not paying taxes, but elevating our politicians (and politics) to the status of God. Jesus teaches us not to idolize politics or politicians.
Jesus teaches that our words matter. In fact, he says that every person will have to give account for every idle word they speak on the day of judgement (this probably includes Facebook). But he takes this a step further by saying our words come from the overflow of our heart. Words are a heart issue. Jesus teaches us to search and guard our hearts.
How is your heart doing today? All of us are prone to letting the darkness of this world get inside of us. But the good news is God is willing and able to create in us a new heart and spirit.
Do you need God to do this in you today? If so, take some time to pray and ask Him for a new heart and spirit.
He will do this.
- Filed Under: Uncategorized
Reflections My world is at peace when neighbors are mirrors And answers come easy when talking to peers Belief is like music tickling my ears Community a blanket covering my fears My reflection looks good staring at friends But when belief equals love, it always depends So say what
- Filed Under: Poetry
Hey friends… I do not mean to be cynical with this poem. It has just been a long winter and I have not been outside much. And I miss experiencing God through nature. So, seeing images of nature during worship services has been difficult for me. Don’t change them Alex,
- Filed Under: Poetry
If my life is a song I must be singing it wrong Cause the beat in my head Isn’t the trail my feet tread Like words on a screen I just parrot what I’ve seen Cause the world’s chorus is loud And I’m just a voice in the crowd So
- Filed Under: Poetry
Come, cause death and pain abound Come, cause stress and worry surround Come, cause the world has gone hard Come, cause sin has left us scarred Come, cause life can make us blind Come, cause darkness clouds the mind Come, cause what we fail to see Is God, and love,
- Filed Under: Poetry
Seed of love, seed of light Seed of hope that makes things right Small but real, salvation’s seed Of redemption and peace for a world in need Believe, believe, repent and believe Hellish world, it’s yours to receive This child, this God, planted in your night Maybe small and dim,
- Filed Under: Poetry
So much to do, if you only knewThe to-do lists, and second shifts Be still my soul, God is near Meetings to make, Leaves to rakeKids to drive, and dinner by five Be still my soul, God is near Noise in my mind, and time I cannot findThere is life
- Filed Under: Poetry