The Pebble and the Stone

 

 

“And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ”

— Matthew 4:3-4

 

Satan recognized Jesus is the Son of God and has the power and ability to transform stones, which are used for building or putting someone to death by levitical law. Jesus, though, had no need for these stone since He’s the Chief cornerstone, upon whom everything is built, and He’s the bread of life, which He will give to all those who believe in Him. He is the chief cornerstone and the bread of eternal life. Build your life upon Him and be sustained solely by Him. Jesus didn’t need the stone; He is the most important stone and is the bread everyone needs to have and live eternally. Jesus caught Satan in his own philosophical trap.

 

Man does not live on bread alone, the round flat bread a body needs for sustenance in this mortal life. He needs what Jesus gives, the sustenance for eternal life. Satan gives what will pass away. Jesus doesn’t. Jesus gives the word of life, Himself, the Word of life for living in this mortal world and for living eternally. What Satan gives will end. What Jesus gives will last forever. 

 

Do you want bread that will rot or the living bread, Jesus, that will give and sustain your life eternally? Do you want to build your life on many small stones or upon the cornerstone that is immovable? God allows us to choose our life. Will you choose immediate satisfaction or everlasting life, peace, and love with God now and forever? Don’t choose the stones and rotting bread that will kill and separate you from God. Choose the living bread and Jesus as your chief cornerstone and live life to the fullest for now and eternity.

Hope Beyond Reason

 

 

“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

-Romans 15:4 NASB

 

This instruction came from the written teaching of God through His appointed men and women that are included in the Bible. This instruction was and should still be the teaching of Christian doctrine that extends to lifestyle application. 

 

Applying what God says in the Bible as learned from Him through the reading and studying of the Bible and listening to sound teaching and preaching on it keeps a Christian steady in his or her loyalty to faith and godliness, even when going through the biggest trials of life. Applying Christian doctrine from the Bible provides comfort and encouragement because of God calling and speaking peace to the believers through His Spirit dwelling in them. This steadfastness of faith and encouragement, both gifts given by the Spirit, provide hope during trials and reminds us of our ultimate and unchanging hope of being children of God through salvation. 

 

This hope goes beyond human understanding and surpasses any trial or tribulation of the believer. It is greater than the laws of nature and beyond human rationale. It is holding on to what is sure. 

 

When a large hole is in the hull of a ship and hope sways to despair, believers can continue to hold onto God at that moment and for the future. They can receive encouragement and perseverance so they don’t lose hope. Even when our lives seem to have a gaping hole and is foundering, we have hope that God has a plan for that moment, a plan of imminent and ultimate rescue because we are His children. God still carries us in His hands. He never leaves or forsakes us. So have hope. Have faith. God is with you; His Spirit dwells in you. Trust Him.

Get Closer

 

 

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”

— Matthew 7:3

 

A speck is just a small particle of something, like chaff, straw, or a splinter. In this parable, it’s a sin but not a flagrant rebellion upon which other sins and one’s life has been founded upon.

 

Often, our sins become a foundation for a way of life we begin to follow or make our life be centered around. It’s not a way of life that glorifies God. It’s self-centered. This way of living becomes quite noticeable to other people. They begin to associate the sinner as the one who does that action, whatever the sin is. Their beam is big and very obvious.

 

Often, a person will find a sin in someone  else so that the focus of other people is on that person instead of him or herself, the beam-blinded sinner. They forget that by pointing their finger at the speck-obstructed person that four fingers point back to themselves. 

 

God’s focus never moves away to another by our pointing fingers. He sees us and knows us. God knows our hearts and our sins. He experiences the pain of our beams and specks. 

 

Confessing of our sins to God and repenting of them provides the pivot point for Him to remove each of these elements of sin. God’s removing the beam and speck only at confession doesn’t mean He cannot remove it before then. It means we’ve gotten closer to Him by seeking Him with our whole being and asking Him to remove our sins by confession and repentance. We’ve returned to the place where we choose Jesus to be our foundation, not the beam.

Your Acceptable Sacrifice

 

“Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

Romans 12:1 BSB

 

Fellow believers, because of the mercy and grace God gave you from His love and because it cleansed you, offer your consecrated (set apart by and for God) bodies as living sacrifices—ones revived, cleansed, and given of your free will because of your love of God. 

 

Your offering of this sacrifice is holy (because God consecrated you when you believed in Jesus for salvation) and pleasing (because you willingly offer your living [not dead] and rejuvenated [by Christ] selves) to God. 

 

Your offering of your redeemed self to God out of love for Him is your spiritual service of worship. 

 

Remember God redeemed you. He consecrated you. Therefore, you can go into His presence. Your offer of yourself to Him is accepted because He cleansed you through Jesus’ redemption of you. God did the work so you could be with Him and so your service and offering would be acceptable to Him. 

 

God asks for nothing greater than your whole being because of your love and obedience of/to Him. That is relationship. That loving obedience is worship. It is spiritual and service to/for God. 

Your worship of God should occur as your response to His loving mercy and forgiveness of you.

 

Give your redeemed self lovingly and in obedience to God for His purposes. Love Him with your redeemed offering of yourself.

Unchanging

 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  Hebrews 13:8

 

Jesus Christos (Messiah) is unchanging (immutable). He will always be the same from yesterday to now and into the expanse of eternity.

 

“Yesterday, today, and tomorrow” was written to emphasize and provide an example of just how unchanging Jesus is. He existed before creation. Jesus came to earth to live among us and die for us. He is with us now giving what we need and more, guiding us, and protecting us. Jesus will exist into infinity. He is part of the Godhead. No matter what conflicting teachings and doctrines you hear, the Jesus who has always been and will always be—the One you met when you were convicted of your sins and when you recognized you need a Savior—is the unchanging Jesus Christ. 

 

This truth is what the writer of Hebrews taught, reinforced, and emphasized in this verse.

 

So, “Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them” (Hebrews 13:9). Ceremony (rituals, food, clothes, words, etc) have no value for the people who follow them. Jesus, His grace, His teaching, and His examples should be what we believe and follow. 

 

Don’t follow those who teach, preach, and model a way different from Jesus. Theirs is for vanity and pride. It serves only the false teacher and not his/her hearers. Jesus and His words are unchanging. 

 

Lord Jesus, help me not to be confused by conflicting teachings. Help me to see You alone and Your path. Lead me in the paths of Your righteousness for Your glory, O Lord. Help me not to fear evil but to see You are with me. You are my Foundation, my Savior. You alone are unchanging. You alone, Jesus, are the Truth and Way. Lead me in it. .

Freedom

 

“My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don't use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love.”

— Galatians 5:13 (CEV)

 

This Bible translation seems closest to the meaning of the most often used word, “opportunity”. Other Bible translations say don’t use your freedom as an opportunity, occasion, or incentive to indulge in/satisfy your flesh.

 

After looking at the Greek word Paul used in this verse, it seems the verse should read like this. “Don’t use your freedom from slavery to sin, which is gained through believing in and being saved by Christ, as a reason or excuse to indulge your sinful human desires. Instead use your sacrificially bought freedom as the opportunity to serve each other.” 

 

The freedom about which Paul wrote is freedom from our past sins that held us powerless against future temptation and condemned us to eternal separation from God. This freedom, bought through Jesus’ sinless sacrifice on the cross, gives anyone who believes in Him the power of His Holy Spirit, who dwells in each believer, to overcome the temptation and not to sin. This freedom comes from the power of God, who lives in us through the Holy Spirit. 

 

We have the power, if we accept it from the Spirit, not to sin (indulge our human desires) and  only care for our wants. Instead, we can care for other people. When we indulge our human desires and sin, we turn our back on God, and that often means we’ve harmed at least one person overtly and/or covertly. Sinning hurts God, other people, and, often, oneself.

 

Instead of relying on our own power and then sinning, rely on the Spirit’s power, avoid sin and love other people. By doing this, you love God, too.