Monthly Archives: February 2012
Not Win?
We all want to persuade others to our viewpoints. In any setting of most any discussion, we want others to believe what we believe. This could even let pride creep into evangelism. We can’t argue someone into accepting Christ. We can only present the Gospel with peace and love, and our testimony of what Christ has done in our lives. It is not us that does the work, it is Christ. We must learn to back ourselves down into meekness, and the strength that arises is the glory of Him who made us.
Not win?
James 3:16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
This entire chapter of James is speaking about the power of our speech. The blessings, the cursings, and the hypocrisy from the same mouth. Are you wired to try and win an argument? Do you find yourself compromising your integrity to try and drive your viewpoint home? That is pride and straight from Satan. Verse 15 says, “This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.” We are so inclined to bring to front our thoughts, and our ways, that they can become self-seeking, and not glorifying to God.
There is a meekness in the wisdom of a true follower of Christ that brings with it a strength that the earthly wisdom will not comprehend. There is a peace that comes with the heavenly wisdom that does not need to “win.” Verse 17, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” We have all heard of the scriptures about turning the other cheek, and forgiving our enemies, and such. This is the wisdom of Peace, that comes with Christ, that surpasses all earthly understanding. What do you mean you don’t want to win?
The Great Comforter
We all have our battles, and our stresses of life. We all can be drug down into the gloom by our enemy and the focus on the problems, and not the solution. Constant distractions, lack of time, and the pressures of society feed worry. I know we all battle it daily. But there is a solution that comes with Christ, that gives us comfort in those times of need. The more time we spend with Him, the less the cares of the world have power over us. You truly begin to see things in a different light. If I am to describe my relationship with Christ in one word, that word is Peace. That does not mean my life is a bed of roses, and it is far from it. But I do know where to turn when the pressures of life get to me. It is not only for me, it is for all of you too….all you have to do is ask Him.
The Great Comforter
Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
What worries you? What brings you comfort? Our world promised material treasures, 30 day programs, and medications to fix any problem that we have. I don’t know of anyone who could claim to not worry over something. I suffer myself from both anxiety and depression, and I have given both up to God. Paul is speaking here of the gift of the Holy Spirit upon acceptance of the free gift of Salvation. The Holy Spirit is also known as the Great Comforter. He is the enabler, the guide to wisdom, the pathway to peace.
John 14:27 says “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Christ was speaking here of whom He was leaving with us to those that accepted Him, when Christ returned to heaven. This is a free gift that nourishes our sousl for our little time here, then we take that peace into eternity. Our world is full of daily stresses that that draw our attention away from God. But if we turn our hearts to God in prayer and time in His Word, the Great Comforter that indwells in us, will bring about a peace that surpasses all understanding. Their is only one way to gain this comfort, by the Cross of Jesus Christ.
The Eyes
This morning I was debating on going to church with this big bruiser black eye I have. I then was trying to decide where I was going with the scriptures and I went back to one of my favorites (Matthew 6), and guess what I ended up writing about? God even has a sense of humor I believe. As a Christian, you possess the ability to see Christ in other people. Isn’t it awesome when you just KNOW they are a brother or sister in Christ? But I do believe we also recognize darkness that may not be as visible to those whom do not possess the Light. We are told we are not of this world and I believe a discernment comes with that.
The Eyes
Matthew 6:22 The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
In this part of Matthew 6, he is speaking much of where do we place our focus? Do we place our focus on worldly pursuits and the worries that come with them? Or do we place our faith and trust in the providence of God? If we place our faith in Him, and the focus of our lives are the things of Him, we begin to emit a light that dwells in us, that is Christ. Verse 21 says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
We all know what it is like to talk to someone who will not look us in the eye when they are speaking. How it is disturbing to our souls, and causes a big shadow of doubt, for the eye is the window to the soul. People can see Christ in you, or they can see through you when they posses the Light that Christ brings to dwell inside you upon Salvation. One of my closest friends, and the Godliest man I know said to me once, “You are what you believe.” A deep statement in only a few words. You will reveal by your every action what dwells inside you, good or bad.
Good Soil
Wrapping up this parable, I have really been reflecting on growing up on my families farm. I was blessed to have instilled in me a very young age good work ethics. I understand that you get out of, what you put in to. I saw all the hard work that it took to raise cattle, to produce milk for your tables. That was the fruit that was produced as a result of the good soil as in this parable. Christ desires to produce good fruit in you also. But you must work at becoming humble to break the stony ground of pride and self, and allow him to nurture you to an understanding of what He has laid before you. In humility and obedience, you will produce fruit for others to enjoy that Christ has sown in you.
Good Soil
Matthew 13: 8-9 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
My lineage is from a farming family for over a 100 years. I grasp the understanding of soil preparation and yielding a good crop as a result of good work. Your fruit is a direct result of your preparation, nurturing, and God’s provision in the fruits that are produced. In the closing of this parable in Matthew 13, this is where we strive to be the good ground and produce a good crop for our Lord. Verse 23 says, “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” When God’s Word falls on us, a good ground is blessed with understanding, that produces a good crop. That understanding comes by seeking God and application in your life.
Matthew Henry said “that which distinguishes the good ground from the rest was, in one word, fruitfulness. By this true Christians are distinguished from hypocrites.” John15:8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. We are to strive to implement Gods Word into our lives (the soil preparation); He will nurture the soil by the understanding of the Word, and therefore we strive to produce fruit as a product of that understanding. We are to strive for a hundredfold, but whatever fruit may be obtained for His glory, is to the joy of our Lord. Take what He has shows you, apply it to your life, share it with someone whom needs encouraging, and know that you too are producing fruit for your God.
Take Root
I struggled with so many directions on this passage. The “on fire” Christian. The hypocritical Christian. The shallow Christian. The Christian that was full of pride and security in themselves and the rituals of religion. I pray that you will seek revelation of yourselves through prayer regarding these verses. We all can easily fall in many of these traps, and that comes from a very prideful man that Christ has been chipping away, and chipping away at the root of pride in my stony ground.
Matthew 13:5-6 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.
We all have heard of the term “On Fire” Christians. Someone whom has typically experienced a radical conversion and is eager to spread their good news. Many times we later begin to wonder what happened to them, and where they are now. That would be an easy description of someone who’s was fed the seed on stoney ground. Outwardly we appear to have good faith, but deep inside we are hard hearted and full of pride. Matthew Henry said “hardness prevails in the heart, and what there is of soil and softness is only in the surface.”
But what about those of us whom consider ourselves to have good root, and yet don’t water and nourish with the Word as we should any seed. Verse 21 says “ yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Much of the Christian life is described as a race, and the endurance to finish the race. “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1) We can’t quit when the trials of life come, and they will come. We must hold true to the seed that is placed in us upon Salvation. Christ is the seed, and the root that takes place in our heart.
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