Loving God. Loving People.

I just wanted to share with you the beautiful video that Robert Harrington put together of Life Spring church's nursing home ministry. We had the privilege of being joined by Paul Simfukwe from Zambia, Africa while the video was being shot. This is what life is all about and there is no better joy than reaching out to a hurting world and sharing the love of Jesus.

http://vimeo.com/5264642


God bless,

- Scott

Who do you Love more than Jesus?

Matthew 10:34-39 (Jesus speaking)
³⁴ "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. ³⁶ And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. ³⁷ Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

The words of Jesus here stand in stark contrast to how many would explain the Gospel. You might not hear this message preached in a lot of churches in America. Some may find themselves asking, "Jesus didn't come to bring peace but rather a sword? Isn't peace what the Gospel is all about."

Well, the truth is Jesus did come to bring peace, but the peace that He brings is between God and man, or better stated between God and those who call upon His Son in faith. However, many don't even realize that there exists strife between God and fallen mankind but that is not the point of this article. (see "God has not Forsaken You")

What Jesus is saying here is that His Word is going to cause strife between those who believe and those who don't. Many will not come to the light of Christ because it reveals the darkness of sin in their lives (John 3:19-20). Of course they won't admit that, they may not even admit it to themselves, but they will simply not like the light of Jesus within the believer. This is of course assuming that we live for Christ and aren't ashamedly putting our light under a basket (Matthew 5:14-16).

Jesus takes this a step further. This is where the message really hits home. There is the chance that members of your own family will reject the Gospel. We must be willing to forsake all in order to follow our Creator. This isn't a message of hate however. This is a message that calls us to put Jesus Christ where He belongs... on the Throne of God! This is a message that calls us to draw a line in the sand and take a stand as Christians. As Joshua said to the wishy washy people of Israel, "choose this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15).

Ask yourself whom will you serve if your husband or wife will not follow the Lord? Whom will you serve if your mother or father will not follow the Lord. Whom will you serve? God almighty or your loved ones?

I get so discouraged to see people falling away because they are being dragged down by those close to them who are unbelieving. One woman that I must brag on because she is such an inspiration is a woman by the name of Sonya. Sonya is a friend of mine that has had her share of struggles, but she has taken a stand in her family and has chosen to serve the Lord regardless. I admire that. God admires that. God honors that. The way to love your family is not to be dragged down, but to stand up and let the light of Jesus Christ shine through you. If they are to have any hope of salvation it surely will not be by you giving up. We cannot set our loved ones... wives, husbands, sisters, brothers or even babies above God. That is idol worship and it is an abomination against our Creator. In order to love them properly (and more than we ever could otherwise), we must love God properly and faithfully.

Our call is to take up our cross, and just like Jesus, not look back. It won't be easy. If you continue to cling to the things of this life you will lose sight of Christ. Actually Jesus implies that if you are not willing to follow after Him in such a manner, you may have never truly had Him in your sights to begin with (v. 39). Don't get me wrong. The Bible teaches that once you are Christ's nothing can snatch you out of His hand (John 10:28-29). However, the Bible also teaches that those who are truly His persevere (Matthew 13:1-23). Faith in Jesus is a journey and not a single event. It lasts. It perseveres. It does not accept the truth and then go back to a former way of living.

When we are assured of the hope that lies before us, nothing can turn us back or stand in our way. We will forsake all that weighs us down in order that we might obtain the prize that awaits us in Christ Jesus.

Scott Hescht
Psalm 22 Ministries

The Grudge: A Call to Reconciliation

The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached Part XI

Reflections on the Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5-7

(Commentary by Guy Glass and Scott Hescht)

Matthew 5:21-26 ²¹ "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' ²²But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.²³ So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. ²⁵ Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. ²⁶Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

Scott: At one time I prided myself in the idea that I had no personal enemies that I knew of. I tried to get along with everyone that I knew. It is interesting how things can change. Some have distanced themselves because of the gospel, and Jesus promised us that would happen if we follow Him (John 15:20). Unfortunately with others I cannot use that excuse. Although I would not call them enemies, let's just say that there are those who would rather not call me a friend. It really is unfortunate. What makes matters worse is that the division involves fellow believers.

Anger destroys and that is why Jesus put it up there with murder. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus doesn't just deal with the action, but goes straight to the root. Murder comes from a heart of anger. Now there is a Godly anger, but when Christians divide, God is far from it. Though there may be things that we would and wouldn't do differently if given a second chance, I think our sin nature attempts to place blame rather than to realize that damage has been done and as a result people have been hurt.

So, my brother has something against me. What shall I do? Jesus says don't come before God with your offering (worship) if you have not attempted to reconcile with that person. This is not something to take lightly because we can bring judgment upon ourselves by not carefully observing this command. Oh, how this ate at me!

What if they won't reconcile? Well, that isn't up to us. We have to do our part. The Apostle Paul declared, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all" (Romans 12:18). Drop the pride and make peace. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). As far as it depends on you. That isn't ignoring the situation and declaring that you hold no grudges. It is facing the issue head on and attempting to reconcile. Attempt... that is all you can do. Approach them with a sincere heart. It isn't about being right. If they won't make peace, you did all you could. You love your brother or sister, your conscience is clear and you once again can approach the throne of God with confidence. I'm so glad I obeyed this command. You will be too.

The Law of the Garbage Truck

 

"A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up strife."--Proverbs 15:1

 

Bob Griffin posted a good example of this the other day. It was written by an unknown

author and makes a great point:

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving
in the right lane when suddenly a car jumped out of a parking space right in
front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the
other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head
around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at
the guy. And I mean he was really friendly. So I asked, “Why did you just
do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!”

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, The Law of the
Garbage Truck. He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They
run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of
disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and
sometimes they’ll dump it on you. Don’t take it personally. Just smile,
wave, wish them well, and move on. Don’t take their garbage and spread it
to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take
over their day. Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so
love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don’t.

DAVID STONE
NORTHWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
www.northwaybaptistchurch.org
"In God We Trust"