Is this a question that is best asked of our fellow Christian who is better at doing this type of thing? You know who they are! They’re always doing outreaches, working at soup kitchens, and handing out tracts at the campus they attend school at. That is such a blessed thing that they do that, aren’t you glad that God has given them that gift? If only you had that gift too, you would do the same. Wouldn’t you?

Mat 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (19) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Mark 16:15-16 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. (16) Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Luk 22:46-47 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (47) While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him

John 20:21-23 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (22) And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (23) If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Or, better yet, make sure to share these verses with the missionary in the pew, you know, the one sitting next to you on Sunday.

John 15:18-20, 18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

Can we rightfully examine ourselves against these scriptures? Is it possible that our minds tell us we do not have to adhere to this because it is entirely too difficult to be a Christian in today’s society? Can we imagine what it must have been like to walk with Jesus himself and be a light in a dark world? Do we speak of righteousness, love, and Christian living to the extent that we are mocked, scoffed, and sometimes even threatened for the things we stand for? Have you ever experienced co-workers, family, friends, or strangers avoiding you purposely because of the light you do shine? If this is not outwardly and inwardly a characteristic of your Christian walk, we must ask if we are Christian or a Hypocrite.

 I John 2:15-17, 15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

What causes Christian living to become even more difficult than persecution? Let’s reflect on the aspect that non-believers, the lost, unsaved, and other pagan religions are constantly casting their eyes upon us to watch us fall. What are some of the most efficient ways to make us fall in this world? Being of the world, loving our materialistic possessions, bank accounts, self-righteousness, ego, pride, and participating in the God-less culture of our nation is condemned by violating the Second Commandment.

 Exodus 20:4-6, 4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Worldly desires, thoughts, and living are indicative of either the narrow path or the broad path. Satan delights in the ease of steering believers off the path to the Kingdom. How is it that we can allow such trivial, minor things to consume our social patterns, habits, and language to the extent of eradicating the light within? Is serving the Father too painstaking? Is it shameful to proclaim the Gospel to the world? Is it too difficult to trade in the old life for the new? Is it not that being born again brings about new life, desires, and a clean, pure heart ?If we are not walking in the ways of the Lord but of the world than we must examine ourselves against the scripture and we must dedicate our lives to the Lord.

 Philippians 2:12-18, 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. 17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

He laid down his life so that we may have everlasting life. Does the Lord not deserve every soul for which he gave his life on the cross for? Is your soul one of those souls? Are you like Jesus and accused of being a friend to sinners? We are called to share the love gift of Jesus Christ, not withhold it treasure it as if it were a secret only we know. Jesus Christ proved his love for us by dying on the cross 2000 years ago. We can prove our love for him by taking the Gospel to the world. We must bare our cross and die to self, the world, and our life must be resurrected with the Savior and reflect his light upon the world.

 John 12:25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

In conclusion I urge you to look in the mirror of the Lord. Does your reflection shine back his grace and love? Or does it reflect an outward appearance of faith that contains an inward reflection of disbelief?

I John 2:28-29, 28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

Isaiah 40:18-19  To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him? An idol! A craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts for it silver chains.

Scripture illustrates man’s propensity to create his own suitable standards. We value our way so much that even our standards as followers of Jesus Christ, start to become negotiable. When we find ourselves in this trap, we quickly begin making God like us, and in this we transgress His law (Exo 20:3-5). We begin to appeal to our own autonomy. Our defense and logic generally results in a self-righteous sentiment, “but God is loving, and understanding.”

Jesus spoke with a rich man who asked what was required of him to inherit eternal life (Mk 10:17-22), the Lord demonstrated the measurement by which men are evaluated and spoke to him of the law. But this man had great possessions, self-righteousness, and a trust in human attainments rather than Godly gain. But God’s love and understanding said (v21), “sell all that you have,” lay down your riches, follow me.

A scribe zealously assured that he would follow wherever the Lord went (Mat 8:19-22). And faithfully, those who approach Christ receive the ‘love and understanding’ of God. He draws out the truth of his motives by showing his utter lack. Following Christ wholly is dependent upon setting our affairs in order first. Man’s agenda to live life in accordance to man’s autonomy is minimized by Christ’s words, “let the dead bury their own dead.”

It is possible for Kingdom citizens to demonstrate faithfulness, realization of truth, and a casting out of dependence. Casting aside the old man we establish a desire to exchange our ways for Gods. The believers in Asia, under the instruction of the Gospel learned a better way. Their dependence upon magic arts and costly books quickly became irrelevant and they burned them, disposing of the foundation they once held dear, despite their cost, and established a new level to build upon (Acts 19:17-19).

All man is counted as dead in trespasses and sin (Eph 2:1-2), and in his innate desire to worship something, has chosen idols in the place of God. Man has chosen autonomy that supplants the statutes of the Most High and casts out any need for dependence upon Him. But who is wiser than God? Who consults of themselves and receives counsel more worthy than the Lords (Isa 40:13-14)?

We must ask ourselves if our watches are stopped at a pivotal time in our own history. Is the mystery of God made known to us? Have we heard the voice of the Son of God and now live (Jn 5:25)? Or do we seek status in the Kingdom without subscribing to its requirements?

The rich man was dead, and subject to his idols. The man burying his father was dead and subject to his idols. The book burners were dead, but they heard the voice of the Son of God, received life, and cast out their autonomy, their choice to follow man’s ways, his knowledge, his books of wisdom. With Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God, the answer to idolatry is cost counting. Has God’s love and understanding set you free from your chained idols, who are dead works of man’s hands? Or are you still autonomous?

Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, renew in me a right spirit, cast aside my transgression, and illuminate my path with your righteousness. Lord, let my ways be your ways. Let me worship you and seek your will. Let me strive to follow you, the Good Shepherd. I do not want to be bound to the work’s of my mind or man’s hands, but to your word.

Matthew 10:12-13 As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

When you visit someone, do you greet them or bless them?

What unworthiness would necessitate the withdrawal of a blessing? The immediate context appears to be hospitality or households refusing to take in the disciples (Mat 10:9-10), provide sustenance for them, and give tribute worthy of their meat (Mat 10:11). But what ministry from these messengers cause them to be worthy of the gift of meat?

Note, the phrase peace to you in the scriptures as a greeting, come from the Lord after he has been resurrected (Luke 24:26, John 20:19-21, and John 20:26). But curiously,  peace to you occurs only once in the Old Testament from the mouth of a servant to Joseph’s household, “Peace be to you, fear not…” (Gen 43:23). Without promoting a false understanding of prosperity, health, and riches, and the subsequent security that comes from financial provision, one can see plainly the provision God has given to the children of Jacob through the hand of Joseph, by means of Egypt, which is an interesting provision for Hebrews indeed.

The Lord gives instruction for those who will not receive or hear the disciples’ words (Matthew 10:14) “shake off the dust of your feet”. Are their words simply a blessing or greeting given when one comes or goes in a household? As the Lord continues, where there is rejection, they are to shake the dust from their feet. When Jews would travel from Gentile lands back into the holy land, they would shake their dust from their feet because of its unworthiness to enter the land. But, it is the lost sheep of Israel that the Lord is sending the disciples to (Matthew 10:6).

The Lord then pronounces condemnation on the rejection they will inevitably receive on this mission. He says it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city (Matthew 10:15). Ultimately, they have rejected the Christ.

The peace being brought into these homes is the peace that Christ brought to the disciples when they were locked away in fear and trembling because of the Jews. This peace is the news that the Father has sent the Lord Jesus, as he sends us. And this peace is the same that greeted the doubting Thomas who was convinced from witnessing the risen Lord.

The punishment Sodom and Gomorrah received was not due to their lack of hospitality, as some may have claimed. We know that they received punishment because of their wickedness, and received death the first time, and eternal punishment slated for the next. They however did not receive the peace of the gospel, the glorious news of a resurrected savior from the mouths of those who are witnesses thereof!

Looking at Mark 6:12 or Luke 9:5-6, we see the message the disciples brought, the peace given unto others in their homes and towns, was the message that men should repent. Whoever rejected this message, rejected the Messiah, the one who issued the command and who came with authority from on high. This rejection of the Christ is a testimony against them.

We preach Christ and him crucified. We rejoice in the power of him resurrected. And, we bring peace to those who receive it, believe it, and are baptized into his body.

But simply stated, the question is rhetorical, and the author answers his own question. Your life is but a vapor. Considering this statement should take little time. If you’ve spent much on it already, you are wasting precious time. Spending time pondering what our life is beyond that which Scripture indicates, is simply stated, a waste. When asked what your plans are, your hopes, aspirations, or desires you wish to see accomplished, all of it is vein if not done in light of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross.

Our justification is what gives purpose to any effort we put forth to accomplish any deed. The Savior Jesus Christ should be our life, if our life is not in sacrifice to Him, it is a waste. When faced with this question one could think long and hard about past achievement, future aspiration, or present worry. We of course must deal with all of those things, but only in accordance to the daily carrying of our cross, bearing the reproach of Christ, and going outside the camp to Him. That is our life.

One of the major tenets of Satanic Cultists is, ‘do what thou wilt is the whole of the law.’ It is a promotion of self and demotion of the needs of others. Mark Cahill’s newsletter shares an interesting witness encounter with one such person. This philosophy has it’s origins in the fall of Satan and is embedded in the nature of man. Sinful rebellion and selfishness is a natural born trait of all those born of Adam’s race. This selfishness and natural state is harnessed and becomes fertile ground for those who preach or teach messages that appeal to such a perspective.

The proponents of financial prosperity, as in it being the sole purpose of and definition of financial prosperity found in Scripture, usually state that, “Prosperity is biblical.” Indeed it is actually found in several Hebrew words that occur in seventeen different verses of the Old Testament. Context clarifies the intent and meaning of such uses and clarifies the prosperity not only meant wealthy situations for the nation of Israel, but peace and well being due to the blessing of the Lord and His care for them when they were obedient. There is also Scriptural advice that teaches peace and joy during abundance and prosperity but yet during adversity or evil one must remember where it is coming from and that it’s origination is a result of sinful behavior (Ecclesiastes 7:14-15.)

Proverbs 1:31-33 exemplify the results of straying from the Lord’s counsel, and show the true meaning of prosperity having origin in the comforts of “knowing” the True God. Deuteronomy 13:1-3 is classically cited to disprove those who call themselves modern day prophets, but also give provision for measurement against anyone who may teach a message that consistently lines up with the doctrines found in the Word of God and aspires to worship and follow other gods. A good lesson on this can be found in a lesson of ‘TableTalk Magazine.’ Being a professor of faith and then led astray into denunciation of the Lord God is labeled Apostasy, and most Orthodox Christians would affirm that this indicates a lack of true saving faith. Jeremiah 2:19 declares fear of the Lord not being in a dissident. Ezekiel 13:20-23 tells of how the One True God feels and deals with proponents of false messages. The most aberrant aspect of these teachers is the lack of a call to repentance and an insinuated encouragement to continue on in sin. This chapter (Eze. 13) makes much emphasis on the falsehoods of those who preach ‘peace’ when there is no peace. Not knowing the one true God is an absence of peace, because there is only one name under heaven by which men can be saved (Acts 4:12.)

Finally, we see in the New Testament the wish for one to prosper. This example is found in the third letter of John. Simply stated in 3Jn. 1:2 the author wishes the well being of a disciple. One who is doing the work of the ministry and acts toward others in all charity and Christ-like devotion. This prosperity seen here is also one of the well being of the recipients’ soul and business affairs. His well being is based solely upon his obedience to the Word of God and the blessing that comes from keeping his counsel (Ecclesiastes 12:13.) His soul’s prosperity is contingent upon his faithfulness to the Lord and is a blessing that provides strength to overcome the war against the flesh and sinful temptations. This reprieve is indeed true prosperity.

So in benefiting from the breakdown given from our Lord in this thirteenth chapter, I would offer up a comparison that made sense as I read it this morning. When Jesus mentions that “every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house,” the first thought is that He is making reference to the Scribes in the Law of Moses. This sounds great, as it means there were those amongst the hard hearted who have come unto repentance. But this is merely a first-glance assumption and is owed further analysis.

Without indulging in pages of exposition of this passage (which it could easily take) Jesus is not proclaiming the sending of Scribes of the temple, or the Law of Moses, but scribes of the new covenant. Messengers who will proclaim the truth of the Word of God shall be sent forth (Mat. 28:19-20, Mk 16:15) to deliver a message to the nation of Israel (Mat. 23:34) and then on to the gentiles (Acts 9:15). But in both of these cases (Israel/Gentiles) it is not just a message of grace that is being delivered. For those who reject it, and will continue to reject it they will heap upon themselves greater condemnation, it is a pouring upon of more condemnation to those who will reject the message of salvation. Some will hear and convert, rejoice, and serve the Lord, but many others will scourge, kill, and persecute those who are proclaim the Gospel.

It is a hard pressed position to state that there is a separation of believers when it comes to ministering the message of our Lord. There was no certain ordination of who was to be the carrier of our Lord’s Words. The royal priesthood of believers is a universal ordination that includes what we’ve separated as Clergy and Laity. So while the clergy have their reserved parking spots and the laity, if it exists, has no prominence in the body at all, that is because of sheer design. There is nothing biblical about the separation and special attention given to those who “devote” themselves to the administration of “order” in the “local church.” So exerting authority over another because of education does nothing more than align actions with the Scribes of the Law of Moses when in short, we should all be Scribes in the New Covenant.

It could be said that we as a universal church have been reduced to babes running around bumping into walls and needing stitches. We should learn from the exhortation given from the author of Hebrews 5:12-14 and start from the beginning, and teaching each other as scripture commands us to do. We need not relegate this duty to appointed singular scholars who have striven their entire lives for that social recognition, or genealogical birth right handed down from father to son, vocation to vocation, but relegate it to elders amongst us, who qualify as fathers in the faith and servants to the body. Men who are willing to wash the feet of others are willing to serve in humility, knowing that they are ministering to souls, not bodies that fill pews once or twice a week.

Honestly, the only examples I’ve heard rendered are based upon traditional impositions of the texts that imply a church being planted or founded. These practices are then defended by church history and the foundations of those very same traditions.

I just ask a question, is it really necessary to ignore the fulfillment of the great commission, the result of it becoming a gathering of believers, and those believers becoming a local body? Or, do we request permission of an established body to go into a demographic, neighborhood, or community to begin making disciples? The example I’ve seen is one that’s made these observations much more interesting for me. In Colossians we see Paul indicate a greeting sent from Epaphras. The native city of Epaphrus is cited as being Colossae, and it is also implicated by the text that Epaphrus may have been saved through the ministry of Paul at Ephesus (Acts 19:9-10 see also notes on Colossians, ESV Study Bible). The common link between the two is that Epaphrus would’ve took the message of Paul; the Gospel, back to Colossae. And behold, a church was born.

He was sent by the grace that was done in him, and he spoke of the things he had seen and heard. True regeneration and conversion wrought in the believer motivates preaching of the cross. Preaching of the cross falls on the ears of those whom He has drawn, they are redeemed, and they seek to know him daily in fellowship, prayer, and supplication. Granted, the Colossian church was coming being infiltrated with false teaching, Epaphrus had enough sense about him to seek apostolic advisement. But, he didn’t deputize, garner support, or wait for board approval to go.

The remaining question then must be asked. Who is it that builds the church, and what means are used?

If you stop and think about all the accusations made by skeptics and naysayers about the discrepancy between Yahweh and Jesus, your head might spin. You might also find yourself in the middle of a legitimate quandary, is Yahweh the cause of all the anguish int he Old Testament, or are those whom he interacts with?

Alden Thompson sets out on a thought provoking and invigorating read aiming to clarify a longstanding erroneous view of the Old Testament nature of God. With the glaring contrast between Old and New Testament doctrine, one could be left scratching their head and wondering when and where the disconnect took place. Thompson makes it clear that this view develops almost lopsidedly and requires reproof.

Thompson also sets out to speak frankly about the glaring problem texts of the Old Testament, and states his intent to do so frankly. Developing his thesis along the lines of two views called the “high road” and the “low road” approach, Thompson laments what has become of modern interpretation by failing to evaluate the evidences impacting Yahweh’s interactions with Israel. Thompson even goes on to state,

“My “high road” picture of faithful kings, priests, and prophets, who held high the “banner of truth,” needed to be remodeled to fit the picture that the Old Testament itself gives. What a struggle it was for God to reveal himself to those people, people who so easily and quickly fell so far.”

In the long run, Thompson makes a solid attempt at debunking the romantic and shimmering view of the Old Testament saints and their adventures. Although he does not completely hang them out to dry, he seriously addresses their human nature, their propensity toward error, and their need for divine intervention, even of the wrathful sort at times. Stating one of his concerns while writing the book,

“…is to show that it is possible to stand within a conservative Christian tradition and still be able to read the Old Testament for the purpose of discovering its most likely original meaning.”

Thompson intends to dispel the mythical view of Old Testament stories and its characters while maintaining a literal, cultural, interpretation that is faithful to the nature of God. Thompson does an excellent job realigning the big ol’ mean OT God with the loving, grace-filled, nature of the NT Christ. Ultimately, it is not his conclusion that God is very cruel, it is simply that he is just very patient.

Along the way, Thompson develops the overarching story with enthusiasm and cleverly weaves in several topics covering sin, the fall, strange laws, and the “moral blemish” passages. One of my favorite treatments in this work is the heavenly court. Evangelicalism seems all to enthralled with the concept that there is a devil under every bush, or he is a goatee wearing, evil-grinning, demon with a pitchfork sitting on a throne in hell. Thompson surveys the inferences in scripture that clarify the very real presence of tempters and dark angels who were present and waiting to be sent to do evil amongst the inhabitants of the earth.

The chapter titles follow:

1. Don’t let your New Testament get in the way of your Old Testament
2. Behold it was very good and then it all turned sour
3. Whatever happened to Satan in the Old Testament
4. Strange people need strange laws
5. Could you invite a Canaanite home to lunch?
6. The worst story in the Old Testament — Judges 19-21
7. The best story in the Old Testament — The Messiah
8. What kind of prayers would you publish if you were God?

Who’s Afraid of the Old Testament God? is an engaging read that I highly recommend to both scholar, academic, and lay-person alike. Although the concepts covered in this book can seem daunting at times, it is accessible to all audiences with a desire to dig into the true nature of the OT God.

• a commandment of the Lord – Matthew 5:43
• an admonition to do good to those who persecute you – Matthew 5:44
• a practice of the Church toward each other – John 13:35
• an indicator of one who follows the Christ, Jesus – John 14:15
• a laying down of your life for others – John 15:13
• consideration of your neighbor – Romans 13:10
• a manner of proper correction – 1 Corinthians 4:21
• and also a manner in which we must walk – Ephesians 5:2

There are so many other examples of love in the Scripture. Most notably the love of Jesus Christ who laid down His life for sinners, that they may come to God in repentance and granted salvation. I could be wrong, but it seems like this one characteristic of the Christian life is often taught, but rarely practiced. Let us remember these things in our reactions, interactions, and dealings with others today. And tomorrow as well.