Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Where's the Line?
Monday, March 14, 2011
Parable of the Sower: Stony Places
Monday, February 14, 2011
Hell Is Real
- Hell is real (He references it THREE times, not just once)
- Hell's fire will never be quenched (eternal judgment)
- The worm there does not die (a chilling glimpse at one aspect of hell's torture)
Saturday, February 12, 2011
You Can't Get to Heaven That Way
Monday, January 24, 2011
Hypocrites
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Thorns
The following is part of a study I'm doing on the Parable of the Sower. This part of the parable resonates deeply with me, since we are where we are in history, and the kind of society we're living in. I think this parable, found in Matthew 13, along with the other two passages cited, Luke 14:15-24 and Matthew 22:1-14, serve as a clarion call to the church here in these last days. I've always been blown away by the time Jesus said that we can't serve two masters, because we'll hold to the one and despise the other. He said, "you can't serve God and mammon," as if these are the two main gods that people worship. Of all the idols in the world, I've always found it fascinating that Jesus would choose to pit these two as opposites in that particular sermon. That says something about man: that in pursuit of money he would be more than happy to abandon the one true God. The aforementioned passages deal with this god of men's hearts, and serve as a great reminder and warning to keep our priorities straight. I hope you enjoy it, but moreover, I hope it challenges you.
#3 Thorns
When the word of God falls among thorns, Jesus tells us in verse 22 that it’s the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches that are represented. These are the things that choke out the word so that that person becomes unfruitful. The same parable in Mark adds, “and the desires for other things.” I’m convinced that in the church today (in America anyway), these three things are the number one distractions for Christians. This society is so loaded down with marketing and consumerism that you would think the key to a person’s eternal fulfillment is the acquisition of more stuff. It certainly is not, but those who excel at the science of marketing would have us believe otherwise. After all, the economy depends on it.
There’s a parable in Matthew 22:1-14 and Luke 14:15-24 that serves as an excellent cross reference for further study on this type of heart attitude. This is the story that Jesus relays about a man who throws a big banquet and invites many. Matthew’s account states that this is the marriage banquet of a king’s son. This king throws a huge party for his son’s wedding and invites many, but we quickly see the hearts of those who were invited. Matthew’s account renders it this way:
“But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business….”
Luke’s gospel says it this way:
“But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them, I ask you to have me excused.’ Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’”
Interestingly enough, in the Matthew account, the word “business” in the original language could be interpreted “merchandise.” So while one refused to go to the party and went to his farm, the other went back to his “merchandise.” If we look at the excuses of those who were invited in Luke’s account, we see that they have a similar thread running through them (buying property and livestock), at least the first two.
The fact of the matter is, we have all been invited to the greatest party of all time. God invites us to take part in the wedding feast of the Lamb of God. The question then becomes, are we excited about this eternal banquet, or are we so distracted with our temporal merchandise and the other stuff we have going on, that we make light of the invitation we’ve been given? Do we make light of God’s invitation? I certainly hope not.