Jesus For Today

35‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36‘I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38‘When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39‘Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Matthew 25: 35 - 40 NKJV

We spend a good deal of time striving for those assets of Jesus which we feel others around us will surely notice in us.  What better confirmation of being "Like Jesus" than for someone to see His heart and His actions within us.  Our journey to rightousness, it seems, would then be complete.  Gods word gives us plenty of examples of the heart Jesus had for those around Him.  It is well known that He held a special place in His heart for those who were lost or hurting.  It is this compassion for others which unbelievers seemingly refer to when they lay claim that Jesus is surely a humanitarian, a counselor or even a prophet.  However, suggest to many that Jesus is Lord of all which we see and you will definately encounter some resistance.  It seems that we are just fine with the compassion of Jesus, but not for His authority.  However, that authority is also a part of who Jesus is.  We cannot cherry pick those characteristics of Christ which we agree with while ignoring those we feel are too invasive.  For Jesus is not just a humanitarian or ancient charitable man, but the one and all for all creation.  The biggest stumbling block in our understanding of Christ falls on the false belief that it is we oursleves who are in control of all around us.  In essence, we place Jesus in a box, only to be called on when we need Him.  We accept and adore His compassion, kindness and mercy, but our feathers get ruffled when we learn that it is we who are dependent on Him.  The very error of our thinking is that we are the masters of our own destiny.  For His part, Jesus simply waits for us to return to Him.

13He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or eprincipalities or fpowers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Colossions 1: 13 - 18 NKJV

In Colossions 1, the apostle Paul lays out just why the belief that we are a independent self is in error.  As Paul points out, ALL things were created through Him and for Him.  Indeed, this Jesus who you admire for His compassion and mercy is Lord over all.  All things, including ourselves, were created for Him.  This flys right in the face of that which we have been taught, and it is a lie.  It is the very same lie which satan himself believed when he claimed he would be higher than God Himself.  It is the same lie he perpetrates even today.  Of course, he has many followers in his camp.  The very first words of our heavenly Fathers creation story in Genesis also expose this lie for what it is.  For in the begining, God created "The heavens and the earth."  We ourselves were created in our Lords own image.  Of course, if we were truly independent, we would have no need for outside help for we would already exist.  For how can something which is truly dependent be dependent on another for its life, well being and sustenance?  So, how is it that we can be assured that others will see Christ Jesus in us?  What level of righteousness must we reach in order that we may become like Christ?  Well, the truth of Christ, found in Galations 2:20 testifies to the fact that we need not struggle to be like Jesus, because He already lives through us.  It is when we show compassion, love and mercy to those around us that we exhibit the nature of Christ Jesus who lives in us.  For this is the very image of He in whose image we were created.

~Scott~

Jesus In Disguise

19“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20“At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and fmanifest Myself to him.”

John 14: 19 - 21 NKJV 

Lately our discussion group has spent a good deal of time on the topic of knowing the truth of Christ Jesus, which is Christ in us, the hope of glory.  Inevitably, one of us will broach that obvious question of how we can see Christ in others.  At times that may be as difficult as comprehending the truth of Christ.  For there are those among us whom we come into contact with each and every day who we would never guess had Christ within them.  As Jesus told His disciples in John 14, there would indeed come a time when the world would see Him no more.  Of course, Jesus was more than likely refering to His ultimate death on the cross, but there is yet another side to His warning.  For indeed the world would no longer see Him, while many would not even know Him.  In fact, many continue today to speak of Christ as though He were dead.  This, of course, is contrary to what the word tells us about Him.  Indeed, Jesus became sin, was crucified on a Roman cross and rose agian as He put to death the sin nature which had cursed us.  To put it simply, Jesus reversed the curse which we were born under.  Instead of condemnation, we now have life through Him.  Not too long ago, there was a phase in which it was popular to wear fashionable "What would Jesus do?" merchandise.  From bracelets and bumper stickers to t shirts, everyone it seems was asking that same question, what would Jesus do?  The seems like a good question for a world of non believers.  Trouble is, many of those who dabbled in the what would Jesus do craze were themselves christians.  I've seen it for myself, shelves in the church bookstore stocked with the latest in WWJD merchandise.  So the question remains, what would Jesus do?

20“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Galations 2:20 NKJV 

If there is one thing which I know, it's that we who know the truth of Christ Jesus, we know what Jesus would do.  We know how Jesus would treat others, we know how Jesus would comfort those who are hurting.  We know this because the truth of Christ Jesus whispers to us that we live today AS JESUS.  Not only did Jesus tell His disciples that they would know that He was in the Father, and that they were in Him.  Personaly, I saw the whole WWJD craze as just another way for the church to make money off of the name of Christ, but that's just my take.  Tell me, what did Jesus do with the profiteering money changers He discovered in His Fathers house?  What would Jesus do?  I tell you what He did, He drove them out of the temple!  This Jesus, this man of compassion and peace, violently tossed those mony changers out of His Fathers house.  THAT'S what Jesus would do.  So tell me, what would Jesus do if He happened to come across a WWJD display in your local church?  I think we know that answer already.  We know this because Jesus is alive and well and walks among us today.  We've all seen Him, only disguised as those whose hearts are set on Him.  The apostle Paul lays out in Galations 2 the truth of Christ who is in us.  For we have indeed been crucified, nailed on that cross with Jesus.  We no longer live, but He lives within us.  Christ Jesus in the Father, we in Him and He in us.  A brilliant disguise indeed.  

~Scott~ 

Family Resemblence

1Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know bus, because it did not know Him. 2Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
1 John 3: 1- 2 NKJV

I remember growing up in small town Minnesota and feeling as if there was nowhere I could go without someone knowing who I was.  For my father was a well known county deputy sheriff, and his two sons were pretty well known as well.  In a town as small as which we lived, everybody knew everyone else.  It wasn't so much that I was all too important in town as a child, but it was just who my father was.  Back then, I was rarely known as Scott, but more as sheriff Marks kid.  Of course, this has it's ups and downs.  It's good to be well respected, but not so good when your every move eventually gets back to your parents.  Not a good thing for a young kid bent on having a good time.  However, there was something more than just my dad being a county official which I learned as I grew up.  As I grew older, suddenly I wasn't recognized for what my father did, but for who he was.  Now when I went around town, one of the first things people would say was, "Hey, you have alot of your dad in you."  No longer was I associated with what my dad did, but by his characteristics.  As I grew, I now began to resemble him in ways others recognized.  In fact, my grandparents made it a habit to tell me just how much I resembled their son.  For good or bad, I carried that genetic connection to my own father.  No matter how hard I have tried to assert my own independence, I will always be my fathers son.  This is something we all have, those characteristics, appearances and habits which we inherit from our parents.  This remains part of who we are as people.  It is also along these lines that we resemble our heavenly Father as well.  For there are aspects of our Lord which He has instilled in His children, things which are unique to Him but not to all His creation.  This we share with our Father.

26Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over gall the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 1: 26 - 27 NKJV

One thing I have found difficult to comprehend about my kinship with my heavenly Father is what we find in the creation story in the book of Genesis.  For here the story of our Lords creation is laid out for all to see.  Here our connection and familial relationship with our heavenly Father is first brought into focus.  As Gods children, we have been created in the very image of our Father.  Growing up, people would definately see the characteristics of my father in me.  I was his son.  Indeed, being Gods children, we also share those characteristics which are unique to our heavenly Father, for we are created in His image.  Like most, I failed in my attempt to understand just what my resemblence to my heavenly Father truly was.  Did I resemble His physical appearance, does God have a physical appearance?  My understanding was based on my common understanding of physical resemblence, yet this may not be the image of God in which we were created.  So, what traits of our heavenly Father have we inherited?  What is it which makes us resemble our creator?  Well, Dennis had a interesting perspective this morning, as he always does.  For in all of Gods creation, we are the only only ones who share a unique characteristic of God, that of having a choice.  We can choose to do something, we can choose to go somewhere or we can even choose to accept Christ Jesus.  Looking across our Lords creation, I cannot see the freedom to choose exemplified but for Gods children.  So it is that it is not our heavenly Fathers physical appearance in which we were created, but by His characteristics.  This is our family resemblence.  This is how we resemble our Father in heaven.  This is our DNA.

~Scott~

Blind Sighted

15Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have no bread.” 17But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart cstill hardened? 18“Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19“When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.” 20“Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?” And they said, “Seven.” 21So He said to them, “How is it you do not understand?”
Mark 8: 15 - 21 NKJV

My friend Dennis mentioned something this week that got me thinking.  In fact, I'm sure that anyone who heard it would try to understand.  The topic was that Christ Jesus has come in order to reverse the curse of mankinds fall in the garden of eden.  Now, whether this truth was buried somewhere in the scriptures or not, I had heard of it but seldom realized it.  This is precisely what Jesus told His disciples in Mark 8, "Having eyes, do you not see?  And having ears, do you not hear?"  These disciples were in the position of having heard the very teachings of Jesus on a daily basis, yet their ears did not comprehend His words at times.  This should not be too surprising, for these were Jews in the midst of old covenant thinking.  These were the walls which Jesus was trying to break down.  Even today we adhere to many of that old covenant thinking despite having heard the truth of Christ Jesus.  Having eyes, have we not seen?  We've read that Jesus came to be that sacrafice for the forgiveness of all sins.  Yet we continue to come to our heavenly Father seeking His forgiveness for our iniquities.  We wrestle with the condemnation of the enemy which, having seen in old testament scripture the price for our sins, continues to tell us that we yet carry sin guilt within us.  Jesus came to pay that price.

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not acomprehend it.
John 1: 1 - 5 NKJV

We are in a unique position to not only see the words and teaching of Christ Jesus, but to know the truth of Him in our hearts.  The words are in that scripture in front of us every day, yet we all too often fail to see their meaning.  I'm told that the bible is one of the best selling books of all time, so I know that it has been and continues to be read today.  So, the words and teachings of Christ Jesus, as well as the truth of Him in us continue to fall on deaf ears.  Having eyes, can we not see?  For one of the best selling books of all time, few have seemed to come to grips with what is truly has to say.  Granted, many of us have relied not on our own eyes, but on the teachings of others for their understanding.  While not entirely bad, we all must eventually venture into our own understanding of Gods word.  Young christians, like young children, often benefit from the teaching of the word.  However, as we mature in our faith and understanding, we rely less on the teachings of others but on our own understanding.  Our heavenly Father, in His divine timing, will reveal Himself to us as He has done to many before us.  Will we have eyes to see?  Ears to hear?

~Scott~

Warfighter

General James N "Mad Dog" Mattis

"Men, all this stuff you hear about America not wanting to fight, wanting to stay out of the war is alot of bullshit.  Americans love to fight.  All real Americans love the sting and clash of battle.  When you were kids, you admired the champion marble shooter, the fastest runner, the big leage ball players and the toughest boxers.  Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser.  America plays to win all the time.  That's why Americans have never lost and will never will lose a war.  The very thought of losing is hateful to Americans.  Battle is the most significant compettition in which a man can indulge.  It brings out all that is best and removes all that is base."
~General George S. Patton Jr. on the eve of the D Day invasion~

Recently, our headlines have been dominated by the process of president elect Donald Trumps picks for his incoming administration.  One of these picks was a retired Marine Corps general by the name of James "Mad Dog" Mattis.  I find it funny how the media has been twisted into knots by the selection of this self proclaimed warfighter.  However, in my mind this was one of the best selections Mr. Trump could have made.  Traditionaly, the office of secretary of defense has been held by men with some semblence of a military background.  There have been many retired generals and admirals who have ascended the ranks to this office.  However, there have also been a few who, in my opinion, had no business being in that position.  That being said, I agree with Donald Trump on his selection.  For the office of the secretary of defense is above all, a office of war and combat.  As a nation , we must have men in this position who have seen and know the sting of combat.  This is not a position for a wall street executive.  When the proverbial crap hits the fan, it is the warfighter who will provide the leadership and execution needed to protect our nation.  Above all, that is the duty of the secretary of defense, to defend this nation which he serves.  Mattis has been described by some who know him as a throwback to General George Patton, and I applaud this.  As a lifelong Patton admirer, I can think of none better to lead this nations military.  Indeed, there are times when military force is not warranted and diplomacy is necessary.  It is times such as these where diplomats take center stage.  However, in the focus of defending our nation from all enemies, two men shoulder this responsibility, the President and his secretary of defense.

"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf"
George Orwell

James Mattis has been criticized recently due to his comments on killing the enemy.  To enjoy killing his enemy, to relish sending those who would harm us to their doom.  On the basis of these comments alone, I believe that this is the exact right man for this job.  I, for one, will never sleep soundly at night knowing that the defense of our nation is in the hands of one who shows a reluctance in the use of violence against those who would harm us.  To do so would ultimately embolden our enemies.  One need to only look upon the past eight years of our nations history to see this viewpoint in action.  For under a weak president, many of our enemies across the globe have seized each and every opportunity to test our resolve.  Like the bully who has been shamed in his aggression, our nation has become one where we are seen as weak militarily.  You may not like violence, you may despise the death and destruction of war, but to think that this nation can sustain itself on the basis of a anti war stance is a delusion.  Our intents may be for peace, but only amongst those in this world who wish to bring violence to our nation.  If there is one thing I have learned in my lifelong study of military history it is that war will ALWAYS find us no matter how hard we try otherwise.  To be prepared for such a eventuality is our best defense.  This nation was not only born out of war, but it is by conflict which we will survive.  The monicker of "Freedom is not free" has never been more true than today.  How is it that we can expect to live as a free nation when all around us there are those who wish to bring us harm?  Cemetaries from Collevile-Sur-Mur on the beaches of Normandy to Arlington, Virginia bear witness to those who stood not only for our nations defense, but that of freedom everywhere.  To them we owe a debt of eternal gratitude and honor.  For it is with honor which warfighters such as James Mattis stand in defense of this nation.

~Scott~

Guilty By Association

21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He hmade into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of jMan.” 24Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and bek joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Genesis 2: 21 - 24 NKJV

I read a social media comment recently from a christian woman who claimed she felt threatened when she was around other men.  Immediately my defenses went up as I wondered what I myself could have done to deserve this distrust.  Granted, I have never met this woman, but I somehow felt as if I was guilty by association.  Perhaps I am.  For as I read deeper into her comments, I read that she had recently been on a bike ride one afternoon enjoying herself when a man passing by commented on how very pretty she was.  Immediately, as she claimed, her defenses went up.  What the passerby may have felt was a innocent compliment, this woman perceived as a prelude to his aggression towards her.  For her very first thoughts were of recent attacks on women on that very bike trail.  For her, her afternoon ride now became a matter of her survival.  Rattled by this mans comments, she took another way home which she thought was "Safer."  Now, I mentioned feeling guilty by association with her perceived threat because I have been that man who has made comments to women.  I don't think there are too many men, christian men, who have not commented on a womans beauty at one time or another.  However, do we see the other side of the coin as we do this?  In a world where violence women has become somewhat commonplace, have we added to this perception?  Now, I personally have never been in trouble with the law, but I somehow feel guilty by assiciation at times by the actions of a few misguided individuals.

26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galations 3: 26 - 29 NKJV

I find it interesting that the very word we so often use to describe the female of our species has such a biblical meaning.  For scripture tells us that the word "Woman" used in Genesis is often defined as "From man."  This seems logical, for the creation story recounts how Eve was created from a piece of Adam himself.  As in everything He does, God indeed had a purpose for this.  Was this purpose to make His newly formed creation subserviant to Adam?  No, for upon her creation, Eve is described as being one with Adam, "Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh."  If our heavenly Father had meant for Eve to be under Adams heel, He would have made it so.  Fortunately this is not the case.  For scripture even describes Eve as a "Helper" to Adam.  The apostle Paul tells us in Galations that there is neither male nor female, but that we are all one in Christ Jesus.  Does the promise of Christ fall upon lines of gender?  NO!  Paul tells us this is not the case.  We are all, man and woman, meant to be one in Christ Jesus.  This is the truth which we need to see.  To see women, or even men for that matter, as mere objects for our own satisfaction, we are heeding the call of our flesh and not of Christ.  What we sould be asking ourselves is, would we be acting this way to our own sons or daughters?  Indeed, that person we may comment on is ultimately someones son or daughter.

~Scott~

Questionable Conduct

1If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
colossions 3: 1 - 11NKJV

The question came up recently of what we should consider christ like behavior.  I should say, what should we consider christian behavior?  One of our group members seems to take enjoyment from playing in card tournaments.   Now, I will say that I have told him, and I believe, that this activity is not immoral.  Rather, I see it as a brother taking enjoyment in his spare time.  Trust me, I would rather he do this that indulge in alchohol, drugs, prostitution or any other number of ungodly behaviors.  I'm sure that his family would agree.  What brought this into discussion was his uneasiness that his actions while playing cards would not be approved of by Christ for one of His followers.  These actions include possibly being deceitful in misleading other players as to our true intentions.  Now, anyone who has played poker before knows that a certain element of dishonesty is inherent in the game.  The poker face, the optional sunglasses in a bright room all seek to mislead or conceal the hand one is holding.  Now, I will admit that I have never indulged in playing poker.  I am not foolish enough to convince myself that I am any good at the game.  However, what of the man who indulges his time in enjoyment of this game?  Should there be a special judgement reserved for such people?  Why?  I am inclined to ask just what the difference is between the man who fears he is being deceitful while playing poker and the mans who calls his wife from the bar where he is watching football with friends and deceives her by saying he will "Be home soon?"  Are not both brothers being deceitul in their own way?  What of the man who wanders off fishing or hunting while neglecting his duties at home?  My point here is that we can all too often cherry pick  the "Sins" of other believers.

1“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2“For with what bjudgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5“Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."
Matthew 7: 1 - 6 NKJV

I am reminded of what Christ Jesus Himself told those who were gathered on the mount of Olives that day.  Why do we look for the sin of another, when there is plenty to see if we only will look in the mirror.  Or is there?  As our brother had doubts on his hobby, Dennis was quick to affirm that, as for we who have accepted Christ Jesus, our sins past, present and future have been erased forever.  So, I dare say that the worries of my brother are unfounded.  I can attest to the charachter of this man, who is a true follower of Jesus.  To even suggest that he would purposely engage in something which ran contrary to his beliefs would be met with my highest doubt.  So what shall we say, then, to the brother or sister who may feel that tug of guilt in their behavior.  Well, I would suggest, as the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8, that there is indeed no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus who walk now according to His spirit which is within us.  For as followers of Jesus we live each and every day AS HIM.  Therefore, something very unique happens when we ultimately realize this fact of who we really are.  For if and when those behaviors which may be contrary to Christ within us come about, we can proclaim with much confidence..."THAT ISN'T THE MAN I AM!"