The Words of my Mouth

 Satellite Picture of the Island of Crete 

For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons." This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith  and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.Titus 1:10-16

In this text from the letter Paul wrote to Titus we find some of the sharpest words in the New Testament directed against two groups of people.  The "circumcision group" were Jews who were teaching new Christians that they must obey the old Jewish laws and observe the traditions and food restrictions set forth by Moses.  Paul objected to this teaching because, as Christians, we are required to believe, only, in Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross.  No work or observance is added to that.  Not circumcision or observance of feasts or food laws will make us righteous.


The second group is the people of Crete.  He quotes a prophet of Crete who labels their people as disreputable and unholy.  Paul makes the point that the mind of the inner man is the place the struggle takes place.  When the mind has been corrupted, it takes a severe charge to overcome the errors.  To claim to know the truth, one must show by actions that the mind has changed.  Mere words or mental ascent is not sufficient.  Behavior must also show that the words of the confession are true.


Matthew 12:35     A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him


It's easy to speak good words.  Examine your own heart and make certain that your motives and actions are as pure as the words you speak.  

How Did Jesus Choose Disciples?

Luke 5:1-11 and Matthew 4:18-21 tell slightly different versions of the calling of the first disciples, but there are enough similarities to suggest that they are describing the same event.  The similarities are easy to recognize:  in both accounts the location is the Lake of Genneserat, also sometimes called the Sea of Galilee.  

Mark's Gospel is also very similar.  Jesus had begun to gather a following as an itinerant  preacher.  The Sermon on the Mount is believed by many scholars to be a sort of summary of several preaching tours and their messages.  These three accounts describe his preaching to crowds and give some details of the contents: He called for repentance and obedience.  

The Sermon on the Mount goes into greater detail and gives examples of the reality of his message in the lives of the listeners. It was not until after John the Baptist  was put in prison that he became bolder and more urgent in his preaching.  

The Gospel of John does not give any details about the birth of Jesus.  Both John and Mark begin with the baptism and give details about the recruiting of disciples.  John does not mention the time in the wilderness but Mark does.  When Jesus returned from that time of testing and prayer, John the Baptist told some of his disciples that this was the one to follow.  He said, "Look. the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world."  These disciples were Andrew and John.  When they asked Jesus as a sort of an introduction where he was staying, he invited them, "Come and see."  

He had moved from his boyhood home in Nazareth to the town of Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee.  They visited him and they brought other people to meet him too. Andrew brought his brother Peter, and John brought James.  Andrew was from the same town as Philip. Then, Philip brought Nathanael. At first, it was just to get acquainted.  The serious call to be a disciple  came later. He also identified some they didn't bring who he would eventually make a part of his band, like Levi.  

When he decided to call them to become disciples he began with two of the fishermen, Peter and Andrew.  Then John and James who were also also fishermen and co-workers in the the business. Philip and Nathanael came as a result of Philip's invitation to "Come and see." In Luke"s account Levi was the next one to be called, but in Matthew's account, he was not called until after an extended preaching tour. He was a tax collector. Both Luke and Matthew record the big feast Matthew held to announce that he had joined in the band of Jesus's followers. 

Sometimes the memories of the writers focus on what was important to them.  It is a puzzle of memories and observations and we must read it carefully to find the clues that reveal the person and work of Jesus.  It is both challenging and wonderfully exciting.

Bible references are from the NIV.  Read Matthew 4:18-21, Luke 5:1-11, John 1:28-50, Matthew 9:9-12, Mark 1:16-20 to find other details.

The Rock of Our Salvation

Mount Rainier 7431 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.Matthew 16:18(KJV)


Jesus asked the disciples what the gossip was about him, "Who do people say I am." The answers were confused:  some said he was John the Baptist, or Isaiah, or another of the prophets.  No one said he was the Messiah.  Then he asked the disciples who they said he was.  Simon Peter immediately answered for the group.  In other places he identifies himself as the Son of God.  In John 8 he argues for an extended period to prove to the Pharisees that he is the Christ, but they did not believe.  


Here in Matthew Jesus does not go into extended argument, he just asked them who they said he was to the new followers, or to the crowds, or their families.  Then Peter gives him the opportunity to proclaim himself to be the Christ.  Peter said,"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."  


Some people view this as placing emphasis on Peter and I take exception to that.  He was not putting any responsibility on Peter.  The rock he was building the church on was Peter's statement that Jesus is the Christ.  Jesus is the one who is the Rock.  Many scriptures in the Old Testament refer to God as the Rock of our salvation.  They are testimonies to the protection and security God provides, and his infallible nature, and his everlasting character.  These attributes are true of Jesus as well as the Father.  He built the Church on himself, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.

Is Easter Real or Not?

With Easter just past, I was reminded or a book by Hugh J. Schonfield entitled The Passover Plot in which the author tries to  prove that Jesus was a charlatan who engineered the crucifixion and the events leading to it to make it fit the prophecies.  He even says that the betrayal of Jesus by Judas was a hoax.  The story goes that Jesus told Judas how to accomplish the betrayal to fit the signs in Isaiah and Psalms and the other prophets. Schonfield even says the death was faked with a drug.


Schonfield builds a very tight framework for his proposition of Jesus as a sincere pretender.  The Christian believers have not flocked to Schonfield for prayer or support when they are in need or solace.  Surprisingly, there are still people who believe in the risen Christ.  Actually, I think it would be impossible to fake the crucifixion, especially when you remember that Jesus had very credible proof that he was the Son of God before he got that far.  He was born of a virgin as testified by all the Gospels.  He performed miracles that convinced the disciples he was the Son of God.  Many people believed on him and received miracles at his hand.  


Fulfilling the prophecies from Isaiah 53, Psalms 22,   and multiple other scriptures is proof that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah.  In addition to the prophecies is not the only proof of his claim.  There is also the continuing story of the Church he established to witness to the fact that he was who he claimed to be.  Read the Bible and find the proof for yourself.  Live in faith and you, too, will become evidence that Jesus is the Son of God.

Joy Is Not Always Fun

 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  James 1:2-3

Listen, I don't want to be a Christian if it's not going to be joyful and a splendid way to live with good things happening.

Did somebody promise you that the Christian life would be a walk in the park, a real picnic?  I know you hear a lot about how joyous you are supposed to be when you are a Christian, praising God and looking happy and getting the best seats for the show, but there is another side to it.

Well, it can't be very hard.  After all, you don't do anything but go to Church.

No, that's not quite right either.  You still have to make a living, work, you know, and send your kids to school, and buy groceries, and pay bills.  You face all the same demands as any other person in this world.  There is disease, disorder, and disaster that comes on all people, and it will come to you too.

Then being a Christian doesn't really benefit me.  Man, what a crock!  I thought you had a gimmick here.  I've had financial  problems and illness.  If God doesn't relieve me of that, what's the use?

You need to read all of it--the part about perseverance.  Sometimes you have to tie a knot in the rope and hang on.  But it's really more than that, too.  You hang on because you believe that God loves you and has given you grace to endure to the end.  There is the joy part too.  Joy in the love you have for family and friends is still a blessing of God.  There is joy in knowing that Jesus' death relieved you of sin.  All you have to do is confess to him, and he takes the sin to himself.

I guess so.  But man, that takes a long time.  I need help now.

Yeah, I know.  It all started with instant coffee, now we want everything instant.  God doesn't work that way.  He is in this thing for the long haul.  He is patient so he can see results in you, and learning perseverance may be your first lesson.  You have to keep on keeping on.  

I don't see that he has put a limit on how long to persevere.

That's true.  And I'll give you another hint   When one is over and you have learned the lesson he wanted to teach in that trial, you may find there is another one maybe even worse.  But by that time, you may also find the joy

Paul"s Prayer for the Ephesians

Do you pray for people, situations, and conditions?  We are commanded to pray about those events and problems that most of us just worry about.  Praying about those things relieves us of all that worry and mental anguish.  When we release the matter to God, we can be assured that he will take care of it.  That is easy to say, but sometimes it's hard to do.


In Ephesians chapter 1, Paul gives us insight into prayer as he prays for those he is writing to.  Prayer does not require that we agonize and cry and plead with God.  Paul prayed by first giving thanks for the salvation of the Ephesians and remembering them.  As he prayed he called on God and proclaimed him as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and the source of the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.  


The object of Paul's entreaty was not physical comfort or blessing, but that they may know God and the Lord Jesus Christ better.  He continued to pray that their eyes may be opened to see the hope to which he has called you and to be able to see and claim the inheritance which is yours.  


We are recipients of the power of God working in us and the mighty strength which he exerted in Christ to raise him from the clutches of death and seated him at his right hand on a throne of grace.  


I am guilty of praying for mundane and trivial matters.  Money, health, comfort, and jealousy shrivel in comparison to the might and power, glory and grace, dominion and revelation he calls us to view.  Paul wants us to see that our inheritance and possession is far above and beyond what we see.  With wonders at our fingertips  we focus on the trash and the trivial.  


These minor matters are swallowed up in God's view.  Of course they are a bother, but we must not let them distract us from God's intention and God's plan.  Submit them to him and let it go.  We don't have to hold on to the temporal and physical elements, but we must always renew our commitment to see God's vision and see ourselves in it.   


Ephesians 1:15-23  ¹⁵ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, ²⁰ which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.(NIV)

Isaiah Had a Lot to Say

I  finished the Bible Study Fellowship Study of Isaiah last year. I found it facinating. Isaiah is  the most quoted of the Old Testament prophets. Jesus, Paul, and other writers refer to him many times. His prophesies foretell the birth, life and death of Jesus as well as the end times and the coming of the Kingdom.

The prophets, and Isaiah is no exception, focus heavily on judgment, sin, and retribution. In our society, much like the society of the people Isaiah preached to, we resist that negative stuff and avoid the whole idea of the consequences of sin. It doesn't make Isaiah very popular in pulpits around town, but it will get back to his message eventually.

I see the people in the news--Lindsay Lohan, Charlie Sheen, Tiger Woods--whose behavior has been objectionable getting praises and press notices without any evidence of shame. They are applauded and immulated rather than chastised, and their publicity gurus are thrilled that they get noticed. No matter that their behavior is shortening their lives, that their sins are a burden they cannot carry, and their lives are a hollow reflection of real purpose. In the last chapter of Isaiah he calls for all of us to come with a humble and contrite spirit in repentance as we hear the word of God.

It will benefit our nation to read Isaiah with deliberate attention and understand its words. It is truly amazing to me that people do not see the damage their sins produce in their bodies and in their lives. God will bring judgment, but the natural course of sin will bring it, too, and with any kind of common sense we should be able to predict that without Isaiah.