Casting Out the Moneychangers

Just after Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, He goes into the temple and he cleanses it of those who were doing business there. He said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves." This was a challenge to me to remember to keep my priorities right. Do I allow my work to infringe on my spiritual life? Does my busy schedule crowd out my time with God? Perfectly legitimate things can become wrong if they are allowed to take the place of worship.

 
 

Lord, help me to keep my priorities right. Help me to remember what is truly important in this life. Help me not to let the things in life that are urgent get in the way of things that are important. Help me to have an eternal focus. Help me to see what will be important when I come to the end of my life. Help me not to get overly attached to the things of this world. Help me not to get bogged down in the mundane, but keep my eyes fixed on the eternal.

Hosanna to the Son of David

In Matthew 21, we have the account of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He was riding on a borrowed colt. There was not royal pomp, but there was the praise of those that loved Him. That's what Jesus is looking for today. He doesn't need expensive churches or ornate shrines or huge donations. What He really wants is praise from the heart and sincere service. It doesn't matter as much the amount we give as the spirit in which is was given. Jesus praised the widow who gave two mites more than the Pharisees who gave much. It is still the same today. Jesus is looking at our heart. Because men cannot see the heart, they look at what people do. Let's no judge or be judged by outward appearance. Let's remember what is truly important and serve God from the heart.

Fighting Battles for the Next Generation

http://www.charityministries.org/audio/GH12B.mp3

Two Blind Men

The Bible only spends a few verses talking about these blind men. Yet, there are some very valuable lessons that we can learn from them. Jesus was leaving Jericho among a large crowd of people when He passed two blind men. As He passed, they cried out to Him, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David." The people with Jesus rebuked them, but they would not be silent. They continued crying out for Jesus to help them. Jesus, the ever compassionate One, stopped and asked them what He could do for them and they requested their site. He healed them by touching their eyes and giving them site.

 
 

We, too, are like these blind men. We have many needs that only Jesus can solve. We must also cry out to Jesus for help. He is the only One who can help us with our deepest needs. Yet, He wants us to ask Him. He won't just fill all our needs unless we ask. He wants us to ask persistently. There may be people who will rebuke us like they did these blind men. They may tell us that we can only get ahead on our own. They may tell us that we need to be self motivated. We need to make our own way in the world, but the true Christian realizes that only way to true success is through true humility and a reliance on God. Lord, help me to realize that only You can help me with the most important things in life. Help me to realize that on my own, I cannot make it. Help me to cry out to you persistently and then be willing to follow Your directives.

Where Are the Men

http://www.charityministries.org/audio/GH12A.mp3

The Rich Young Ruler

This morning I read the passage about the rich young ruler. This man has been an increasing challenge to me recently. This man was wealthy. He was morally upright. He had kept the law since he was a child. All this seems to describe me. I have been abundantly blessed with material goods. I have been taught the Bible since I was a child. I have gone to a Christian church for as long as I can remember. How am I like this young man? Am I too attached to the things in this world. Is Christ asking me to give up some of these "things" and give to the poor? What kind of living standard does God expect of His people here on this earth? He has blessed us with so much. Yet, there are so many people in this world with so little. Is it good enough to live on a similar standard to those around us, or is God calling us to make more sacrifices than that? How many creature comforts can we have here on earth and still long for heaven? Does God just want us to tithe and live the rest of our lives for ourselves? How much time can we devote to our jobs, and how much time is God calling us to give for work in His kingdom? How can I make my work at my job glorify Him? Everything we do should be for His glory? These are questions that I ponder from time to time. I pray that the answers to these questions would draw me closer to Him.

Jesus Blesses the Children

Some people brought their children to Jesus so that He could put His hands on them and bless them, but the disciples rebuked them. Maybe they thought that Jesus was too busy. Maybe they thought that children were unimportant. Whatever the reason, they didn't think Jesus would want to take the time to bless these little children. Jesus had a different idea. He told them to let the children come to Him. For of such is the kingdom of heaven.

 
 

Several things stand out to me in these verses:

1. Jesus' care for children. Jesus realized the importance of training children properly and being sure to influence them in the right way.
   
2. Jesus had no respect of persons. The children were just as important to him as the Roman centurion.
   
3. Of such is the kingdom of heaven. Jesus realized that these children were the future of His earthly kingdom. It was these little children who would someday make up his church. Besides that, the church is made up of people with childlike spirits
   

    
    

   Lord, help me to be willing to take time for children. Help me not to look down on the young, the feeble and the weak. Help me to have a childlike trust and willingness to serve You with my whole heart.
   

    
    

Jesus Thoughts on Divorce

In Matthew 19, the Pharisees came to Jesus asking Him if divorce was lawful. This was not an honest question, but rather an occasion to tempt Him. But, Jesus turned it into an opportunity to teach His disciples and the Pharisees. He goes on to clearly state that God does not approve of divorce under any circumstances, "What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder." He explained that Moses had made an allowance for divorce because of the hardness of their hearts, but it had not been so from the beginning.

 
 

But, you may ask, what about the so-called exception clause? Let's look more closely at what Jesus actually said and at the Jewish customs: in Jewish history, the engagement period before marriage was looked on almost as seriously as marriage. A divorce was actually needed to break the engagement promise. Next, Jesus said that the only cause suitable for divorce was fornication. Fornication means intercourse between two people that are not married. So, Jesus was not meaning that it was acceptable for married people to divorce. He was saying that if one of the partners who were engaged to each other was found to have cheated, then the engagement could be broken. In order to do this they would have needed to get a divorce. So, to sum it up, when a couple gets married, they are really promising to stay together until death parts them. Under no circumstances does God approve of a divorce! God isn't saying this to make our lives difficult. He is saying this for our good. As we look at marriage this way, we will work harder to work out difficulties and live together peacefully. Praise God for the wonderful miracle of marriage. May we never break its sacredness.

The Hidden Woman

http://www.charityministries.org/audio/GH11.mp3

The Unmerciful Servant

Peter began this discourse by asking Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother that trespasses against him. Jesus followed by giving this parable: There was a king who took account of his servants and found that one owed him a massive sum of money that he would never be able to repay. So, he called the servant and commanded that he, his family and everything he had should be sold to pay the debt, but the servant begged for mercy and the king forgave the debt. Then this servant went out and found another servant that owed him a tiny sum and took him by the throat and demanded to be paid. This second servant plead for mercy, but could not get it. When the kings other servants saw what had happened, they told him. The king called in that wicked servant and told him how he should have showed mercy as he was shown mercy. Because of his sin, that entire massive debt was due after all.

 
 

Jesus then goes on to teach us how we should relate to others who wronged us or owe us money. We have been forgiven a massive debt of sin that we could never have repaid. Yet, how are we treating those who have wronged us? Are we forgiving just as freely as we have been forgiven? Or, are we outwardly forgiving but inwardly harboring revenge or ill will? God sees our hearts. He knows if we have truly forgiven or not. If we are withholding forgiveness, we curse ourselves every time we pray the Lord's Prayer, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." May God help us to forgive as we have been forgiven.

Father is a Watchman

http://www.charityministries.org/audio/GH10B.mp3

The Lost Sheep

Jesus had been talking about offenses. He reminded His disciples how serious it was to offend one of the "little ones" in the faith. Then, He went on to give a parable about a Shepherd who had 100 sheep. One of them was lost. So, He left the 99 and went to look for the one. When He found it, He returned with more rejoicing over the sheep that had been found than over the 99 who never strayed away. So it is with us. God has a very tender care for each one of us. He especially wants to find those who are lost. He doesn't desire that any should perish.

 
 

This made me wonder if I have the same concern for lost souls that God does. Do I care enough to talk with the lost person? Is my life a shining witness for Christ? Can others tell that I've been with Jesus? Do I go seeking for those that are lost with the intention of bringing them back? Lord, help me to have the commitment it takes to seek souls for You. Help me to keep my priorities right. Help me to remember what is most important in life. Help me to point lost sinners to You.

Become as little children

Jesus' disciples were arguing about which of them would be the greatest in His kingdom. When they asked Jesus about it, He gave them an object lesson. He called a little child to Him and told them that they must become like this little child if they want to be great in His kingdom. He reminded them that there were only places for humble people in His kingdom. Pride and competition for position would have no place in the Church. Only people with a servant heart can be great in the kingdom of God.

 
 

This has probably been a challenge for every person in the Church throughout history. Pride is part of our human nature. We tend to want to be first. We think of ourselves more highly than we should. Yet, it is important that we remember to be like a child. We need to trust God with a simple faith. We need to malice and ill will out of our lives. We must remain humble and teachable. We should be open to learn from others.

 
 

Lord, help me to be like a child in Your kingdom. Help me to rely on You for strength. Help me to remember that without You, I can do nothing. Help me to be great in Your kingdom by being a servant to You and Your people. Help me to remain humble no matter what You call me to in life.