JESUS SPEAKING

            Then one said to him, “Lord are there few who are saved?”  And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.  When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and he will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’  But he will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from.  Depart from me all you workers of iniquity’” (Luke 13: 23-27.)           

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

            In the ancient world, cities were surrounded by enormous fortified walls.  The city gate was usually a solitary entrance that was open during the day, and closed in the evening.  During the day everything that entered the city was inspected, including the people.  They were asked questions such as, “Why are you entering the city?” or “Do you know someone who lives here?”  These questions were designed to keep dangerous people out.  Within the city, individual homes also had single entrances which were open during the day and closed in the evening […] Hospitality was highly esteemed in Middle Eastern culture.  When people saw strangers in the public square during the day, they would question them politely in an effort to get to know them, before offering them a place to stay for the evening.  They asked questions like, “What is your name?  Where were you born?” and “what city are you from?”  When evening arrived, the master of the house would shut and lock the door.  Jesus used this cultural custom in illustrating a parable […] some foreigners tried to enter a man’s house at night, without having gone through the customary process of getting to know the owner first.  The homeowner replied, “I do not know you, where you are from.”  The owner in this parable represents God; the home is representative of heaven; the daytime represents life, and the night represents death.  The foreigners represent those who will not be allowed to enter heaven.  What does it all mean?  Those who build an intimate relationship with God in this life, will be able to enter His Kingdom.  Those who have refused to build a relationship with God in this life will be denied access to God’s kingdom when they die (there are no more opportunities after death.)  No matter how many times they knock on God’s door, they will spend an eternity in outer darkness.  God Himself will say to them, “Depart from me all you workers of iniquity […] I do not know you.” 

            Today, computers play a crucial role in our everyday lives.  There are many people who desire to do evil things to your computer; they desire to spy on you, and to steal your personal information.  There are many digital walls that keep evil people out.  So they look for ways to be invited in […] Email is a great way to communicate with others, but it can also be a very dangerous way to communicate; some messages can be used as a doorway to enter your system.  I get emails all the time with headings that say, “It’s Jen (who doesn’t know at least one Jen.)”  Or “Hi, I haven’t talked to you in while.”  The messages are designed to make me believe an old friend is knocking at my digital door.  But, one click can open the gateway for evil; a virus can crash my system, or a crook can access my financial records.  To avoid this danger, I have learned to investigate the source of the message before opening it.  If they don’t check out, then they don’t check in.

            In much the same way, God doesn’t open His door for just anyone.  He only opens his door for those He knows intimately.  This life is our time to establish a relationship with God, and that relationship will determine where we spend eternity.  If you have not taken the time to build a relationship with Him now, in the future you will find yourself locked out; and no matter how many times you knock, the door will never open.  Many who have died are probably already knocking; the only thing they have to look forward too is an eternity of looking back with regret, on the very short life they wasted serving themselves instead of seeking God.  If you are reading this message, you still have a choice; make God the center of your life.  Talk to Him; read His word; love others; spread the message; submit yourself to following Him, and when you arrive at His gate, it will open for you, and with Joy, God will welcome you in to His eternal kingdom.

            “Lord Heavenly Father, we desperately seek to know You, and to draw closer to You.  Draw near to us, and help us to serve You with joyful hearts.  Help us to overcome the lusts of our flesh, that we might do Your will in this place.  Father, we ask that You remove any obstacles that are causing us to miss the narrow path.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name.”  Amen

JESUS SPEAKING

            When the hour had come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.  Then he said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”  Then he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”  And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  Likewise he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22: 14-20.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

            A Covenant (or testament) is a contractual agreement between two parties.  Over 3,000 years ago, God made a contract with a Shepherd named Abraham.  In the contract, He promised Abraham many descendents.  He also promised that one of his descendents would bless the entire world.  Abraham cut off his foreskin as an acknowledgement of their agreement (a tradition that Jews still practice.)  With the arrival of Jesus Christ, God had fulfilled his contract with Abraham; he made a new contract in which His Son would die on the cross to forever reconcile sinful with a holy God.  The communal acceptance of the bread and wine was the sign that his apostles had accepted this new covenant.  They each tore a piece from a single loaf of bread, which symbolized the brokenness of his body on the cross.  They shared a single cup of wine, which symbolized the blood that would pour from his body.  This first ‘Communion,’ much like Abraham’s circumcision, was an outward expression of their inward faith.  Because they had spiritually accepted God’s contract of eternal forgiveness in their hearts, they celebrated their decision in communion.

            Kobe Bryant is one of the biggest named professional athletes on the market today.  With all of the cars, the fancy homes, and the nice clothes, it’s hard to think of him as an employee.  Yet, he receives a paycheck just like everyone else.  Right out of high school he signed a multimillion dollar contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.  A few years later when his contract was up, it became necessary to make a new contract with him, or risk losing him to another team.  And yet again in 2010, when his contract had come to an end, he signed a 3 year deal worth tens of millions of dollars.  Some day even this contract will expire.

            Unlike Mr. Bryant’s contract, God’s new contract has no expiration date; faith in Jesus is the signature that establishes an eternal relationship between God and the believer.  Communion is the outward expression of that inward faith.  The Jersey Mr. Bryant Dawned after signing his contract was a public expression of his covenant with the Lakers.  Christian communion is a display of our covenant with God.  We become one as we collectively partake in the body and blood.  If you believe in Christ and have not taken communion, pray that God will bring you to a gathering where you may share in the sacrifice of our Lord.

            “Lord, may we put our faith in You.  May our hearts be united as one with other believers around the world.  We acknowledge your sacrifice upon the cross, and we accept the terms of Your new covenant; we thank You Lord for Your act of charity and love, and we look forward to our future time, when we can finally share a meal with You in Your coming kingdom.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you.

JESUS SPEAKING

            Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle him in his talk.  And they sent to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of truth; nor do you care about anyone, for you do not regard the person of men.  Tell us, therefore what do you think?  Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 

            But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites?  Show me the tax money?”  So they brought him a denarius.  And he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”

            They said to him, “Caesar’s.”

            And he said to them, “Render therefore to Ceasar the things that are Ceasar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 

            When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left him and went their way (Mathew 22: 15-22.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

            The Romans conquered the Nation of Israel in the first century prior to the birth of Jesus Christ.  Like all empires, they survived by forcibly imposing taxes on those they had conquered.  The Jews were a very prideful people; they despised the Romans and hated paying them taxes.   Pontius Pilate (Roman Governor of Judea), like many predecessors, was continually putting down attempted rebellions through displays of extreme violence.  In the midst of this chaos God’s Son was teaching throughout the nation; the people loved him.  The religious leaders hated him; they were constantly searching for ways to discredit him.  Jesus taught openly for all to hear, answering all the questions he was asked.  The Religious leaders sought to exploit this openness; they came to him with a ‘loaded question.’  ‘Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar?’  The people of Israel loved Jesus, but despised the Roman taxes.  If Jesus had said, ‘Yes,’ the religious leaders would have defamed him before the people as being ‘pro-roman.’  If Jesus answered no, then the ‘Herodians’ could accuse him of insurrection and rebellion against Roman Rule; a crime punishable by death (the religious leaders had purposefully brought a group of ‘Herodians’ with them when they asked their question in case he said ‘no.’)  His answer was far more correct than just a ‘yes’ or a ‘no,’ and it left his accusers speechless, and inspired awe in the hearts of everyone who was listening.  “Give to Ceaser what is Ceaser’s, but give to God what is God’s.”  In his answer there were two distinct value systems; worldly possessions and heavenly possessions.  They had been paying their taxes to Caesar, but they had been withholding their hearts from God.  God created every man woman and child, just as Caesar had created every Roman coin.  They were willing to give Caesar what he had created; in like manner, Jesus called them all to acknowledge God as their creator, and to place their lives back in to His possession.

            There are many necessities for living.  Working is one of those things.  Everyone has to work; if you don’t work, you can’t eat.  A paycheck is necessary; you buy food with it, you pay your rent with it; you exchange it for whatever it is that you need.  God does not want his believers to run out and quit their jobs because they appear to be ‘worldly.’  Work is giving to “Ceasar the things that are Caesars.”  People who make a decision to follow God need to pay bills; this is the way of the world.  A believer submits and gives to God the things that belong to Him.  When a believer gives God their heart, whether they sell tile, or serve food in a restaurant, the work they do is no longer done selfishly just for financial gain; instead, work becomes a way to serve God by serving others.  Not everyone needs to change careers to serve God; they can change their hearts and keep their careers.  When I was out of work for a short time, I kept trying to get a job at a church because everything else seemed menial.  My mother said to me, “You can serve God wherever you work.”  Her statement was very true; my heart was what God demanded, at all times.  I didn’t need to be a pastor or a priest to be Godly; we all have to receive worldly wages, but in so doing we can also receive Godly wages because our hearts belong to Him.

            Today, the number of possible careers is seemingly endless; in order to live and survive, Christian and non-Christian alike must “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.”  However, only a believer can also “give to God what is God’s.”  Give your heart to God continually; wherever you are; you can serve God by serving others; in the workplace, at the coffee shop, even at church.  You will never know what is truly valuable until you give your whole life over to God.

            “Lord Heavenly Father, we know that we must be in this world, but we ask you to possess our hearts; take control of our lives, no matter where we are.  Help us to bring glory to You, and to be motivated, knowing that You are always watching us.  We give our lives to You now, for You are our God, and we are Your people.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You; and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.”  God bless all of you.