Serpents and Doves

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JESUS SPEAKING

   “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.  Therefore be wise as serpents and as harmless (innocent) as doves.” (Matthew 10: 16)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

     Those who accept the Holy Spirit and forsake evil are cleansed of all unrighteousness.  They are made pure and holy; rendering them as innocent as doves.  And yet, unlike natural born children whose innocence is accompanied by ignorance, the ‘reborn’ child of God retains the knowledge of good and evil.  In the heart of every believer, innocence and wisdom exist in harmony.  The serpent that Jesus speaks about is a creature that symbolizes wisdom.  In Genesis, God created the serpent to be the wisest of all the animals.  Characteristically, snakes are rarely surprised, they are always aware of potential predators, and they are patient.  In an evil world, God’s eternal offspring must apply comparable wisdom to avoid destruction. How can we love those who are evil, while also making sure we don’t get eaten by them?  Only through God’s divine guidance can someone be both a serpent and a dove.

     Some years ago a man entered the coffee shop where I was studying; it was late and there were very few customers. He began speaking in a broken English accent and was behaving in a peculiar manner. He started drawing attention to himself by flirting with the workers behind the register.  When the employees were distracted, the man leaned over the counter and snatched some money from the tip jar; quickly concealing it.  I rose up and approached the counter.  When he turned around, I greeted him with a stern look. “Put it back,” I insisted.  “I’m so sorry” he replied; admitting to his thievery; he returned the money and asked for forgiveness.  He explained that he was starving and in desperate need of money.  My heart softened a bit and I informed him that what he really needed was Jesus.  I offered to help him so he didn’t have to steal.  I gave him a bible from my car and some money. After gratefully receiving these blessings, he departed.  Like a serpent, God gave me the wisdom to recognize evil and oppose it. And yet, like a dove, I avoided despising the man, and instead I showed him love, and I cared for him according to God’s will.

    The Lord has called every follower to be wise; equipping us with the ability to recognize and oppose evil. But believers must also be harmless and innocent; showing love and affection for those who oppose what is good. While the wicked seek to destroy the faithful, Christians are called to love, to serve, and to convert sinners.  Walk wisely in the ways of God,. Reach out to the lost and bring hope to the hopeless, and you will know the joy of the Lord forever.

     “Lord Heavenly Father, give us the wisdom to avoid being harmed by evil while at the same time opposing it.  May we be kind to those who walk in darkness and be willing to love the wicked.  Let Your light shine brightly in us and through us, that we might direct others away from destruction and toward eternal life.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.”  God bless all of you!

Being a Good Steward

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JESUS SPEAKING

    “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.  Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust true riches?  And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?” (Luke 16: 10-12)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

    There are two kinds of riches; earthly riches and heavenly riches.  The heavenly riches are eternal; and thus far more valuable.  The word ‘Mammon’ that Jesus uses in this scripture is a reference to earthly possessions; things entrusted to our care by God; like jobs, a car, a home, a wife or husband, money, a career, etc.)  God has given the earth and everything in it to mankind as a temporary possession.  Every man and woman is a steward of what God had given them.  A steward is defined as ‘someone who manages property or other affairs for someone else.’   How someone handles this mortal life, indicates whether or not they will inherit eternal life with God.

    Many years ago my Dad worked for a distributing company.  They owned many trucks, which necessitated the hiring of drivers.  He would often interview the prospective employees.  According to my Dad, as part of the interview he would accompany the individuals out to the parking lot where he would peer into their automobiles.  If their car was neat and orderly they might be hired.  However, if their automobiles were messy and in disrepair, they wouldn’t get the job.  Some of them would complain, but my dad would tell them, ‘If this is the way you take care of your car, this is the way you’ll treat our trucks.’  They had failed to take care of their possessions, so they were rejected from employment.

    Today, the things that we have in this life are not ours.  Our wives, our kids, our houses, our cars, our friends, our families, our bodies, and even our money; it all belongs to God, and we are tasked with taking care of what we’ve been given.  If we succeed in being good stewards of our current possessions, then we will receive for ourselves, eternal possessions from God.  If we haven’t lived as Christians in this life, how can we expect to receive eternal life?

    “Lord Heavenly Father, we come before You and we ask that You would give us the desire to serve You; that our possessions in this life might serve Your purposes and further the spreading of the gospel message.  May we be good stewards of what You have given us, that we might one day inherit true riches.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You; and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you!

The New Temple

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JESUS SPEAKING

‘Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it was marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” (Matthew 21: 42 – 44)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

Many of the Jews rejected Jesus. In response He quoted an old testament prophecy that states ‘the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.’ A cornerstone is the first block laid down during the construction of a masonry foundation. Every other piece is set in reference to this one ceremonial stone, which ensures the proper orientation of the entire structure. Jesus came to destroy the old temple and to erect a new one in its place. This new temple is comprised of flesh and blood. God no longer dwells in sacred buildings; but instead He inhabits the hearts of all those who believe. Every faithful soul is a brick laid down upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. Those who deny the Lord will be crushed by Him; but those who believe will fall upon Him and be broken. This brokenness permits God to use us according to His desires.

Many years ago, a researcher named Jack Lipton attempted to study how the members of 11 different major symphony orchestras perceived each other. He found that the percussionists were viewed as insensitive, unintelligent, hard-of-hearing, and yet fun-loving. The string players were seen as arrogant, stuffy, and unathletic. The brass players were described as “loud,” whereas the woodwind musicians were held in the highest esteem; they were characterized as quiet, meticulous, but a bit egotistical. With such wildly divergent personalities and perceptions, how could these orchestras work together to create beautiful music? The answer was simple: regardless of how the musicians viewed one another, they sacrificed their biases and stereotypes in subordination to the leadership of the conductor. Under his guidance they worked together to generate inspiring music.

In a similar manner, we as Christians are called to sacrifice our own desires and concerns for the greater good. When we lay down our lives and submit to God we become members of the Body of Christ; an interconnected structure of individuals that collectively represents the new temple; the physical manifestation of Christ on this Earth. Jesus is our cornerstone, and when we rest ourselves down upon Him, we become bricks in the Church; a structural instrument that creates beautiful music. May we find value in fellowship with one another; that our faith might continue to grow as God adds to His Church daily.

“Lord Heavenly Father, You are worthy of all honor and praise. May we be broken and added to the temple You have erected upon the foundation of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to desire fellowship and embrace the gathering together of the brethren. Fill our hearts with Your Holy Spirit, that we might be used to add to Your Church daily. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, amen.” God bless all of you!