Burunche’s Blog

Matthew 19:13-15 Jesus Blesses Little Children

Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.”

It’s a busy morning, the crowds are pushing and pulling, becoming more difficult to handle, and the disciples are fed up! It’s bad enough that all the lame, the sick, the blind, the deaf and mute, and the demon-possessed people are showing up. Now parents are bringing their children to Jesus for him to bless them. KIDS? What’s the point of having Jesus bless kids? Surely, the disciples can thin out the crowd a little by dispatching these anxious parents. But when the disciples begin exerting even a little authority, Jesus says, “Stop! Wait!”

While the disciples are becoming agitated, Jesus is sitting on a large rock with little kids crawling all over him. Jesus is praying for the kids, tickling the kids, hugging the kids, and generally having a great time, and so are the kids. When Peter tries to begin sorting out the children by grabbing one little boy by the arm, Jesus stops him. Peter is incensed; all he’s trying to do is to simplify matters, so why won’t Jesus let him go ahead? That’s when Jesus tells the disciples, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” 

You see, Jesus knows things about those children that the disciples don’t. Jesus knows that many of these children may not live to reach adulthood; now is the time to pray over them, claiming them for the Kingdom of God, and blessing them. Jesus knows that some of these children are going to suffer when the Romans finally choose to put down Jewish rebellion; no is the time to pray prayers of protection over them. And Jesus knows that these children want to be with him because children have a much clearer sense of holiness than most adults; if Jesus prays for them now, they will serve God faithfully for the rest of their lives. While the disciples only see children as an aggravation and a hindrance to their work, Jesus sees the children as God’s purpose for his work this morning.

How old must a child be to learn about God? How old must a child be to serve God? Only God truly knows. Thinking about the children I have seen during more than four decades as a doctor, I cannot list a lower age limit on faith. Guideposts Magazine has documented examples of children as young as two years old who have seen angels or Jesus during near-death experiences. There may be children even younger who have had such experiences but who are unable to speak properly so we never hear their stories.

Several times in Jesus’ ministry he refers to the need for “child-like faith,” that is, faith that trusts God completely, just as small children trust their parents. Can those same small children be holy terrors? Absolutely! But the potential for bad behavior does not negate the faith of a child, nor an adult, for that matter.

There are many examples of children who have believed and have followed Jesus from an early age. One such child was the football player and evangelist Paul Rader. At the age of seven, Rader was standing outside the door of an auditorium crying because the ushers refused to allow him to enter so he could hear D. L. Moody preach. As Moody was about to enter, he spotted Rader. Upon learning about Rader’s desire to hear him, Moody ordered Rader to cling to his coattails and thus enter the auditorium. Not only did Moody make sure that seven-year-old boy gained entry, but he also secured a front row seat for him. Rader later became one of the foremost evangelists of the early twentieth century, and eventually the pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago. One of the most effective missionaries ever to work in Nigeria, Mary Slessor, accepted Christ at an early age, working in textile mills until she gained acceptance by a mission group.

Today Satan is doing everything possible to snag children at an early age. We make terrible mistakes when we view these children as incapable of making life-changing decisions. Helen Roseveare tells the story of a young student in Zaire, now DRC, who saved several others fleeing from terrorists by pretending to be deaf and dumb. This brave boy stood his ground internally chanting “For Him! For Him!” while drunken soldiers attempted to question him.

There is no lower age limit on teaching children about Jesus Christ. I have always enjoyed cartoons; however, most of the cartoons these days feature ugly or even demonic characters behaving violently. It’s a mistake to assume that evil spirits cannot be transmitted through the things that we watch; adults addicted to pornography can testify to that. Why expose innocent children to things that will only warp their spirits?

Years ago, one unbelieving mother allowed her eight-year-old son to attend Sunday School at a local church. This lady would walk her son to church and then return home, later coming to collect him. For the Christmas program that year, the kids were singing a song that said, “Christmas isn’t Christmas till it happens in your heart.” That little boy practiced the song every chance he got, and it was that simple message that convicted that mother and eventually brought her to faith in Christ.

The question for us is simple: If we are refusing to allow little children to come to Jesus, is it because we ourselves are refusing to follow him? Have we been resisting the call to become Jesus’ disciples? It is purely evil to allow our lack of faith to handicap a child. Let us examine ourselves, turn and become disciples, and allow the little children to come to Jesus.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help all who read these words to come to faith in You and to become fervent disciples. Help all of us to lead children to You, the only wise Father, who will protect them spiritually throughout their lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 19:11-12 Jesus Teaches on Celibacy

But He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given:For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”

The disciples are forever plaguing Jesus with questions. In Jesus’ culture, proper Jewish men are supposed to marry and father children in response to the commands in Genesis to be fruitful and multiply. But what about those who for whatever reason cannot or do not father children? Jesus himself is unmarried and thirty when he begins his ministry. What the disciples are really getting at is this: “Jesus, we have left everything to follow you, including our wives. Some of us have not even married yet. All this time we could have been fathering children, but we have not done so. Where do we stand in the kingdom of God? What about those who are physically incapable of fathering children or those who have been castrated?”

Used to the Pharisees and the Sadducees assigning places in the religious hierarchy, the disciples assume that Jesus will do the same thing in his kingdom. The driving force behind the disciples’ questions is simple: they fear that they will be in the lower ranks of Jesus’ kingdom.

Jesus reassures the disciples and goes on to describe three different situations in which men might not father children. The first such situation is a man who is congenitally incapable of impregnating a woman. The second is the situation of those who have been castrated. Abhorrent as this practice sounds, sometimes young men would be castrated because castrated men were frequently employed in the harems of rulers where they obviously would not be tempted to have sex with the women in the harem. Sometimes men might incur testicular injuries. And then some men might feel so called to ministry that they would refuse to marry, choosing instead to focus all their time and energy on the work God has called them to do.

Ladies reading this passage might wonder, “Hey, Jesus! What about us? Some of us are childless as well. Where do we fit into the Kingdom of God?” Although Jesus is speaking to men in a male-dominated society, the same categories equally apply to women. Some women are physically strong and healthy but find themselves incapable of achieving pregnancy. Other women may be born with some problems that render them sterile while others must undergo the removal of uterus or ovaries for cancer, rendering them sterile. And then there is the example of nuns in various denominations who have chosen to remain celibate and have served sacrificially throughout their lives. But does childlessness mean someone is a poor disciple?

For many years in Ghana, we were friends with a childless missionary couple, Bill and Myra Chapman, whose ministry was unusually fruitful. Starting by establishing churches in remote areas, this couple went on to found a highly successful Bible school that has since developed into a major university. Although the Chapmans never had children of their own, every young person who came into their presence was automatically accepted as their son or daughter. In a culture where polygamy was rife and where it was common for parents to die at an early age, these young people were in dire need of effective and loving parents. The Chapmans filled that need gloriously.  Physical childlessness moved the Chapmans to parent hundreds of young people, inspiring them and teaching them how to become good parents themselves. Only in heaven will we see the full results of this ministry.

I myself am childless, not by choice but by God’s choosing. For years, we have worked in very demanding environments. Throughout my career I have worked nearly 24 years as the only doctor or one of a few doctors in various mission hospitals. That work has been so strenuous that I could not possibly have parented children effectively. Failures as a mother might have rendered me emotionally incapable of fulfilling God’s call to heal the children of others. We have seen other missionary health workers struggle. One missionary doctor friend had to leave the field due to problems with his children and his marriage. Another friend changed from working as a surgeon to counseling to reduce the stress on his family.

The three keys of working as a childless disciple are acceptance, gratitude, and joy. First, we must accept the fact that we will never become physical parents. In cultures where childlessness is viewed as a curse, acceptance may be very difficult. Family members may criticize while colleagues may also be unkind. We must settle the matter with God and then refuse to listen to the critics. Obedience to God’s will is the key to spiritual peace and to acceptance of childlessness.

How can we be grateful for childlessness? In my case, I have realized the work God has given me would have been impossible had I borne children. Despite my state of barrenness, many Ghanaians call me “Mama.” I am grateful for the opportunity to save mothers and children so that other families will go on. I am grateful for the health workers whom I have inspired, who return to share their joys and triumphs with me. And I am grateful that God continues to call me to do even more.

How can we be joyful in childlessness? Again, it is the achievements of our spiritual children that justify our involvement in their lives. We can rejoice as we see these people progress, marry, and bear children of their own, realizing that we have helped make their success possible. And finally, there is the joy of knowing that we are fulfilling God’s perfect will for our lives. But we can only enter into this joy if we have already accepted childlessness and have become grateful for it.

God has no second-class disciples. No matter what God has called you to do or the state in which you find yourself, you can always be a first-class disciple. A slogan from a few decades ago ran “Bloom where you’re planted.” No statement could be truer. When we find ourselves in difficult circumstances, we glorify God when we bloom where He has planted us.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help those of us who are childless to realize that You are always sufficient and that You are always there for us. Help us to realize that we are surrounded by people who need parenting and that there is no upper age limit on that need. Help us to accept childlessness if that is You will for us, to be grateful that You are calling us to a particular work, and to be joyful, no matter where You place us or what You call us to do. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 19:1-10 Marriage and Divorce

“Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there.

The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”

And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?”

He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”

His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”

In the beginning, God ordained marriage as the coming together of two people, not only sexually, but spiritually as well and intended it to be a permanent union. The Mosaic Law allowed a man to divorce his wife if she was promiscuous; interestingly, wives were not allowed to divorce their husbands. Wives were also viewed as property, especially since a wife or concubine could be bought. Moses warned that if a woman did not please a man, he was not allowed to reduce her benefits on that account.

Over the ensuing centuries, rabbis bent on interpreting the Law had developed all kinds of lists of sins for which a man might divorce his wife, including burning the dinner, shouting so loudly that those in the next house could hear her, etc. Rabbi Akiba even suggested that a man could divorce his wife if he found a woman who was more beautiful. (Enduring Word Commentary on Matthew 19)

This morning, the religious professionals have swooped down on Jesus as he is teaching and are now questioning him. These fellows have traveled all the way to the part of Judea beyond the Jordan, just so that they can harass Jesus and possibly trip him up and humiliate him. As usual, the joke is going to be on them.  

” The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” Why are these men asking the question in these words? They already know what the rabbis have taught, for their own teachings apart from Scripture allow them to divorce at will.

Not only does Jesus not affirm the current practices of the Pharisees, but he goes on to say that the only reason Moses allowed a certificate of divorce was “because of your hardness of heart.” OUCH! This is not the answer the Pharisees have been hoping for or expecting. Jesus proceeds to indicate that adultery is the only valid ground for divorce. Notice that the disciples are little better than the Pharisees, for when Jesus answers the Pharisees, the disciples immediately ask, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” Obviously, these guys have bought into the same idea as the Pharisees, namely, that they can divorce their poor wives at will while their wives are stuck with them, no matter what.

Ever since this encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees, there have been critics who have taught that divorce for any reason is wrong and have used this teaching to bludgeon those who have gone through divorce. Some religious critics even postulate that if you are divorced, you cannot be a true follower of Jesus or else you are a second-class follower. But is this true? Can you be divorced and possibly remarried and be a disciple?

The reasons for divorce are numerous and complicated. Those seeking the thrill that goes along with first being in love may wrongly believe that once that thrill is gone, a marriage should be over and they should discard the current spouse, seeking that same thrill with another person. But God has never intended that thrill to be a permanent thing; instead, what should take its place is something far deeper and far more abiding. Thrill seekers will simply move from one person to the next while those who want true relationships will realize that such relationships take time and work and there is nothing short-term about them.

Many divorces stem from some kind of abuse, whether physical, mental, emotional, or even spiritual. Several years ago, we were part of a training group that included a woman whose husband had recently revealed his involvement in witchcraft. This woman was enduring incredible tortures such as finding the foundation of her house painted with human blood, foul things left in her mailbox, etc. This woman had remained in the marriage until these things began happening, but was finally suing for divorce. Many women-and some men-find themselves in physically or emotionally abusive relationships. Some people find themselves yoked to someone involved in gambling, drugs, alcohol, or other compulsive behaviors that threaten the safety and well-being of the family. God is not going to curse someone who is fleeing a bad situation to save their own lives or the lives of other family members.

Does God have second-class disciples in His Kingdom? NO!!! Jesus pardoned the thief on the cross and called Saul to follow him after Saul had masterminded the deaths of many believers. Jesus re-commissioned Peter after Peter betrayed him three times. Those saved through the efforts of Prison Fellowship and other jailhouse ministries are proof that nobody is beyond the reach of God’s mercy and grace. All disciples are first-class disciples; some of them are simply further along in their Christian Walk than others.

How are those disciples who have not suffered through divorce supposed to regard those who have done so? The same way they would regard someone who has been delivered from addiction to pornography, gambling, drugs, overeating, or any other problem. We are to leave judgment to God and extend grace and mercy, realizing that we too have failings for which others might reasonably judge us. Remember that the fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gratefulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) Nowhere in that list is there any mention of judgment or self-righteousness.

Should marriage be for a lifetime? Yes. But sometimes things happen that are beyond our control. When those things happen to us or to others, remember that God’s love and mercy and grace never end and that we can still be disciples as long as we continue to passionately follow Jesus.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to refrain from judging others about their fitness for discipleship and help us to be loving, merciful, and gracious. Also bless all the marriages of those reading these words. May those marriages become havens of peace and contentment. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.   

Matthew 18: 21 – 35 The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

“Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

It’s one of those days when Peter is totally fed up with his brother Andrew. Andrew is one of those guys who isn’t careful about what he says or how he says it. No matter how many times Peter tries to correct Andrew and get him to stop his wild stories, Andrew has persisted.   Just this morning, one of the neighbors in Capernaum has called out, “Hey, Peter! We’ve heard you are collecting lots of money from those following Jesus.” Peter is fuming! Collect money? Only recently, Peter has had to go fishing to get enough money just to pay the half-shekel temple tax. Peter knows how this rumor has started, for Andrew is fond of telling wild tales and this isn’t the first time Peter has wound up in trouble because of Andrew’s vivid imagination.  

With steam practically coming out of his ears, Peter goes to Jesus for advice and encouragement. “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Peter can’t remember the number of times he has had to forgive Andrew, but surely, it’s more than seven. When is enough enough? But Jesus’ answer is anything but satisfying. “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Peter is horrified. “Four hundred and ninety times, Lord? That’s impossible!” Jesus just smiles at Peter and then tells the story of the unforgiving servant.

Estimates vary, but one source indicates that 10,000 talents would be the equivalent of $3.8 billion today. How the unforgiving servant has managed to accrue such an enormous debt is astounding; equally astounding is the fact that the ruler is so wealthy that he has allowed this man to borrow so much money. By the same token, one denarius would be equivalent to 74 cents today, so 100 denarii would be $74. (A denarius was considered one day’s wages.) One talent was worth 6,000 denarii.

The moral of this story is obvious. All of us are sinners, owing a debt to God that we can never pay, for no matter how hard we try, we can never be completely righteous. God has given us life and health and everything we possess; yet, we take all these things for granted and somehow feel that we deserve God’s good gifts. We all are debtors to God. Given our situation as debtors, it behooves us to forgive those around us for the petty things they do that hurt, wound, or irritate us.

What happens if we refuse to forgive and hold grudges? While our unforgiveness may wound those around us, the person whom we wound the most is ourselves. Bitterness and unforgiveness only poison our spirits, and the longer we cherish them, the more poisonous they become. Truly, we are handing ourselves over to “the torturers.”

If we are to become true disciples of Jesus Christ, we must forgive as Jesus has forgiven. Remember that even when Jesus was hanging on the cross, he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” As the Son of God, Jesus knew every one of those crucifying him; yet, he forgave them even as he was dying. We can do no less.

Forgiveness does not mean that we must make excuses for bad behavior. We can acknowledge that someone has severely wounded us; however, we must ask God to give us His mind about that person and help us to forgive. Forgiveness is also not a quick “one and done” action. The more severe the wound, the longer it may take for us to forgive, but when we persist, we will succeed.

We cannot minister to others effectively while cherishing unforgiveness, for our bitterness will become apparent to all those around us. Unforgiveness blocks the flow of the Holy Spirit, and it is the Holy Spirit who must minister through us. We have nothing in ourselves worth giving to others; only God can empower us.

Today, you may be smarting from some grievance with which you are still struggling. Ask God to give you His mind and His power to forgive.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us are hurting because we are hanging onto grievances and wounds that we should have already submitted to You. Help us to let go of these things and give us Your mind about the people who have hurt us. Help us to forgive completely as You have forgiven us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 18: 15-17 Dealing with a Sinning Brother

“Moreover, if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”

“I can’t believe what he/she said about me! How could they tell such lies! Now everybody is going to think that I am really that kind of person!” No matter how dedicated people are, they can jump to conclusions, make mistakes, and then share information indiscriminately, leaving friends’ reputations in tatters behind them. Is there anything we can do when we face such problems? How can we bring reconciliation and forgiveness to such situations? Here Jesus lays out a concrete means of conflict resolution.

“Moreover, if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” Notice that Jesus is speaking about another believer offending us. There are different rules for handling non-believers, mainly forgiveness without requiring an apology.The first action we should take is to go to our brother or sister privately and begin by asking, “I have heard that you are saying/doing________. Is that true, or is someone trying to spread vicious rumors about you?” Remember that not everyone who brings you information is neutral; many people have their own hidden agendas. Some church members simply live for the chance to cause as much hurt and misunderstanding as possible. It’s possible that there are two victims here: both your brother and you. The same individual who has carried a tale to you might be carrying tales about you to others.

But suppose that your brother or sister really has needlessly offended you. You have gone to them privately but have not been able to achieve resolution. What now?

“But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ “The next step is to take two spiritually mature people whom you can trust and meet with the person who has offended you. (Jesus says “one or two,” but personally, I advise two.) As these people listen while you discuss things with your offender, they may offer advice that will result in conflict resolution. These people will also serve as witnesses in case your offender is obdurate and refuses to apologize, even though he/she obviously has done something wrong. You must give these two witnesses permission to correct you in case you are at fault in some manner. This exercise is not merely to establish who’s right and who’s wrong but to bring out truth as well as peace. If you have truly offended your accuser, you too must apologize. The formula of two observers is followed in Biblical legal trials. It requires 2 witnesses who both agree before anyone can be considered guilty.

Step three is the final and most wide-reaching step. “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” By this point, you had best be very sure of your grounds, for the last thing you want to do is to accuse anyone unjustly. This is why the second step involving witnesses is so important. Those witnesses can advise you as to whether it is time to inform the church or to give the individual more time to think about it. The last thing you want to do is to expose someone’s faults prematurely when they are about to apologize.

What happens when someone fails to follow these steps appropriately? Several years ago, I was helping resuscitate an intoxicated patient with a fractured femur. Those who suffer such injuries can lose up to 4 pints of blood in the thigh from bleeding, throwing them into shock. Because the patient was beginning to go into shock, I had to slap the back of his hand to raise the veins so that I could insert a large-bore IV, run drip fluid, and blood, and save his life. This gesture is a common one that doctors and nurses do several times a day and does not hurt the patient. Imagine my shock when I was hauled into a hospital management team meeting several months later and accused of “beating the child’s hand.” By that point, I couldn’t even remember what had happened, apart from the fact that my husband and I had had to cut up one of our personal student mattresses and use it as a splint because the boy kept losing the pulses in the foot when we tried to splint the leg more conventionally.

The individual who reported me was someone with little or no medical training or experience in resuscitating a trauma patient. I am a certified instructor in Advanced Trauma Life Support with a great deal of experience. Had this person come to me privately, I could readily have explained my actions; however, this individual was hell-bent on shaming me. I refused to expose this individual’s ignorance, choosing instead to simply state that I had done my best and that the patient had survived with his leg intact.

Why didn’t I attempt to resolve things with my accuser? At that time, a political situation existed that would have made such an attempt fail or result in more chaos and divided loyalties among the hospital staff. I chose instead to forgive the individual and simply to have as little to do with them as possible. You must pick your fights, and sometimes it’s simply not worth it. May God help us to live in harmony with other believers, including those who are difficult!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow Your example, for You give rain to the just and the unjust and You continue to bless us even though we don’t deserve it. Help us to forgive when others offend us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 18:10-14 The Parable of the Lost Sheep

“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

Many times, we might read this story and think gratefully about the times Jesus has rescued us; however, there’s a corollary: Once we are rescued, we must go rescue others. Jesus has no hands and feet apart from ours. We have not been delivered from sin to congregate in comfortable groups but to be trained to reach others and rescue them as we have been rescued.

Following Jesus may mean going to dangerous places and encountering people with whom we would rather not associate. Several years ago, at a Chrisian Medical Dental Society meeting, I heard the testimonies of Christian doctors who had deliberately moved into inner city areas with their families to be light and salt in those dark places. These people had opened their homes to their neighbors and had started neighborhood Bible clubs for children, health clubs for teens and adults, and had been change agents in those communities.

On Facebook, we keep up with a missionary family working in Kiev, Ukraine, who have proved a major blessing to all those around them. Despite the horrors of war, this family has persisted in helping those around them, arranging for medical help, feeding, etc.

One of our supporting churches assists a group of 40 churches in the mountains of Guatemala. Through the efforts of this small church, this remote area now has a Christian radio station and several other facilities. One of the pastors of this church even suffered a heart attack while working in that part of Guatemala several years ago; yet, people from this church continue to raise funds and to encourage the Guatemalan Christians.

Historically, Jesus’ disciples have boldly moved into tragic situations to bring light into the darkness. Here are a few stories.

LILLIAN TRASHER (1887-1961) Lillian Trasher was a single American missionary who went to Egypt on faith with her sister and began caring for orphans and other disadvantaged groups. Working in Egypt for 50 years without a furlough, Lillian built a large orphanage that was caring for 1200 children at the time of her death in 1961. Lillian saved many children, especially females, who would have otherwise been drowned in the Nile as unwanted encumbrances.

George Mueller (1805-1898) Mueller founded orphanages in Bristol, England. “He cared for 10,024 orphans during his lifetime,^[1][2] and provided educational opportunities for the orphans to the point that he was even accused by some of raising the poor above their natural station in British life. He established 117 schools which offered Christian education to more than 120,000.” (Wikipedia) At the same time, Mueller was doing these things, he was also heading a Scripture distribution society and helping support the China Inland Mission.

William Booth (1829-1912) Along with his wife, Booth founded the Salvation Army, which eventually grew to become one of the largest distributors of humanitarian aid in the world. Throughout its history, the Salvation Army has targeted the poor, the downtrodden, and those living in unspeakable conditions surviving by prostitution, theft, murder, etc. Today, the Salvation Army remains one of the most trusted groups in the world.

Amy Carmichael (1867-1951) After beginning Sunday morning classes for several hundred “shawlies,” factory girls in Belfast, Ireland and Manchester, England, Carmichael later moved to Dohnavur, India. Carmichael spent the rest of her life in India, rescuing children destined for temple prostitution or death and writing 35 books that continue to inspire Christians around the world. After suffering a fractured femur that failed to heal, Carmichael spent the rest of her life as an invalid but continued to hold prayer meetings and to write books until her death at the age of 83. “While serving in India, Carmichael received a letter from a young lady who was considering life as a missionary, asking, “What is missionary life like?” Carmichael wrote back, “Missionary life is simply a chance to die.”^[10] (Wikipedia)

Mary Slessor (1848-1915) Raised in the slums of Dundee, Scotland, Slessor served as a Presbyterian missionary in the Cross River State area of Nigeria. While other missionaries remained in enclaves on the coast, Mary moved inland, living alone, and learning several languages. Mary single-handedly helped stop the vicious practice of killing twin infants as she spread Christianity. Sometimes, Slessor would wade through swamps with water up to her chin to rescue children. Slessor was so respected by local tribes that she was frequently called in to mediate disputes and would sit for hours knitting while she listened to all sides before issuing a judgment. At one point, the British government had the choice to send in 4,000 crack troops to quell a tribal conflict or sending in Mary Slessor. The government sent in Slessor, who settled the matter peacefully.

An old hymn expresses what I am trying to put across.

I Sing a Song of the Saints of God  Lesbia Scott 1929 https://hymnary.org/text/i_sing_a_song_of_the_saints_of_god

1 I sing a song of the saints of God,
patient and brave and true,
who toiled and fought and lived and died
for the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen,
and one was a shepherdess on the green:
they were all of them saints of God, and I mean,
God helping, to be one too.

2 They loved their Lord so dear, so dear,
and God’s love made them strong;
and they followed the right, for Jesus’ sake,
the whole of their good lives long.
And one was a soldier, and one was a priest,
and one was slain by a fierce wild beast:
and there’s not any reason, no, not the least,
why I shouldn’t be one too.

3 They lived not only in ages past;
there are hundreds of thousands still;
the world is bright with the joyous saints
who love to do Jesus’ will.
You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea,
in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea;
for the saints of God are just folk like me,
and I mean to be one too.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow You wherever You lead us, even if it is into slums, inner cities, or remote parts of the world. Help us to be light and salt wherever You send us and protect us as we go, so that Your Name will be glorified and lifted up as we rescue Your lost sheep. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 18:6-9 Jesus Warns of Offenses

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.”

When I was in Sunday School, we learned a song that said, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.” Jesus has just advised the disciples that they must have the same kind of faith little children have, trusting completely in God the Father, and that they must be as humble as little children. Now Jesus is continuing to speak about children.

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” This is a day when children are abused by the very people who should care for them. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that over 1 in 3 women (35.6%) and 1 in 4 men (28.5%) in the US have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Childhood abuse is common. The National Institute of Health reports that Nonclinical samples of adults in the United States and internationally show self-reported childhood physical abuse prevalence rates of 10% to 31% in men and 6% to 40% in women,^46,48 and childhood sexual abuse of 3% to 29% in men^8,48,49 and 7% to 36% in women. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1494926/#:~:text=Childhood%20abuse%20is%20common.,%25%20to%2036%25%20in%20women.

Worldwide, 27% of trafficking victims are children. Labor trafficking involves the use of fraud, coercion, or force in order to get a victim to provide labor or services. https://www.worldschildren.org/child-trafficking-statistics  

While we think these statistics are daunting, also consider those who are negatively influencing children through pornographic music and videos on YouTube and TikTok. When we deliberately expose children to sexually explicit videos and songs with filthy lyrics, we are stealing their childhoods. When we allow children to dress like perverted little adults, we are stealing their chlldhoods. If we allow children unlimited access to the internet, we are leaving them vulnerable to kidnappers and sexual traffickers.  

Face it, folks, adults should be protecting the innocence of children; instead, they are exploiting it, distorting it, and stealing it. Considering Jesus’ teaching, this means that lots of people will receive worse punishment than someone who has a heavy stone hung around his neck and is drowned in the sea.

“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.”

What’s going on here? Is Jesus advising self-mutilation as a means of holiness? But we already know that nothing we do is good enough for us to earn our way into heaven. That’s why Jesus had to come die as the Perfect Sacrifice for our sins. No, what Jesus is advocating is for us to put away any habit or practice that is as dear to us as a hand or a foot or an eye. Oswald Chambers has observed that many of us are holy in spots, and if you look at those spots, we are specimens of holiness. But we have other areas that are anything but holy; unfortunately, many times, these are treasured habits that we just don’t want to give up. We are more than ready to criticize others for these same faults; however, we really would like the Lord to just overlook the same faults in us.

One of the challenges of discipleship is the need for us to become increasingly holy the further we go along. Obviously, we cannot do anything by ourselves; assuming that we can make ourselves holy is as ridiculous as thinking that we can pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. Disciples are to open themselves to the Lord and allow Him to change them, and that is precisely where the rubber meets the road. As God increasingly reveals more sin in our lives, we want to cling to those sins that we have been enjoying.

While there are flagrant sins such as viewing online pornography, there are also much more subtle ones like gossiping about others in the name of intercessory prayer, charitable giving as a form of self-aggrandizement, avoiding reading God’s Word because we are too tired or too stressed. Many of us may be compulsive over eaters or gamble or shop for things we don’t need as a form of recreation or even over-work. Because these sins may be “cleaner” than online pornography, we might feel superior; however, God does not grade on a curve. To a holy God, all sins are unholy.

I love to read, but one of the things I have learned to beware of is those “cozy” novels or videos that suddenly lurch into graphic sex scenes. The rest of the story may have appealing characters doing fascinating things in a vivid setting; however sometimes, it’s almost as if the editor has ordered the author to have “X” number sex scenes per novel, so the author has chosen to insert one in this chapter. Not even skipping over the sex scenes helps. I have eliminated entire series of novels on this basis. If I must describe a book as “well the plot is great and the characters are well drawn but….”, it’s time to forget that book completely.  

God wants His disciples to be completely holy, and He will never stop working on us until we join Him in eternity. Why should we desire holiness? The more we learn of God, the more we want to be close to Him. Unholiness makes closeness to God impossible, for the Holy God cannot tolerate unholiness. Let us protect children so that they may learn about God at an early age and start on the path to holiness. Let us protect adults so that they can shuck off unholy practices and learn to please God. And let us as disciples give God complete access to our hearts, minds, souls, and lives, so that He can change us into His likeness.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to be open to Your Holy Spirit so that You can change us into Your likeness. Help us to protect children and teach them about You so that they never have to wander away from You. Help us to guide teens and adults into Your way of truth. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 18:1-5 Who Is the Greatest?

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.”

The disciples have been following Jesus for some time now, and they naturally want to know more about the kingdom of heaven. Unfortunately, their question is a leading one: “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Jesus realizes that these guys aren’t simply asking this because they are truly concerned about heavenly matters but because they figure that as Jesus’ disciples, they are getting in on the ground floor and will surely be among the greatest when Jesus comes into his kingdom.  These men are hoping that Jesus will say something like, “Well, of course, as my original disciples, you will become assistant rulers.” After all, these men have left everything to follow Jesus, so they should certainly be rewarded handsomely, right?

Knowing exactly what the disciples are thinking, Jesus finds a small child and leads him into the group. Jesus then tells the disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.”

Oh! Ouch! This answer is not what the disciples were hoping for. The disciples are fishing for assurance and some indication regarding their standing in the kingdom. Humility has no place in the disciples’ thinking right now. The disciples are hoping that Jesus is going to say something flattering; instead, he says just the opposite. Now the disciples are confused because they have been quietly jockeying for position by walking as closely to Jesus as possible, sitting next to him during meals, and sitting as close to his feet as possible when he is teaching. Jesus has also realized that the disciples are ignoring the children who are coming with their parents, even though the children are also listening to him raptly.

Jesus has been observing these attempts at manipulation and feels it’s time to put a stop to them. Competition for Jesus’ favor will only result in division and fights. Why does Jesus choose a small child as a role model? Small children are without pretense. If not spoiled, a small child has no hidden agendas and realizes it is powerless unless adults help it. Children trust the adults around them and believe the adults can and will help them. This is the kind of faith Jesus is recommending to his disciples. At the same time, Jesus is warning the disciples to honor the children for their faith may be purer than that of the disciples.

Recently, a phrase has crept into common usage, GOAT, standing for the Greatest Of All Time. The first time I encountered the phrase, I had no idea what was meant, and I wondered why someone would compliment anybody by comparing them to a goat. Goats are stinky, smelly, and generally have foul dispositions. It took some time before I realized that to be called GOAT was a positive thing.

In this short story, the disciples are very concerned about which of them will be named GOAT; meanwhile, Jesus is concerned about something totally different, MHOAT-Most Humble Of All Time. Later, Paul will write to the Philippians, saying, “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”  (Philippians 2:1-4)

Jesus is trying to teach the disciples that humility is more important than self-promotion, and that care for others is more important than care for oneself. When questioned by a religious leader regarding the greatest commandments, Jesus will say, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

Jesus himself is setting the greatest example possible for the disciples. Paul describes Jesus this way: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)

The Son of God came to earth to be born as a helpless infant and to serve all those whom he encountered. Then Jesus died the most shameful death possible in the Roman Empire, crucifixion. Having accomplished all these things, Jesus is both the GOAT and also the MHOAT. As disciples, let us follow his example!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow Your example and to humble ourselves as little children.

Matthew 17: 24-27 Peter and His Master Pay Their Taxes

When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”

He said, “Yes.”

And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”

Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”

Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

Now Jesus is facing a new challenge regarding his commitment as an observant Jew, the temple tax. What is this tax? “The temple tax was originally prescribed in the Law of Moses as a half shekel, or poll tax, paid by all males over 20 years old. The tax was intended to support the tabernacle and was considered a ransom for life to the Lord. “ (Exodus 30:13 and 38:25)

https://www.biola.edu/blogs/good-book-blog/2021/why-did-the-son-of-god-pay-ttemple-tax

As the Son of God, Jesus is technically exempt from paying this tax; however, those around him have not recognized this fact. It is not Jesus’ desire to confuse others or to present an obstruction that might keep them from coming to God. Christians must be careful to avoid anything that is not of the Holy Spirit. Being a disciple means allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you in every part of your life, without exceptions. While others may be entertained by questionable videos, there’s no free pass for believers. We cannot pray, give generously, teach Sunday School, and then think these actions allow us to dress in a sexually provocative manner. We can attend all the Christian conferences going, or even handle a congregation as a lay minister, but if we are undermining our work supervisors by spreading lies about them, we are still presenting a bad witness.

As Peter heads off for the lake, he must be muttering to himself, “Well, Jesus, you’ve had me do some weird things before, but fishing with a hook and line and getting money out of the fish’s mouth has got to top them all! This isn’t even the right time of day to catch a fish. Any self-respecting fish are going to be out in deeper water where it’s nice and cool.”

The other disciples are probably wondering where Peter is going and why he is taking a fishing pole and a hook. These guys are used to fishing with nets, but hey, if Jesus tells you to do something, you should at least try. Nobody is more surprised than Peter when he catches a fish immediately; in fact, that fish practically leaps out of the water to take his bait. Shrugging his shoulders, Peter takes the fish off the line and opens its mouth, and there is a shekel. Now, Peter is excited! Dropping the fishing pole and throwing the fish back in the water, Peter runs to Jesus, who is standing a little way from the water. “Lord! Lord!” Peter exclaims, “It worked just as you said! I caught the fish, and there was the money! I’ve never seen anything like it!” Jesus simply smiles because he has known all the time that Peter was in for a surprise.

One of the amazing things about Jesus is that he does not leave his disciples to cope with everything by themselves. In this case, Jesus probably could have gotten half a shekel from someone to pay the tax; in fact, there were likely several people who would have gladly paid it for him. But Jesus allowed Peter to take part in solving this problem so that the two of them were involved jointly. Earlier on, in Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus has already told his disciples, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” When two oxen are yoked together, the stronger one helps the weaker one so that both of them are able to work together. Jesus comes alongside us, helping us, guiding us, and leading us into the work he wants for us to accomplish.

For the rest of Peter’s life, he will always remember the day when he went fishing for the temple tax. No matter how bad things get, Peter will trust that Jesus is going to be there helping him. Why does Jesus choose Peter to this rather than any of the other disciples? Peter is the one whom the temple tax collectors have asked for the money, and Peter is also the one crazy enough to step out of a boat on a raging sea and walk to Jesus on the water. Peter might be impulsive and he might lose his temper easily, but Peter also has great faith in Jesus and will obey. Jesus knows that eventually Peter will become one of the heads of the early church and that he will need the reassurance this experience can bring. The other disciples might not have as much faith as Peter, but they too will take encouragement from this simple incident.

Being a disciple is not easy. Here Peter was being asked to pay half a shekel, and he doesn’t have the money. Previously, as a highly successful fisherman, Peter would have paid that amount without even thinking about it. Many times, we may find ourselves in the same situation as Peter, lacking even the tiny amount of money necessary for the temple tax. But God has all kinds of ways of helping us. Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, was fond of saying that “God’s work done God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”  Starting with nothing, CIM eventually grew until in 1934 there were 1,368 missionaries serving 364 stations, including several hospitals. By World War II there were more than 200,000 converts in China. Those discipled by CIM were able to spread the Gospel despite the rise of Communism because they never depended on large church buildings but used pastors and Bible men and women to go into the villages. (CIM is now OMF International. For the inspiring story, go to OMF.org)

Is God asking you to go fishing? Bait that hook and get out there! You never know what will happen when you are willing to look foolish and obey God!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You even when Your orders appear to be foolish. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 17:22-23 Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection

“Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.”

Peter, James, and John have just come down off the mountaintop where they have witnessed Jesus being transfigured and chatting with Moses and Elijah. Surely, surely, SURELY, this means that there are great things ahead and that all this talk Jesus has been making about eventually having to die is not really true. Surely, Jesus is going to fulfill the disciples’ expectations about the Messiah by riding into Jerusalem on a white horse, conquering the Roman legions, reducing the religious professionals to mindless murmurers, and bringing in his earthly kingdom RIGHT NOW….or is he?  

Jesus already knows that his whole life is one long preparation for a sacrificial death; meanwhile, the disciples are vainly hoping Jesus will bring in an earthly kingdom and that they will be his trusted associates. But once more, Jesus is advising them of his upcoming death and resurrection.

Unfortunately, the disciples only hear the first part of the statement and not the second. The disciples understand death. In a time when life expectancy is generally 30-35 years, they have seen all kinds of deaths. During the time of Jesus, there is a high infant mortality rate with many dying from pneumonia or diarrheal diseases, skewing the statistics. Accidents and war claim young people as well, also skewing the statistics. There are examples of longevity, notably Simeon and Anna who met Mary and Joseph in the temple when they presented Jesus as a baby, but they are the exceptions.

When Jesus mentions the resurrection, the sign of Jonah, or any other prophecy about his resurrection, the disciples simply don’t understand. Even though these men have watched as Jesus has raised people from the dead, they still don’t believe that Jesus will rise himself.

Yet another reason the disciples don’t want to hear Jesus is simple: If Jesus is going to die, they too might die also. Most of the disciples are young men with their lives before them; death is something they don’t mention, let alone think about for themselves.

There have always been false teachers eager to avow that if you are a Christian, nothing bad will happen to you. But look at what happened to Jesus’ twelve disciples according to Faith on Hill Church: “What happened to these men after Jesus is based in part on historical record and in part on church tradition. Unfortunately, politics enters into the traditions of men and so we have traditions claiming that James, the brother of John, went to Spain, when the Bible makes it clear that he was the first of the 12 to be martyred (killed) for his faith in Jesus, when he was put to the sword in the early days of the church in Jerusalem.

PETER-Peter was crucified around 66AD in Rome under the persecution of Emperor Nero.

JAMES-James was the first of the 12 to be put to death. King Herod had him killed by the sword in Jerusalem (Acts 12).

JOHN-The writer of the Gospel of John, the book of the Revelation and three epistles bearing his name, John is the only one of the 12 that history says was not put to death for his faith, although he suffered greatly because of Jesus throughout his long life. Tradition says he ended his life ministering in the region around Ephesus in modern day Turkey and is buried there.

ANDREW-The brother of Peter, Andrew traveled north, bringing the good news to what is now Russia and the western regions of the former Soviet Union. He later traveled through modern day Turkey and Greece where he was martyred.

PHILIP-Philip ministered in North Africa and then Asia Minor. Traditions says that a Roman Proconsul was so enraged that his wife had converted to Christianity because of Philip’s preaching that he had Philip brutally put to death.

BARTHOLOMEW/NATHANIEL-Bartholomew was apparently someone who loved to travel. Some accounts have him going to India with Thomas, then Armenia before heading along the trade routes between Ethiopia and the southern Arabian regions.

MATTHEW/LEVI-The gospel writer who had previously been a tax collector, Matthew traveled to modern day Iran and then down to Ethiopia, probably following established trade routes and preaching the gospel along the way. While some accounts do not include how he died, others say he was stabbed to death in Africa.
THOMAS-Although he doubted the resurrection at first, Thomas’ faith in the risen Jesus was strong enough to send him traveling east to Syria and Iraq to preach the gospel, eventually ending up in India were the Marthoma Christian tradition considers him to be their founder. The Marthoma tradition says that Thomas died by stabbing at the hands of four soldiers.

JAMES THE SON OF ALPHAEUS-Very possibly the brother of Matthew/Levi, James is believed to have preached in the regions north of Israel. A non-Christian historical account says that he was stoned and then clubbed to death.

SIMON THE ZEALOT-Simon’s ultimate end is somewhat unclear. When Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire it became politically advantageous to be connected with the apostles or notable Christian events or leaders. This means that places like Turkey, Greece, Rome and Jerusalem naturally had more power/influence than churches in places like Britain, France, Africa and Spain. The majority view seems to be that Simon was sawn in half in Persia.

PHILIP-Little is known about Philip’s life after Acts 2. Some have tried to link him with the Philip found later in the book of Acts but the circumstantial evidence doesn’t seem to fit other than sharing the same name. Tradition says that he preached in the Phrygia region of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and was martyred for his faith in Jesus in the town of Hierapolis.

JUDAS THADEUS-The early church father Jerome called Jude “Trinomius” which means three names. Mark and Matthew list him by his family name “Thaddeus”, while Luke refers to him as Judas the Brother of James. Tradition holds that he preached the gospel in the area we could think of as Northern Syria, Iraq and Turkey. He was said to have been killed with arrows in Turkey’s mountainous northern region.

MATTHIAS-Tradition says that Matthias traveled north, possibly as far as the Caspian Sea. He was martyred for his faith although the method of his death is unclear.

PAUL-Paul suffered for the Lord throughout his life. In addition to imprisonment and multiple threats to his life, Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:25 that “Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.” Paul was beheaded in Rome in 66 AD, possibly at the same time as Peter…

https://www.faithonhill.com/blog/what-happened-to-the-12-disciples

Notice the description of Paul’s career. 2 Corinthians 11:25 “Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.” Paul was beheaded in Rome in 66 AD, possibly at the same time as Peter.”

In modern times, Richard Wurmbrand, a Romanian pastor, was tortured by being beaten so badly on the soles of his feet that he could never stand when he was addressing audiences. Christians in North Korea may be run over by bull dozers in front of their family members, simply for showing a Christian video in their homes. Muslim believers may be killed by their own families as infidels.

Many Christians have died from various physical illnesses. Edith Schaeffer in her book entitled Affliction has avowed that miraculous healings prove that God can heal miraculously. There are those who are not healed but who are given the grace to endure whatever sufferings their illnesses bring, proving that the grace of God is sufficient for these circumstances as well.

Belief in Jesus Christ does not protect you from suffering, but you have the constant comfort and strength of the Holy Spirit and the knowledge that no matter what happens, God will never leave you or forsake you. Nobody else can offer such a great deal!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives, knowing that no matter what happens, You will always be there to encourage us, to give us strength, and to guide us. In the mighty and precious Name of Jesus. Amen.