Burunche’s Blog

Matthew 20:1-16 The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

Matthew 19:29 – 30 ^“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Matthew 20:1-16 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’

“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

The division into chapters was done long after someone recorded the sayings of Jesus, so the last verses of Matthew 19 obviously belong with the story in Matthew 20. Jesus has reassured the disciples that their sacrifices will be rewarded, but now he needs to make a point: Rewards in the kingdom aren’t necessarily based on the time served as a disciple. To explain this point, Jesus tells this story.

The landowner employs several men at the beginning of the day for a denarius, the standard day’s wage. Subsequently, the landowner finds more men standing around and employs them, promising the same wage. Finally, only one hour before the end of the working day, the landowner employs even more workers. When the workers are receiving their wages, those hired at the last moment are paid as much as those who have been toiling all day, working hard and sweating in the heat. Is this fair?

Jesus wants his listeners to understand that God the Father will reward those who become disciples at the last moment in the same manner that He will those who have been disciples al their lives. Why is God doing this?

No matter how hard we try, none of us can earn our way into heaven. We are only saved by faith in Jesus Christ and his blood sacrifice for our sins. Here the denarius represents eternal life, and that reward is the same for all believers, whether someone becomes a believer as a child or as an elderly adult. We are not saved by our own efforts; indeed, we should serve God because we love Him and are grateful to Him for His many benefits. We honor God most when we use the gifts and talents He has given us to work for His glory.

Nana Roberta Hampton taught school in America until the age of 60. That’s when Nana Roberta’s second career as a missionary literacy teacher began. For the next twenty years, Nana Roberta trained trainers to teach literacy classes in a host of languages in Ghana. Even after Nana retired, she was still returning to Ghana to train instructors and maintained an active email correspondence until her death at age 89. Only in eternity will we know the fruits of Nana’s ministry; yet, her reward will be the same eternal life as that of someone accepting Christ with their last breath.  

Described as “the evil genius of the Nixon administration,” Chuck Colson accepted Christ while in prison at age 42. Once saved, Colson founded Prison Fellowship International, a ministry that continues to bring the Gospel and hope to prisoners around the world. Colson lived to the age of 80, accomplishing great things for the Kingdom of God; yet, his reward in heaven will be the same eternal life as someone who has believed at age 5 or someone who has accepted Christ on their death bed. Jesus assured the thief on the cross that he would be with Jesus in Paradise.

The problem with these fellows who griped was that they pitied themselves for working long hours through the heat, even though they agreed to work at the beginning of the day and could well anticipate how hot and tired they might become. Although these men had agreed to work for a day’s wage, they couldn’t help being angry at the landowner when he rewarded the late comers with that same wage. But what if the landowner knew things these complainers did not? It sounds as if the landowner hired everyone available at the beginning of the day. What if the landowner realized that the latecomers had traveled long distances or that they had major problems in their families that had kept them from reporting to the pool of workers earlier?

Not only is this parable a teaching on eternal life but it also applies to the dynamics of Christian groups. Sometimes old-timers in a group resent newcomers, fearing the newcomers will take over or will be favored; yet, all are working for the same Master, Master Jesus. Jesus knows our hearts better than we do. Let those of us who have borne the heat of the day not resent those who come later, for we have no idea what those people might have suffered on their way to faith.

There is no wrong age at which to become a disciple; every age is good. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 tells us, “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

We only have today in which to decide. Choose to follow Jesus. Choose to become a disciple.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help all who read these words to choose to follow You NOW, not later! Help them to fully commit themselves to You for their entire lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 19:16-30 Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler

“Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

He said to Him, “Which ones?”

Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

With God All Things Are Possible

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”

So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

They call him a rich young ruler, a man who has everything., a golden boy. Born into a wealthy family, careful to observe all the Jewish laws, this young man appears to have it all. But somehow, all these riches, all this popularity, and all this social position has left this fellow with a gaping hole in his heart. So this young man questions Jesus, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

The answer Jesus gives is anything but satisfactory. This guy is hoping for affirmation; perhaps Jesus will say, “Oh, you are already doing enough. You are on your way to eternal life.” Or perhaps Jesus might say, “Well, here are a few more things for you to do to earn eternal life” and then give a list of requirements. This man is certain that whatever Jesus advises, he is fully capable of doing. But Jesus pulls him up short.

“Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” “Great!” says the young man. “I’m already observing all the commandments. What else?” And that’s where reality sets in, for the next thing Jesus tells him is, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Say what? This fellow has extensive possessions and is so wealthy that he pays a steward to keep track of everything for him. Pierced to the heart, the young man leaves, wondering how he can ever do what Jesus has just asked.

The disciples are shocked, horrified, and mystified. While the disciples have left everything, some of them didn’t have much to start with. But this young man has it all, so how can Jesus possibly demand that he abandon such riches and social position?

Jesus advises the disciples that following him is one of the most difficult things anyone can do. According to Wikipedia, the “Eye of the Needle” has been claimed to be a gate in Jerusalem, which opened after the main gate was closed at night. A camel could not pass through the smaller gate unless it was stooped and had its baggage removed. In the same way, Jesus is saying that anyone wishing to become a disciple must be willing to abandon all those things they think will make them fit for discipleship. Only faith in Jesus Christ can fit any of us to become a disciple.

At this point, the disciples are really worried, for they have left everything behind. Jesus reassures them that they will have a heavenly reward. But Jesus also says that there will be many others who will also reap rich rewards in heaven.

Many of us might be wondering if we fit into the same category as the rich young ruler. Be encouraged that many traditions suggest that this young man was Mark, who later interviewed Peter and wrote one of the Gospels and who accompanied Barnabas on missionary journeys.

Millard Fuller was a highly successful businessman who became a millionaire by age 29; however, these riches failed to satisfy him. Fuller and his family abandoned their wealth, moving first to a Christian commune and then to Zaire, where Fuller first became aware of the crying need for affordable housing for the poor. Eventually, Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity, a charity that has built houses all over the world using donated materials and volunteer labor. Millions of people have gotten safe and secure shelter because Fuller abandoned his quest for money to follow Jesus. Once committed to Jesus Christ, Fuller never looked back. (Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has worked on many of the Habitat houses in America.)

Must one give up everything to become a disciple? Not necessarily. The lesson for would-be disciples is simple: Hold your possessions lightly, so that if God asks you to give them up, you can do so readily. God may call you to use your possessions to reach others; for example, you might be a member of a yacht club. Your fellow members need to hear about Jesus just as much as anyone else. A retired pastor friend in Ghana is witnessing effectively to chiefs because he too is of royal blood and can therefore get a hearing where others would not.

God can use you and your resources in magnificent ways when you give everything to him. But remember that narrow gate. Camels could only pass once they had unloaded everything. We too can only come to the Kingdom of Heaven after abandoning our baggage and allowing the Blood of Jesus to cleanse us from all sin. If we give everything to God, He can bless it and return it for our use. If we hang onto anything, God cannot bless it or use it. The choice is ours. Choose wisely.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to realize that when we give everything to You, You will bless it and use us in ways we cannot imagine. Help us to trust You for heavenly rewards. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

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.