Category: Food For Growth

⁶ When they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and took hold of it because the oxen had stumbled. ⁷ Then the Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there next to the ark of God. ~ 2 Samuel 6:6-7^CSB

The Israelites had just recovered the Ark of The Covenant. They were dancing for joy before the LORD as they were bringing it to the city of David. They set the ark on a new cart and two men guided it, Uzzah and Ahio. All was going well until the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out his hand to stable the ark.

He didn’t do this because he had no respect for God but because he didn’t want the ark to fall. Yet God struck him down instantly because of his sin. God didn’t see Uzzah as protecting the ark. He saw him as disobeying God’s commands. The ark was to be transported by specific people carrying it by the poles, not on a cart pulled by oxen and guided by two men.

The Ark of The Covenant was beyond sacred. It housed the Mercy Seat on top, where God Himself would descend in a cloud. Now they’ve not only put it on a cart pulled by oxen, they’ve almost dropped and had to touch it to re-steady it. The action and intent may seem to justify the means but it doesn’t.

So often, we think that if we do the wrong thing for the right reasons, God will justify us, but that’s not true. God is a just God who doesn’t see in grey like we do. He only sees in black and white. Either it’s wrong, or it isn’t. In fact, God would rather you do the right thing for the wrong reasons than the wrong thing for the right reasons.

Here’s what I’m saying, Uzzah’s intentions were to keep the ark from falling and being damaged, yet He still sinned and was therefore punished. In the New Testament, Paul addresses those who preach the Gospel for money, and says at least the Gospel is being preached. It may be done for selfish reasons but at least people are hearing about Christ. At least people are hearing about the hope of salvation.

The intention will never override the action. Because at the end of the day we are judged by our actions, not what we intended to do.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Don’t Justify The Means.

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⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸ You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. ~ Matthew 5:44-48

So many of us strive for friendship with the world. We want the world’s acceptance and love. Many even go out on a limb and say, “Well, Jesus was a friend of sinners.” Here’s the thing: Jesus said to be His friend is to follow the command He has given. To follow His command is to allow Him to change you from sinner to saint. Therefore, Jesus isn’t a friend of sinners but a friend of saints. What does that mean for us?

We are to do the same. There was never a time when Jesus refused to eat or drink with someone. There was never a time when Jesus mistreated or condemned someone. Jesus spoke with and ate with anyone willing to sit down with Him. But even in all of His kindness, Jesus always corrected the sins of those He ate and spoke with. He never allowed Himself to be tainted spiritually for the sake of the feelings of another (Ezekiel 33:8), but He did it with love.

He didn’t call the woman at the well an adulterous whore, no He simply told her what her sin was, having many husbands. Jesus didn’t even bring up her sin until she did. Before that, Jesus was speaking to her about the living water He had that she needed. When they came with a repentive heart, Jesus didn’t even mention their sin, like the unnamed woman who cried at His feet wiping them with her hair. Jesus simply said, though her sins are many they are forgiven. He never once mentioned what those sins were.

Often, we believe that as Christians, we need to shun those who don’t meet our standards, but the Truth of the matter is that we should be willing to speak with and eat with anyone willing to do so.

God Himself lets His sun rise on both the wicked and the righteous. In other words, His mercies are renewed each morning for both because each day is another chance to follow Christ and do better than the day before.

God Himself also sends rain on the saint and the sinner. He pours out blessings on each. God doesn’t hate anyone. He doesn’t hate the wicked, His desire is that all come to repentance and accept Him. Paul asked this:

¹⁴ How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

Romans 10:14

We aren’t to be a part of the world, but we are to be in the world shining the Light of Christ with all willing to hear. For if no one tells them, how are they to believe? Therefore we are to be friendly with all, but not friends with all.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Friendly.

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 ¹² This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. ~ John 15:12-15^CSB

Jesus is often referred to as a friend of sinners, but that’s not quite right. Jesus says that the overzealous religious people of His generation accused Him of being a friend of sinners, as well as a drunkard and a glutton in that same sentence, but we never refer to Jesus as either of those last things. So, why do we refer to Jesus as a friend of sinners?

When I see this being used or referenced in today’s world, it’s being used by people justifying their own sin. They say Jesus hung out with prostitutes and deviants, but that’s not true either. Jesus was friendly with everyone. He spoke to and ate with anyone willing to listen. After being in His presence, one of two things happened: the person changed their ways, or they were left where Jesus found them.

For Jesus to be a friend of sinners is to say Jesus is a friend of the world. But this is impossible. Look at what the Scripture says:

⁴ You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

James 4:4

Jesus wasn’t an enemy of God; He was, is, and always will be God. Jesus was friendly with everyone but wasn’t a friend of everyone. Look at what He tells His disciples:

¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father.

John 15:14-15^CSB

This is after Jesus washes their feet. After the Last Supper and the LORD’s Supper. After Judas goes out to betray Jesus. It’s just Jesus and the eleven. They had been following Him for about 3 ½ years. Three of them had witnessed the transfiguration and saw Moses and Elijah with Him. They had all cast out demons and healed the sick. Nevertheless, they weren’t His friends until that night when He would be arrested before sunrise and killed before the next sunset.

If these men, especially Peter, James, and John, were not counted as Jesus’ friends, how can we say Jesus is a friend of sinners? Yes, it sounds good. Yes, it makes for a good talking point, but there isn’t any Truth to it. Jesus said if you are my friends, you will do what He has commanded. That means to allow Him to wash you in His blood and Word that you might no longer be a sinner but now a saint.

Therefore, don’t allow the twisting of Scripture to confuse you. Don’t allow your ears to be tickled by the deceived. Seek a true relationship with Christ, a true friendship that will change you. If your religion doesn’t change you, then it doesn’t save you either.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Strive For Friendship.

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¹² During those days He went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God. ¹³ When daylight came, He summoned His disciples, and He chose twelve of them, whom He also named apostles: ~ Luke 6:12-13^CSB

When we think about the twelve disciples being called, we think about them being Jesus’ only disciples, but that wasn’t the case. Jesus had many disciples. Many people were following Him because of the great miracles and healing He was doing. Because of the great wisdom and authority, He was preaching with.

Jesus didn’t just see them and instantaneously pick them as the Twelve. No. They were called to follow Him like many others were. Then, they followed Him like many others did. It wasn’t until Jesus spent all night in prayer, most likely specifically about this, that He then chose the Twelve.

Jesus called many people. There was a large crowd following Him, yet only twelve were chosen. James, the brother of Jesus, understood this when he wrote:

⁸ Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:8^CSB

James wasn’t one of Jesus’ apostles. James wasn’t even one of Jesus’ disciples. He didn’t draw near to Him, and he missed his opportunity. When Jesus taught that He was the bread of life and they must eat His flesh to be saved, many left because they couldn’t understand the teaching. When Jesus looked at the others, they asked them if they would leave Him, too. Peter replied:

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

John 6:68-69^CSB

Many are called, but few are chosen. Few hold on when they don’t understand. Few continue to seek when finding is hard. Few believe when they can’t see. Few stay strong when their faith is tested. Few run the race set before them.

Jesus said He’s knocking at the door, waiting for us to open our hearts to Him. He didn’t say He knocked on only red doors or blue doors. He said that He was knocking. That means He’s knocking at the door of all of our hearts. He’s calling all of us, but very few even accept the initial call. And even fewer continue to follow and carry their cross.

Which one are you? This earth is filled with reasons not to believe and follow Christ. It’s filled with distraction after distraction. Evil after evil. Wickedness and lawlessness rule our land. There’re so many reasons not to believe, but as Peter said, where else can we go to find the Words of Life? Words that redeem and Sanctify. Words that heal what is broken and restore what has been crushed. Only in Christ do you have a hero die for the villain to save his soul. There’s no other story like our story.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Chosen.

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¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” ~ Matthew 28:18-20

Many Christians believe that it’s not their place to tell others about their faith, religion, or relationship with Christ. When it comes to correcting sin, they forcefully say they weren’t put on this earth to judge. What, then, was the point of Jesus giving His disciples The Great Commission? Christians who believe they’re to keep their religion and beliefs to themselves and share Jesus with the world are Christians who don’t believe their own religion.

Paul touches on this in his letter to the Romans:

¹³ For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ¹⁴ How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”

Romans 10:13-14

It’s our job to go into the world and share the good news. It doesn’t matter your race, ethnicity, sex, or nationality. God calls both men and women. God uses all races, ethnicities, and nationalities. God has called all who believe to follow Him and spread the good news of Jesus Christ. For how can they believe if they have never heard?

If we, the Church, refuse to spread the good news, then we are refusing to follow Jesus. We’re saying that the world is better off not knowing about Christ. What we do and don’t do directly reflects what we do and don’t believe. Therefore, tell everyone willing to listen about Jesus.

The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;

Matthew 9:35-38

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Make Disciples.

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²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to His mouth. ³⁰ When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished,” and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. ~ John 19:28-30

Each Gospel describes Jesus receiving the sour wine while on the cross, but only John explains why this takes place. John states that Jesus knew all was now finished and then asked for sour wine to fulfill the Scripture.

The night before He was crucified, Jesus said that the cup represented the New Covenant. This is important to understand why Jesus said that all things were finished. Jesus wasn’t saying all prophecies were finished because He still had more prophecies to fulfill. In fact, there are still some prophecies and feasts that have to be fulfilled in the future. Therefore, Jesus wasn’t talking about fulfilling every single thing in this one action. Jesus was saying that He knew all things were finished. He sensed something in the Spirit.

We proclaim Christ’s death because in His death we died to sin, and because He raised to life again, will live to Him. In other words, we are no longer subject to sin, but sin has now become subject to Christ, who lives through us. And since we are no longer subject to sin when we die, death has no power over us, but instead, to be absent from the body is to be with the LORD (2 Corinthians 5:8).

The night before Jesus was crucified, Jesus spoke of a New Covenant for the first time. Before that Jesus never mentioned a New Covenant. Jesus waited til the last night before His death to mention the New Covenant because it hadn’t yet grown old and ready to vanish away. But after speaking of the New Covenant and making the old one obsolete and ready to vanish away, He went to the cross.

Jesus knew that the Old Covenant had grown old and was ready to pass away or vanish, not that every prophecy and law were fulfilled. This is why John added to fulfill Scripture (Psalms 69:21) right before He wrote Jesus’ words:

“I thirst.”

Jesus was fulfilling David’s prophecy that they would give Jesus sour wine to drink. Now, I want you to understand the importance of this. Jesus sensed in His Spirit that all things had been finished; in other words, the Old Covenant had grown old (Hebrews 8:13), so what did He do? He checks. How does He check? By asking for something to drink. And what do they give Him? Sour wine, and He accepts it. John specifically, in verse 30, says that He received the sour wine.

No longer are we under a covenant where sin uses what God created for our good against us (1 Corinthians 15:56-57). Now, we are under a new and better covenant (Hebrews 12:24) that isn’t based on works but on faith in Him (Ephesians 2:8-9). If Christ had not died on the cross that day 2000 years ago, the Old Covenant would have soured, and we would be without a covenant with God. We would be without hope at all. It is only through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus that we have eternal life through following Him.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Seek The New Covenant.

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⁹ The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. ~ 2 Peter 3:9

Peter said that some people don’t understand the LORD because they judge Him by their own understanding and by their own deeds. God is not slow in keeping, or fulfilling any of His promises, especially the promise of His return. He is patiently waiting for the last soul who will be saved to get saved. Believe me, at least believe the Scriptures, there is a time set for the return of Jesus, but all things must be fulfilled.

Remember that in the fullness of time, Jesus came as a baby to suffer and to die for the salvation of mankind. His return is no different. He is not slow to fulfill His promise of returning to get us. Just think about it, it may be one of your loved ones that He is waiting on. Or maybe it is you that He is holding up His turn, because He knows that you will accept salvation and He wants to give you the chance at all costs.

Have you felt a slight tug on your heart in terms of the things of God recently? Have you felt a drawing toward the Bible or toward Jesus? Maybe a dream or a series of dreams? If you feel the LORD leading in any part of your life, listen closely, it just may be your chance to get right with the LORD and receive His full pardon. Accept it and He will make you shine as bright as the noonday sun in all of its glory.

The LORD loves you and cares for you and wants you to come to repentance and receive eternal life from Him. He died to pay for it, and He will give it to you.

Heavenly Father, I come to You today in full repentance. I am sorry for straying from Your side and for refusing to listen. I am listening now, speak to me Jesus so that I can hear Your voice. Teach me to live for You so that I can be ready for Your great return. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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