Element Church Insider

Matthew 22:  God is SIMPLE

Since the theme is simple, I probably shouldn’t talk too much today huh?  I LOVE the simplicity in which Christ makes things.  I’ve talked about how CLEAR God is and how He draws a line in the sand demanding one of two ways.  It isn’t difficult to follow Christ. Here in Matthew 22, Jesus does it again.  Revealing God is SIMPLE.

Matthew 22:34-40 ³⁴ But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. ³⁵ One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” ³⁷ Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’^{[e] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[f] 40} The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

We’re kind of the same way aren’t we?  We want to know “What is the most important thing I should do.”  Jesus just simplifies everything.  He doesn’t point out ANY of the 10 commandments or other Old Testament laws.  He just simply says “Love God with ALL your heart, sould, mind (and strength).  And love your neighbor as yourself.”  EVERYTHING is kept if you keep these two commands.  Jesus simplifies ALL the law into TWO commands.  God is SIMPLE.

What areas of my life am I making too difficult when Jesus is trying to make it simple?  Where am I not loving God with my ALL or my neighbor as myself?  Am I making following Christ MORE than what it has to be for someone I’m trying to win to Him?

Following Christ,

Jeff

Check out my latest post HERE with links to the other posts in the series.  I’ve loved doing this series, reflecting on what I’ve learned about the Call…specifically things I’ve learned from my dad.  In honor of Father’s Day, I’ve dedicated this series to Him.

#5  The Call is UNBELIEVABLE

I’ve said some pretty strong and seemingly negative things about the Call this week.  I want to be VERY clear.   Following the Call of God  is UNBELIEVABLE! I don’t know another word to describe it.  I cannot imaging doing ANYTHING else.  NOTHING for me could replace what I’m doing now.  NOTHING!

You know what I saw and still see in my dad?  UNBELIEVABLE joy.  Seeing people saved from sin.  Seeing believers surrender there all to the power of the Holy Spirit.  Seeing addictions broken.  Families restored.  Prodigals come home.  Marriages healed.  It’s is unbelievable.  The move and work of God NEVER ceases to amaze me and I KNOW it is what fueled my dad.  He preached it, lived it and saw it happen in peoples lives.  LIFE CHANGE brings joy from the call.

UNBELIEVABLE friendships.  The closest friends my dad has are from following the Call.  A brotherhood was born out of following the Call.  There are men in my dad’s life from DECADES ago that still mean the world to him.  There will be an AMAZING reunion in Heaven one day of  the friendships, once again being reunited, all born out of the Call.  I don’t take for granted in my life the relationships the Call has given me, because of what they’ve given my dad.

UNBELIEVABLE peace.  The center of God’s will is not always the safest place to be, but it’s always the BEST!  If my dad didn’t have peace he hid it well.  As a little boy, a young man, and a grown adult, it sure seems he’s had peace in the midst of chaos at times.  I think it is due in some part to KNOWING he was following the Call.  In the CENTER of God’s will.

UNBELIEVABLE God.  God was real to my dad.  My dad believed in what God could do.  He believed in an UNBELIEVABLE God.  He knew that SOMEHOW God would work it all out, regardless of what He was asking our family to do or where He was asking us to go.

Dad, I can truly say that as one of your three children, we are able to follow you as you follow Christ.  I hope my children can say the same some day.  Your example to us of what it means to follow the Call of God, I believe, will span generations to come.  I love you.  Happy Father’s Day.

Following dad as he follows Christ,

Jeff

Matthew 20: Exemplar

Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus is the exact representation of who God is.  In that case What does Jesus show?  Here in Matthew 20 I am reminded that Jesus is OUR exampler.  He is an EXEMPLAR.  He is our model.  Our lead.  Our goal.  What HE did we should also strive to do.  Jesus calls the disciples on this issue here in Matthew 20.

Matthew 20:28 says ²⁸ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The disciples were disputing over who would get seats of honor in Jesus’ Kingdom.  James and John’s mom actually asked Jesus for her boys if they could have those seats.  One on His right and the other on His left.  The other disciples heard the question and were furious.  SO, Jesus took the opportunity to be an EXEMPLAR.

“I’m not even here for honor.  Why are YOU?”  “THIS life of mine is not about seats on the right or left, IT IS ABOUT SERVING!”  “If you want to be great in My Kingdom, then become the least”.

Over and over again in Jesus’ ministry we see Him as an EXEMPLAR.

What is Jesus challenging YOU with that He lead the way on?  What areas of your life have you ignored Jesus’ example?  Where do you need to become least in or order to serve God’s Kingdom?

Following Christ,

Jeff

Matthew 19:  God is DEMANDING

Not in a negative way…  like a whiney girlfriend kind of way.  Not like that.  But He IS demanding. You can’t read Matthew 19 and not see that.

In Matthew 19:16-30, Jesus and a rich man have an in depth conversation.  Basically a rich man comes to Jesus and says “What must I do to be saved?”  A conversation ensues where Jesus and the man talk about some commandments and the man says “I’ve kept ALL those.  What else do I lack?”  Jesus’ response?

Matthew 19:21-22 ²¹ Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ²² But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

DEMANDING huh?  Why does Jesus say this?  I don’t think Jesus was establishing  any kind of works based salvation.  I DO think He WAS exposing this mans heart and motives, and I think it exposes many of ours as well.

Jesus is basically saying, “If you really want to follow me, IT WILL COST YOU EVERYTHING!”  The cost is GREAT to following me.  Don’t forget in chapter 16:24 he says “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” God is DEMANDING!

Jesus made it very clear UP FRONT what it cost to follow Him.  When Jesus healed a lame man in John 5 He tells him “Stop sinning or something worse will happen to you.”  The adulterous woman in John 8 He tells “Go and sin no more”.  God is DEMANDING!  To the disciples when He called them (while they were fishing) “Follow me” and they dropped their nets and left their family (everything) to follow Him.  In Matthew 10 “If you love ANYONE more than Me you are not worthy of being my follower.”  God is DEMANDING!

How often do we talk the cost of following Jesus?  We LOVE to talk about the rewards.  Heaven.  Crowns.  Eternal Life.  Those are great things, but they come with a cost.  EVERYTHING!  Don’t forget…God is DEMANDING.

Counting the cost,

Jeff

Matthew 18:  God is a SEEKER

These verses should comfort AND challenge us.

Matthew 18:12-14 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? ¹³ And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! ¹⁴ In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.

Here are a couple things that should comfort us.

#1  He came after me! We should thank God EVERYDAY that He sought us out.  That he left the fold and searched for us to win US to HIM.  Everyday we need to be reminded that WE left Him and didn’t deserve to be a part of the fold.  We earned death but HE gave life.  God is a SEEKER.

#2  He goes after others! Have a friend who is lost?  A family member who has wandered away?  A son, daughter, husband, wife that doesn’t belong to the fold?  He is a SEEKER of them too.  Just as He sought and found you, He is doing the same for them.  DON’T GIVE UP!  Keep praying.  Keep sharing.  Keep loving. God is a SEEKER.

Challenge?

#1  If HE goes after the lost…shouldn’t we? Why in the world, if THE Shepherd goes out in search of the lost wouldn’t THAT be our greatest desire as the church?  The MINUTE our churches become about the 99 MORE than about the one WE DON’T HAVE THE FATHERS HEART!  He is a SEEKER!  How are my prayers directed personally?  How are our programs directed corporately?  “If only for the one.”  This is the heartbeat of Christ.  Jesus said in  Luke 19:10  “I came to seek and to save those who are lost.” Luke 5:31-32 says “It is not the healthy that need a doctor, but sick people.  I came to call, not those who THINK they are righteous, but those who KNOW they are sinners and need to repent.”

#2  Don’t take pride in being part of the 99. You’re only there because the Shepherd LET’S you be there.  Too often I think we get all puffed up spiritually thinking “Look at me.  I’m not wandering.  I’ve served Jesus for all these years.  I’m in the fold.  I’m part of the flock.  I bet Jesus is SO proud of me.”  Notice, it doesn’t say that God doesn’t rejoice at ALL over the 99, just that He rejoices MORE for the lost that was found.  Listen, you’re only as deep as the last person you served.  If you’re part of the 99, GET OUT of the pen and start helping look for the lost and serving those around you.  If all you do is  just sit in the sheep stall, you’re going to end up fat, stinky and useless.  GET OUT AND DO SOMETHING!

Challenged…and comforted,

Jeff