Thought for the Day – February 9, 2010

Text: Matthew 21:28-32
“But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. 30 Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go.
31 “Which of the two obeyed his father?”
They replied, “The first.”
Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. 32 For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.

As a parent, one of the things that caused my temperature to rise was disobedience.  I never liked to ask the kids to do something more than once.  I was not going down the road of repetitive requests and increased levels of volume.  I like follow through, too.  When a child was asked to perform a chore, I expected it completed.  “Yes, I will do it” with no action led to a number of painful removal of important items – like a cell phone or computer privileges.

Why is Jesus telling this parable and who is the audience?  He is speaking to the religious leaders.  Those who say they are obedient to the Father, but their actions betray them.  Jesus said those who blatantly disobeyed, the corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes, believed and repented from their behavior and followed the will of the Father. They are the ones who truly obeyed.  The religious leaders were totally offended to think “sinners” were more obedient than themselves.

I did not realize my own disobedience until leaving professional traditional ministry.  You are literally paid to be good.  I was good in all those outward areas easily seen.  No, there is no secret sin, just a lack of obedience.  My heart was not truly broken for the hungry, the prisoner, the widow, the orphan, the naked, the poor, and the lonely.  If so, my actions would have demonstrated it.  I was too busy being a pastor to make room in my life for those Jesus did.  I am glad to report some progress, yet so much more growth is needed.

Thought for the Day – The Christian life is not rocket science.  The hard part – obedience.  Where do you need to grow in obedience today?

Thought for the Day – February 8, 2010

Matthew 21:23-27
23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?”
They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” 
      Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.  NIV

Authority.  Some people seek it, others rebel against it.  Authority is abused and misused.  The religious leaders were seeking to trap Jesus.  If he said his authority came from God, he was a blasphemer.  If his authority came from himself, they could incite the crowd against him with their authority.  Jesus knew their thoughts and intent.  He knew their fear of the crowd.  They held the authority of the religious leaders.  Whenever you seek to remain in power over the masses, they call the shots.  That is why politicians waffle from position to position raising a sail to collect the current winds of the populace.  In His reply, Jesus pointed out their own lack of authority.

The people acknowledged Jesus taught as one with authority.  They witnessed the miracles.  Everything the religious leaders held, both in power and theology, was being challenged by Jesus.  They would soon respond with by arrest and execution.  The ultimate authority of Jesus would be displayed – His authority over death.

I can sometimes chafe at authority.  I am ruined to work as an employee.  I have far too much desire and passion to create my own enterprise.  This is both a positive and a negative in my life.  The greatest weakness comes when my desire for self is unwilling to submit to the authority of my Father.  How about you?  How do you deal with authority?

Thought for the Day – Are you in submission to the authority of the Father today?

Thought for the Day – February 6, 2010

Matthew 21:21-22
21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”  NKJV

This text is sometimes used in a “name it and claim it” theology.  As I meditated on the words, several thoughts came to mind.

One, I believe the context of the text points us to fruitfulness.  When we ask anything in prayer for greater fruitfulness, Father God is willing to open the floodgates.  We have huge mountains to move to increase our fruitfulness.  The mountain of fear contains us in the foothills of faith.  Fear keeps mouths shut and feet frozen.  There is the mountain of doubt.  Doubt retards faith.  It is a blanket keeping faith smoldering never breaking out in a full flame.  We call someone totally going for it with no doubt “on fire.”  These are just a few of the mountains which need moved.

The second thought related to asking anything in prayer centers around us.  James says, “we have not because we ask not.”  Pride will keep us from asking.  Pride will keep us centered on self, even if we are drowning, better to drown than let Father or others know of our weakness.  The problem?  God and others already know.  We hide very little.  Lack of confidence and self-worth keeps us from asking.  We don’t deserve it.  We could not handle it.  We are not capable.  Better to stay safe in the foothills than get beat up climbing the mountain.  Moses used all these excuses.  The Father would hear none of it.  Moses moved mountains and parted seas with the staff of God.

I reflected on my fruitfulness, and, lack of it.  How am I asking God to increase it?  How am I asking Him to move mountains of doubt, pride, fear, and low-esteem in my life?  What does He need to move in me to become more fruitful?

Thought for the Day – What are you asking God for in prayer to move mountains in your life to become more fruitful for Him?

Thought for the Day – February 4, 2010

Matthew 21:18-19
18 Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. NIV

Fruit.  The Son plants, the Holy Spirit cultivates, and the Father is gloried when we produce fruit.  Jesus approached the fig tree to receive fruit because it gave every appearance of fruitfulness.  The tree looked healthy.  Yet no fruit, just leaves.

Jesus said apart from Him there would be no fruit.  He is the vine.  We are the branches.  We are His true disciples when producing fruit . . . that lasts.

The Holy Spirit produces fruit in us: love, joy, peace. patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

I can get pretty frustrated at my lack of growth in growing fruit.  Patience.  Lord please give me patience, NOW.  Self-control would be great so I don’t need to work at it.  A dose of gentleness and kindness would work wonders when my son is causing me to boil over.  Then, there is the fruit of reproduction.  I long to bring more people to the banquet table of God.  The secret?  Abiding in Him.  May my life be hid in Christ.

Thought for the Day – Got Fruit?  How does the fruit of God manifest in your life?  Want Fruit?  Invite the Son to plant and the Holy Spirit to cultivate.  You will be amazed at your garden.

Thought of the Day – February 2

Text: Matthew 21:14-17
14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant 16 and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”
And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,

‘ Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise’?”

17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.  NKJV

Uninhibited praise.  The crowds saw the miracles.  The religious leaders saw the miracles.  Only the children worshipped.  The adults worried about repercussions from the religious leaders.  The religious leaders were indignant, troubled, and jealous.  They could not heal the blind and the lame.  Children never spontaneously cried out praise to them.

The blind were seeing, the lame were walking, and the children were worshipping.  Jesus said we must become like little children to enter the Kingdom.  Children are unabashed.  Children are innocent.  Children don’t fear what others think.  Children believe in a simple, yet powerful manner.  If you were in the Temple witnessing the miracles of Jesus, what would you do?  Would you risk the expulsion and ridicule of religious leaders?  Would you shout out praise when everyone else is quiet?  Would you believe this was the Christ, the Son of God?

Thought for the Day – Can you worship Jesus as a child with uninhibited praise?

Thought for the Day – February 1, 2010

Text: Matthew 21:12-13
12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13″It is written,” he said to them, ” ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’”  NIV

Why was Jesus so ticked?  The Law provided for those who lived a distance away from Jerusalem to sell a sacrificial animal locally and purchase one in Jerusalem.  This was a matter of convenience and necessity.  Currency as well would need exchanged for those coming from foreign countries.  These are both legitimate businesses.  The problem?  One, they set up shop in the Temple.  Two, they were over charging for the services.  And three, this was the SECOND time Jesus had cleared the Temple.

Jesus grew up watching His father do business as a craftsman.  Joseph charged a fair price for services rendered.  Jesus was not denouncing business, but the ethics by which the business was practiced.  Business is founded upon the principle of giving people quality service or product at a fair price.  This is a business axiom practiced for centuries.  Those who bear the name Christian must bring the ethics and practices of the Father into the marketplace.  When we do, God is honored, His Name is glorified, and a high standard is set for others to emulate.

What else set off Jesus?  Isaiah prophesied the Temple would be a House of Prayer for all nations.  The heart of God is for the nations.  Our time on earth is about inviting others to the Banquet Table of the Father.  We are now the Temple of the Holy Spirit.  Our bodies should be a House of Prayer for the nations.  Every Home for Christ produces a world prayer map.  If you pray for seven nations a day, you will pray for the entire world every month.  You can go to www.ehc.org and request a free map.

Thought for the Day – is your Temple a House of Prayer for the nations?  Ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse any immoral or unethical practices in your life.

Thought for the Day – January 31, 2010

Matthew 21:1-11
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 
 5 “Say to the Daughter of Zion, 
      ’See, your king comes to you, 
   gentle and riding on a donkey, 
      on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ “
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, 
   ”Hosanna to the Son of David!” 
   ”Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
   ”Hosanna in the highest!”
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”  NIV

The question of who is Jesus is still raised today.  The contrast between Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a colt of a donkey and Muhammad riding into Mecca on an Arabian stallion with sword drawn is striking.  Jesus spent the last three years of ministry preaching of the Kingdom of God and demonstrating the difference between the kingdom of man.  Jesus was a King.  However, not the kind of king the masses were expecting to liberate them from the grip of the Romans.

Is Jesus meek, mild and milk toast?  No way!  He promptly clears the Temple.  He challenges those in religious authority.  He exercises incredible restraint during His trial, flogging, and crucifixion.  People often mistake humility for weakness.  Jesus calmed winds, cleansed lepers, cast out demons, and raised the dead.  He repeatedly demonstrated His power and divinity.

He came to Jerusalem to die.  He came to ransom me and ransom you.  He could have called a legion of angels to annihilate his persecutors and distractors.  He did not.  He drank the cup of suffering so we might drink the cup of eternity.

Jerusalem wondered, “who is this?”  How would you answer?

Thought of the Day – Who is Jesus to you?  How do you portray Him to others?

Thought for the Day – January 27, 2010

Text: Matthew 20:29-34
29 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
32 So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
33 They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” 34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.  NKJV

Jesus knew what lay before Him in Jerusalem.  The crowds were pressing around Him.  Two blind beggars cry out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”  I wonder if the beggars were friends?  Did they grow up together helping each other – the blind leading the blind?  Yet, these two beggars, which the crowd quickly dismissed, called Jesus the Son of David.  They saw what the religious leaders would not.  The beggars saw the Son of God.  The religious leaders saw a blasphemer and a threat.  Who was really blind?

I am task oriented.  Cut to the chase.  Let’s get it done.  I would have no time for two beggars on a roadside if I had a date in Jerusalem.  That is the down side of task orientation.  I can miss people, literally, not even see them.  This is a bad trait for someone who wants to see and minister to people.  I am slowly recovering.  Jesus saw them, heard them, and healed them.  The Holy Spirit has much work left in my life.

Two elements of the same major thought speak to me about this text.  One, how do I see Jesus?  And second, do I see those around me like Jesus sees them?

Thought of the Day – Open my eyes, I want to see Jesus.  Open my eyes, I want to see through Jesus’ eyes.

Thought for the Day – January 26, 2010

Text: Matthew 20:24-28
24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  NIV

I know what you are thinking.  I have read this same text three days in a row.  Can’t Randy think of something new?  Well, I can, and I will, tomorrow.  There is one last thought on service . . . community.  What does it look like to serve my community?

Jesus spoke of clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, caring for the orphan and widow, visiting those in prison, and giving water to the thirsty.  He sent out the disciples to heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead, and preach the gospel.  Have followers of Christ impacted communities, states and nations?  More than any other world religion, hands down.  Many hospitals, not only in the United States, but numerous countries of the world were founded by Christians.  Schools and universities were established.  The strongest, most efficient relief and development agencies in the world were established and funded by Christians.  Orphanages and elderly care centers build to care for the most vulnerable in societies.  Prison ministries to give hope and transformation to those written off by others.  Christians have indeed made a difference through the ages.  Have they sometimes failed?  Yes.  Have they touched billions of lives.  Yes.

So, now it comes down to you and me.  What are WE doing to make a difference?  We can all do something.  I know of an 80 year old grandmother who writes letters to prisoners.  I know children who serve senior adults.  You can volunteer at a hospital or Meals on Wheels.  You might become a Big Brother or Sister, serve as a foster parent, or mentor a troubled youth.  You can serve at a food pantry, visit a prisoner, or read with a first grader. Imagine a world in which everyone served somewhere.  As followers of Jesus, we pray His will be done on earth as it is heaven.

Thought for the Day – How do you serve your community?

Thought for the Day – January 25, 2010

Text: Matthew 20:24-28
24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  NIV

When Jim Collins wrote Good to Great, he sought to overlook the leadership of the CEO as a factor of companies moving from good to great.  He simply could not.  What he discovered was not the flashy, charismatic, and well-known leaders were impacting these companies.  He described them as Level Five leaders.  I would call them “Servant Leaders.”  In other words, these leaders served their companies and employees.  They were approachable.  They were humble.  There was nothing beneath them.  They were willing to be last so other could be first.  The whole company knew it . . . and thrived.

The world teaches competition, exultation, status, power, and using whatever means available to achieve personal goals.  Jesus said, “Not so with you.”  Unfortunately, I have seen too much of the world in the church.  Personalities and personal agendas before humility and Kingdom growth.  Growth was important, his or her kingdom, not THE KINGDOM.

As an entrepreneur building a mediation practice, I have focused on serving my clients.  I will meet on Saturday afternoons or evenings.  I try to go the second mile.  They appreciate the service and tell others.  I know successful salespeople.  The model is simple.  Love and serve your customers/clients.  People sense when being served from a place of integrity and authenticity.  As a follower of Christ in the marketplace or on the job, we serve Him by serving others.

Thought for the Day – Look for ways to put others first at work or business.  How does serving others affect your workplace environment, your attitude, or your business?