Words of Jesus Archives — Page 3 of 5

Today’s Word Is BELIEVING

Mon-Apr-6-2020

The old phrase, “seeing is believing,” is only half the truth. Do you really have to see something first to believe it, or are you supposed to believe it first before you can see it? In the ministry of Jesus, it happened both ways. Sometimes “believing precedes seeing.”

For instance … And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” (Matthew 9:20-22) She believed first and as a result received her healing.

On the other hand, after Jesus had chosen his first disciples, he attended a wedding with his mother. It was there that he turned water to wine. “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” (John 2:11) They saw first and then believed.

Both of these scenarios happened many times in the ministry of Jesus. Sometimes people believed first and then the miracle came. And as a result of that, many others believed after they saw it.

The reason I raise this question at the beginning of Holy Week is because the day is coming on Easter Sunday when something difficult to believe, from the world’s standpoint, is about to happen … the resurrection of Jesus. It was well-known that Jesus foretold this. Not only did his followers know it, but so did the Pharisees and Temple guards. After Jesus was put in the tomb, the following discussion took place.

The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” (Matthew 27:62-64)

Jesus had begun his ministry at age 30, and up to that point in Jewish history, several resurrections had already happened that all Jews, especially the Pharisees, would know about. The prophet Elijah raised one. And the prophet Elisha raised one. Plus, there was the guy who, fortunately for him, had his dead body laid down in Elisha’s grave, and then came to life!

And now, here was Jesus, hundreds of years after the prophets, saying publicly, at least indirectly, that he was the Chosen One, and seemingly saying that his death was imminent, and even further, comparing himself to Jonah’s three days in the whale. (See Matthew 12 below.) He was explaining prophecies about the death and resurrection of the Messiah that were not being taught in the synagogues!

So, let’s go to one week before the annual Passover celebration in the third and final year of Jesus’ ministry, when a sad thing happened … Jesus’ good friend Lazarus got sick and died. Then Jesus told [the disciples] plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” (John 11:14-15) So, Jesus and the disciples journeyed to Bethany, arriving four days after his burial. This was a personal loss to Jesus, as he often stayed in the home of Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha.

When Jesus arrived, Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21) And in verse 25, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

I’m sure everyone there, including Martha, knew that Jesus had previously raised two from the dead, a widow’s son and an official’s daughter. But this was her brother. This was personal. That is the moment when we are tested greatly … when it is about “me.”

There are many times that my faith needs strengthening, and sometimes what I must do is relive this moment when Jesus looks Martha in the eye and says, “Do you believe this?” When I think of Jesus standing face-to-face in front of me, I pretty much start melting, and my eyes moisten. He is nothing but pure love. And whatever it is that I am having difficulty with, I can already begin to sense that he knows my struggle and that I am going to be alright.

I believe Jesus wanted Martha, when asked “Do you believe this?’, to immediately say “yes,” even though Lazarus was still dead. He wanted her to believe that there is a resurrection of faith and life about to happen.

What seems impossible to us is altogether possible for him. We don’t have to “see” in order to say, “I believe.”

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Matthew 12:38-41

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Today’s Word Is PARADE

Fri-Apr-3-2020

I am not observing “Friday Humor Day” today or next Friday in deference to the Easter season. The next two Sundays, Palm Sunday and Easter, are the most significant of the year for us as Christians.

Now you may not be used to observing Palm Sunday or putting it up there at the top along with Easter. As Christians, we celebrate the birth of the King on Christmas. On Palm Sunday he declared it. On Easter, he proved it.

Just in case you don’t remember the details of Palm Sunday, I have placed it at the bottom, from Luke 19: 29-44. You scroll down and read it now if you need to.

After three years of Jesus’ ministry, filled with teachings and miracles, the Pharisees and other leaders were in the process of planning how to kill him. They were offended by his teachings in which he was clearly claiming to be the Messiah, the Chosen One of God. And they were losing their hold on the masses of people who followed him, common folks who found hope in him and were amazed at his miracles.

Jesus knew that the Pharisees’ opposition was a signal that the time had come to fulfill his purpose, the sacrifice of his life for the sins of the people. The approaching week was the annual celebration of the passover, a somber festival to remember their escape from bondage in Egypt. The Israelites had suffered as slaves in Egypt for 400 years, but God sent Moses to lead them out. God instructed them to sacrifice a lamb and place the blood on their doorposts, so that when the angel of death came he would “pass over” their houses and they would avoid the 10^th and final plague of the killing of the firstborn. Passover was a remembrance of this.

So, as Jesus prepared to enter Jerusalem for this festival, he knew this would be the year of the ultimate Passover, with a capital P, in which the Lamb, with a capital L, would be sacrificed as an all-sufficient, one-time atonement for the past, present, and future sins of all humanity.

Before we proceed with the parade into town, take note that there are two kingdoms throughout history – the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. A Messianic Jewish teacher, whose lessons I am reading, calls them the kingdom of Empire and the kingdom of Shalom (Hebrew for peace). Empire operates by power, wealth, and control. God’s Kingdom of Shalom operates by hospitality, humility, sacrifice, love, faith, and forgiveness.

In ancient history, a conquering warrior-king, who returned to his city after victory in battle, rode on a white stallion, a symbol of power. Jesus rode into Jerusalem that Sunday on a donkey, a symbol of humility. He was teaching us: “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6) As he rode along, crowds lined the roads, shouting his name as King, declaring the wonders of his miracles, and waving palm branches as a message of honor and peace and hope.

The world’s Empire power approach will never defeat the Kingdom of God. And Jesus, as the leader of the parade into Jerusalem, was proclaiming this truth. The Jewish power machine had tried to silence him. Now they were going to kill him. And he was going to allow them to do it.

The crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus, coming up in the following week, would be the proof that it is God’s Kingdom that is forever. For us, there is a choice – Shalom or Empire – God’s way or the world’s way. If you choose God’s way, you can practice humility and sacrifice and never be defeated. The world’s attempt to kill Jesus was not counting on a resurrection. And that is what we count on.

We can recall the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem when we need assurance. The people are shouting “king,” but his garment is not a royal robe; it is homespun and simple. He is not on a “warhorse,” but a beast of burden. His “court” is made up of fishermen and hated tax collectors. His “parade” is an array of common people.

Yet no pageant that ever passed through the streets of any city has so set its mark on time as this one. The triumphal entries of the Romans and all other empires have long since been forgotten or become irrelevant. But this one, with Jesus on a donkey, is known and retold in every detail, year after year, century after century.

Blessing you with peace as you follow God’s parade,

Chaplain Mark

NOTE: The Jewish teaching I referred to is called the Bema Podcast, by Marty Solomon, and is worth listening to on your favorite Podcast App.

The Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, which we call Palm Sunday, from Luke 19: 29-44

As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.'” Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They replied, “The Lord needs it.”

They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it, and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

Today’s Word Is COST

Tue-Mar-24-2020

“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’” — Muhammad Ali

Every accomplishment, every activity, every possession, and every relationship each has a cost and a benefit.

The prize fighter Ali knew that the great accomplishment of a world championship of boxing would come at the high cost of rigorous and relentless training. The world is full of people who have underachieved simply because they were not willing to do the unpleasant, difficult steps to become who they were meant to be and to achieve the goals along the way that lead to success in life.

Every activity in which we participate is the same. Going to the movies has a cost and a benefit. The same is true with our possessions. Sometimes folks pay more than what something is worth at face value because they may get an added intangible benefit. For instance, wearing a certain brand of clothing or watch, driving a certain car, or living in a certain neighborhood might seem of greater value than just the base value of the item.

Before we invest in something, we count the cost to see if it is worth it, and if we are willing or able to pay the price.

Jesus said, “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?” (Luke 14:28)

There’s a hidden meaning here … You and I have enough resources to do lots of things in life. But only one had the ability and willingness to accomplish the redemption of mankind from sin. That was God. So, he “counted the cost,” which was the life of his son. And he was willing to pay thar price. The benefit of God’s restoring the relationship between himself and his people came at a high cost.

There are certain things that we can’t achieve on our own, because it is not within our ability to accomplish or we are unable to pay the price. The cost is too high. Salvation is one of those things.

Did God achieve the goal of restoring our relationship to him? Yes, he did. The cost was extreme. He sent his son, “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

Because of what was achieved “for” you, new doors are open “to” you. I would define success as living a life of deeply and fully loving God and passionately loving others with the love he gives us. There is a great cost and sacrifice for us in this. But his cost was infinitely higher. And the benefit is too extraordinary to measure.

The saying, “God helps those who help themselves” is not biblical. It is the other way around! God gave “his help” up front, for free. That’s what opens the door for us to achieve greatness. Once we receive this gift of salvation, we learn that we will have to make sacrifices in order to accomplish the purposes that God placed within us. But it is well worth it for us, just as it was for him.

Is there something difficult, unpleasant, or sacrificial that you need to do that has a higher purpose? Jesus set the example and unlocked the door for you to do that.

Have a blessed day,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is COLLABORATE

Mon-Mar-23-2020

Do you sometimes feel like giving up on something? … Even though it is very important? But it just isn’t working out?

Maybe your usual way of solving things is not getting results. This happens to folks who compartmentalize God. Although He has promised to “walk” with us, never forsake us, it is like we keep him in the back seat of our “car.” And thus, it is a bit misleading to tell people that “I know God is with me” … if “with me” means he’s just a silent passenger (who would really like to say something if invited!).

There are folks who rarely discuss things with God throughout the day. It’s no wonder that things frequently don’t work out so well. Our best friend, the wisest of all, is waiting for the invitation not just to help, but to be our guide, our wisdom, our everything. Instead we go about solving daily problems without Him, and sometimes give up on important things too soon.

After the death and resurrection of Jesus, the disciples didn’t know what to do next, so several of them went out in their boat fishing (their old career). They were having no luck, when a man called to them from the shore. (At first, they didn’t realize it was Jesus.)

So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. (John 21:5-6)

God wants us to collaborate. “Co-“ means together, “labor” means work … work together!! And not just occasionally … all day … every day. God doesn’t need to be a passenger; he needs to be driving our car!

Often, we are throwing our nets on the wrong side of the boat. We have our own habits, methods, and solutions. If we listened to God, there is another way … a “God way” that is outside our logic. Don’t be afraid to cast your nets “one more time” before you give up. And listen to God, because he may not have you cast your nets in the “same old place.”

My guess is that the disciples remembered this scenario happening before, at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, when he called Simon, Andrew, James and John to follow him. They had fished all night with no catch.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. (Luke 5:4-6)

There may be a “catch of fish” waiting under the water, but you keep coming up empty. Maybe your first job is just to believe it is there. The success God wants you to have is not just to catch the fish, it is to “co-labor” with him in doing it … to “collaborate” in the success. What are you facing that in your mind has no reasonable solution? For me … well … I have this stormwater problem under my driveway that is threatening our property, and I haven’t found a solution yet. But I am not giving up, because God knows where the answer is, and in his good timing he will reveal the solution.

In these uncertain times, you may be dealing with a looming financial crisis. Even though the answer is not visible to you, it is visible to God. And this fact applies to any problem, not just financial ones. Do you have a problem child? Difficulty at work? Health issues? Keep listening to the voice of Jesus. He is right there in the situation with you. And at the right time, things will work out, probably in a manner you do not imagine, and you will confess the name of Jesus as the supplier of your need. As Simon said, “… because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Have a blessed day,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is FOLLOW

Thu-Mar-19-2020

Several years ago, my friends Harry and Belinda sold their house in an upscale East Brainerd neighborhood and purchased a farm across the mountain. Harry had grown up on a farm in Middle Tennessee, so this move was a return to a familiar life and a closeness to the land. He now has “100 head of cattle.”

Harry told me one time, “It doesn’t work for me to drive these cattle into a pasture. If I am behind them trying to force them in a certain direction, they go every which way. But if I get out in front, they will all follow me around anywhere.” The same could be said about flocks of sheep, which are depicted in artwork as following a shepherd toward a new pasture. And this is how the life of faith works … following.

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. (Matthew 9:9 NRSV)

There is an excellent group study by Henry Blackaby called Experiencing God, which you should definitely experience. One of the principles he teaches is to watch what God is doing and then participate. Too often we get involved in what may be good things, and then ask God to help us. But the life of discipleship should have a different approach. Instead of asking God to “bless what we are doing,” it is more in line with the teachings of Jesus to “do what God is blessing.”

For instance, suppose you want to start a prison ministry, but find it hard to get organized and recruit volunteers. This goes on for a while with minimal progress, and you are constantly praying to God for help and direction to make this work. Meanwhile, there are teenagers at church or among your friendship connections that seem to have an affinity toward you. They ask you questions and seem to trust you. Maybe God is trying to tell you something. If you are paying attention, you would see that God is working on teenagers in your presence, while you are spending your time trying to start a prison ministry. It would appear that God wants you to mentor teenagers, not prisoners.

Pay attention to what God is doing, and then follow. Let him lead you. You and I are the sheep. We don’t need to be out front, leaving the shepherd behind. The notion of “I did it my way” that is glamorized in a popular song sounds alluring, but it is self-centered. My version of that song would go more like, “I did it my way, and messed things up!” I would rather sing it like this, “I did it God’s way, and amazingly it was much better.” That ought to be obvious, or as Homer Simpson would say, “Well, Duh!”

It is not really our job to figure out what to do, or even to figure God out. It is our job to follow him and to watch what he is doing and do that! … Follow … Watch … Join.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is NOURISHED

Tue-Mar-17-2020

If you were promised that all your physical needs (food, clothing, shelter) would be taken care of for the rest of your life, it would still not guarantee that you would be happy or fulfilled or have no worries.

Lots of us, including myself, have at some point in life fallen into thinking that what we need is enough money to meet our basic needs and pay our bills, and then we could stop worrying. However, such is not the case. When those surface needs for survival are pushed aside, underneath is a great longing to be accepted and to feel like our life is worth something to others.

And deeper still within us is that place that can only be filled by the love, grace, and Spirit of God, offered by Grace and received by Faith. This is the foundation. No amount of emotional or physical provision will stand throughout life unless built on God our Rock. Jesus spoke in Mathew 7:24 about building a house on Rock or Sand. For those who built on Rock, when the storms came, “it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” But if built on Sand, “it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Sometimes God makes a miraculous provision of our surface needs in time of drought and desperation to remind us that we should rely on his grace as the provision for our deepest needs in our inner being. While traveling through the desert for 40 years, the Israelites of the Old Testament encountered several times of crisis where food, water, or safety was in short supply. For one period of time, God supplied “manna,” which was an unusual substance like bread that would appear on the ground in the morning. Free food! Along with the following reminder …

“He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 8:3)

What goes into our mind and our heart is far more important for “living” than what goes into our stomach. Sometimes God will miraculously get us through some bad times by supplying food, money, or other provisions. What he wants to teach us is to trust him, and to seek deeper nourishment than just food.

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, he went through temptations in the desert, and during those 40 days he fasted (nothing to eat). So, Satan tempted him to turn stones into bread. (I’m sure some of those rocks were in the shape of a nice freshly baked loaf of homemade bread.) Jesus resisted by quoting the above passage of Scripture from Isaiah … We do not live by bread alone, but by God’s Word.

Keep yourself spiritually nourished … this is one of the keys to “really living.” You have deeper needs than the physical, or the money, or being surrounded by convenience. Your soul, your heart, and your mind all need God-designed nourishment.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2)

Today’s Word Is STRENGTH

Tue-Mar-3-2020

After you have made it through a tough time, a stressful deadline, a challenging crisis, or maybe just made it through the day, hopefully you get a chance to relax and breathe a sigh of relief. Maybe you begin to reflect on how this all worked out, what you learned, and where the strength came from. As believers, we should know that giving ourselves the credit doesn’t really tell the whole story.

Listen to King David after a victory against an enemy:

I love You, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;

My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,

And I am saved from my enemies. (Psalm 18:1-3)

When King David says, ”I am saved from my enemies,” he means the battle is over and we won! Yes, we. Through it all, the Lord is our rock, our fortress, and our deliverer.

How good are you at giving God the credit? It is much easier to quickly acknowledge and thank him when we have started out confiding and trusting in him, asking for guidance in the morning and throughout the day. I have made much progress over the years, but I still sometimes find myself seeing a problem or opportunity and just taking off with my own solution. Carrying on that day-long conversation is a great habit, which can keep me from being too hasty and disregarding my greatest source of strength. Then when the job is complete, problem solved, success achieved, victory won – I am more prone to give thanks to God my Father for the strength.

A famous Budweiser commercial shows a young colt alone in the barn beside the huge wagon that the older horses pull as a team. He steps under the harness, puts his neck in place and tries to pull. At first it doesn’t budge. He pulls harder – then suddenly the carriage moves forward, and he starts walking!

Obviously, he is thinking – wow, I’m really doing it! Then the camera angle widens and you see that the wagon is being pushed from behind by one of the huge Clydesdales, which I take to be his Dad.

So it is with you and me. Whether small or large, the things we accomplish are made possible by the God who is helping far more than we often give him credit. It is actually by his strength that we accomplished anything.

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” – Jesus (John 15:5)

Give thanks and give credit,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is PERSECUTED

The Steps of Christian Maturity
Beatitude #8
Persecuted for Doing What’s Right
Thu-Feb-27-2020

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” – Jesus (Matthew 5:10-12) (Beatitude #8)

The 8^th Beatitude, unlike the other seven, is three verses long, because Jesus had a lot to say about what it means to be persecuted. It was the very thing that was going to end his life, being arrested, tried, convicted, and put to death for doing what was right. He knew it was coming. But it did not stop him from fulfilling God’s purpose and doing God’s will.

The night before his death, Jesus told the Disciples in the Upper Room, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you… “ (John 15:18-20b)

A reasonable expectation would be that if we do the right thing, people will appreciate it. Not always so. As the saying goes: “No good deed goes unpunished!”

The calling on your life to be a peacemaker is higher than you may think. It’s not just about solving disputes. There is a sense of “big picture” to it. You are building people. You are paving highways. You are seeking justice and mercy, spreading the love of Jesus. As you do the work of the peacemaker in your realm of influence, at some point someone is not going to like what you’re up to! You’re going to offend someone along the way! Guaranteed!

But when you get insulted, when you are not appreciated for your kindness, when you get told to “mind your own business” … there is one last step of maturity … and that has to do with how you handle being ill-treated. Jesus says to consider yourself blessed when this happens. Wow … It’s not very American to think of being persecuted as a blessing! But we must have the higher attitude of Jesus, even when people insult us, persecute us and falsely say all kinds of evil against us.

If your sense of identity and security comes directly from God, and you are reaching higher levels of maturity, then you will reach a point where the criticism really doesn’t bother you as it did in your earlier days. You will not be ruffled by it. You may almost come to expect it. In America people get offended easily, but not you. Remember, you and I are different than the world. Jesus said, ”You are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world.” (John 15:19) Thus your response might even be to smile and take the criticism as an indication that Satan is upset because you are invading his territory!

Jesus is telling us as disciples that when we are doing the business of the kingdom, touching lives, making a difference … we will get insults, but must not let them shake us up. We just accept them as part of the package … we don’t get angry … nor do we try to over-analyze.

Jesus listed the issue of persecution as the last of the eight Beatitudes for a reason. He is saying that fulfilling your calling (Beatitude #7, being a peacemaker) is not the highest level of maturity. It is fulfilling your calling AND not being bothered by the criticism, not being angry or derailed when persecuted. What a peace there is when the insults don’t irritate you anymore.

Climbers know that as you scale a high mountain there is a place called the “fly line,” where annoying insects cease to exist. They can’t live or function above that elevation. May it be the same for you, as you grow forward in faith and operate at a high elevation, that you cease being irritated by opposition. Instead, you pray for those who persecute you, and you carry no anger or resentment. I suspect very few people in the church get there. But you can and should, because it is a place of peace and fulfillment.

Persecution, says Jesus, is a blessing … after all … if the enemy shows up to persecute you, it could be a clear sign that you are on the right track, doing something good, advancing the kingdom!

Keep on keeping on,

Chaplain Mark

COMMENT: The Beatitudes, like much of Scripture, have various levels of interpretations or points to make. This study is not meant to replace the things you have understood and believed about the meaning of these verses, but to add a new depth to their meaning.

NOTE: This is the last of the 8 Beatitudes. If you have not read the previous articles about each Beatitude, you should scroll further down and read previous days’ entries and catch up. This series has described the faith journey toward Christian maturity as spoken by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

The Beatitudes … Matthew 5:2-10 (NRSV)

2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Today’s Word Is PEACEMAKER

The Steps of Christian Maturity
Beatitude #7
Peacemaking – Becoming Partners with God
Wed-Feb-26-2020

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. – Jesus (Matthew 5:9) (Beatitude #7)

Buckle your seatbelt. This is a biggie! This is the central Beatitude regarding fulfilling your purpose.

A peacemaker is someone who has “gone into business” with God. If you are following the steps of Christian maturity in the Beatitudes … humility, release, genuineness, ready for more, merciful, and being purified … you are now to the point where you claim your purpose, your calling.

In the old western shows, you might see a sign in town called Smith Hardware. But when Mr. Smith’s son grows up and goes into business with his dad, Mr. Smith has his sign remade so that it says Smith & Son Hardware. The father is the founder of the business, but the son speaks for him by an impartation of the father’s authority.

This is what God wants for you, to be in business together with him … the Kingdom business … the peacemaking business … the God business. You have been told that God is with you everywhere you go, and you probably thought of this as a form of comfort and protection. It certainly is that, but it is far more than that. You are God’s transporter and presence in the places he wants to go. It is God & Daughter, or God & Son, heading into any and every situation to do Kingdom business!

It’s like this … when YOU show up … that means GOD shows up. When you walk into a room, you change the atmosphere. When you show up and say, “I’m here to help” … the clear implication is “God’s here to help!” … because you are his partner in the Kingdom business.

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us …” – The Apostle Paul (2^nd Corinthians 5:20a)

Let’s talk about the “peacemaking” business. First, there is a difference between a “peacemaker” and a “peacekeeper.”

A peacekeeper is interested in peace and quiet … A peacemaker is interested in peace and progress.

A peacekeeper is willing to do anything to stop the disturbance. (Such as repeatedly solving the same crying child problem by saying: “Give him a piece of candy and he’ll be quiet.” … Which ends up being a temporary solution that is creating a long-term problem of another sort.) … A peacemaker is not willing to let a disturbance detain him or her from getting to the root of the problem.

A peacekeeper looks for options to appease certain people, which often serves to unfairly punish, frustrate, or alienate others. … A peacemaker looks for an equitable long-term solution that involves sacrifice and benefits on both sides.

A peacekeeper is sometimes afraid to confront selfish or unfair people. … A peacemaker “speaks the truth in love” to all parties. (Ephesians 4:15) These solutions may seem too hard to accept for one or both of the parties in conflict. Truth can very often offend someone.

As an example, think of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery (8^th chapter of John). To her accusers he said, “He who is without sin cast the first stone.” And to her, he offered forgiveness, but then added, “Go and sin no more.” He was kind and yet firm with both parties and pointed them both to their better future. It takes “guts” to do that. If you watch the TV show “Blue Bloods,” then you can see that Police Chief Frank Reagan is the peacemaker.

The role of peacemaker is not easy, but it bears the marks of integrity, truth, and godliness. Such a person is stepping into the highest levels of Christian maturity, wisdom, and respect.

AND NOW … HERE’S THE WHAMMY … Once you reach this stage of Christian maturity, you are operating at full steam in the Power of the Holy Spirit. You have overcome the fear that Satan has used to hold you back from making a difference. And being unafraid of Satan’s tactics, knowing that he is already defeated, you can say with conviction and confidence … “I USED TO HATE IT WHEN SATAN SHOWED UP, BUT NOW SATAN HATES IT WHEN I SHOW UP!”

This is not a form of self-promotion. It requires maintaining that humility you started with in Beatitude #1. And it is a declaration of your determination to accomplish Kingdom business and to give the glory to God!

You can do it!

Chaplain Mark

NOTE: If you have not read the previous articles about each Beatitude, you should scroll further down and read previous days’ entries and catch up. We are discussing the faith journey toward Christian maturity as described by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.