More Blessed To Give Than Receive

Acts 20:33-35“I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes.

34“You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me.

35“In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Worldly minded people seldom understand the spiritual words of the Savior, and none are more misunderstood or maligned than the word’s that Paul reminds us of here. 

We don’t know when Jesus spoke these words since they are not recorded or referenced in the gospels. We only know that His inspired apostle attests to these words, and used them to teach the church the proper view of material things: Sharing, not coveting and hoarding.

It is more blessed to give than to receive because Christians view life and possessions are as things to do good with, not to seek for the accumulation or use of them for our own pleasures.

It is more blessed to give than receive because the spiritual is more important than the material. 

It is more blessed to give than to receive because the ability to give means that we have been first blessed to have enough of something to share.

It is more blessed to give than to receive because we follow the example and pattern of the Father. 

Let us seek every opportunity to give important things, both physical and spiritual It is the blessed way.

Living And Dying Peacefully

(A selection from of the Brother's funeral sermon)

One of the things that struck me as I was privileged to be with Brother_____ and his family at in his final hours of life, was the peacefulness of it all.  Brother_____ was at peace with himself and his God. He was at peace with his children, and they with each other. Many of his grandchildren were able to come see him off as well. It was a calm and peaceful scene.

This peaceful scene was many years in the making. It was the fruit of the gospel practiced over a lifetime. 

The common hope in the New Testament is “grace and peace.”  

Jude 2 “May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.”

And in Brother_____ life it was.

Rom. 15:13  “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

He was full and joy and hope, and the peace that comes by faith. 

Phil. 4:7  “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

And it did. In days of work and success, in days of grief and despair, in days of exasperation and testing (he did raise 3 boys!), the days of old age holding grand and great-grandchildren on his knee, and finally on to the days of feebleness and forgetfulness…   We read it again:

Phil. 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Instrumental Music

I recently attended two funerals. One was with our brethren, the other was with the Christian church — folks who were our brethren until the 1890s, when division over instrumental music.  The main difference in the funerals was the type and character of the music. (There were other differences as well, such as the coffee bar and fellowship hall in the one of the buildings.)

At one funeral, the mourners to joined in the singing of hymns of praise to God and comfort for one another; at the other, the mourners sat back and listened to pre-recorded hymns sung to them by professional singers, played back over very high quality speakers. As far as the “quality” of the music in regard to pitch and polished performance, the professional recording would surely win. But that isn’t why we sing. 

In the acappella hymns, the mourners and worshipers were able participate in the songs of praise and comfort. We were able to actively take part in the service, not passively observe. I found one satisfying to the soul, and the other lacking entirely.  I realize the God’s will on the subject is not established by what I find satisfying, and others accustomed to the instrument might find music without it lacking, but the repeated admonitions to sing in the New Testament and lack of any instruction to play, seem vindicated to me through experiencing them both. 

Charles Spurgeon, a Baptist pastor and leader of what was really the first mega-church, said this, 140 years: “The congregation…has no organ ‘to assist’ them in singing their praises to their God and Savior. Their tongues and voices express the gratitude of their hearts…I would just as soon pray to God with machinery as to sing to God with machinery.”

All God’s Promises Are True

Think of all the comforts of God’s word. In an unstable and shifting world that are not many thing that we can rely on with absolute certainty. Only God is constant and true. His words and promises are a “strong encouragement” and the hope that we base on them are “an anchor of the soul...both sure and steadfast.” (Heb. 6:18,19)  

Yet even as we take comfort in the surety of God’s promises for help and good, we make take with equal seriousness all His promises that warn of punishment. So often we like to think of only the nice things. This is illustrated in the fact that poll after poll shows that a much greater number of people believe in heaven than in hell, even though we have equal evidence and authority for both. Jesus often speaks of rewards and punishments in the same sentence, yet only one is remembered.  But His promises of curses and consequences are just as sure as His promises of blessings and rewards. 

Both the righteous goodness and righteous severity of God has been equally spoken and equally proven. All of God’s word is confirmed. Will those living by the gospel faith go to heaven? Surely they will.  Will those who are not obedient to it go to hell? Just as surely they will also. Salvation and condemnation are based on the same sure word of God. The scriptures, history and experience all confirm that we must give heed to all that God has said. Let His word be a dreadful and fearful thing to those who won’t live by it – and let them not ignore it – even as His word is wondrously comforting to those who will live by it.

Run The Race With Endurance Heb. 12:1-3

The exhortation to be faithful and avoid sin is based firmly on the life and work of Jesus. As we run our endurance race of Christianity, we look to Jesus.  In distance races it is illegal to have someone set the pace for you.  You compete on your own. Once a Cuban racer fall far back off the lead, then as his teammate was about to lap him he sped back up and set a strong pace for the first man who was now tiring. This encouragement helped his teammate to run at near record time, but it also got them both disqualified.  Fortunately we don’t run the Christian race alone. God’s rules permit a pacesetter.  It is Jesus. He has run this same race — a life of service, faith and devotion to God here on earth.  

The exhortation to be faithful and avoid sin is also based on the death of Jesus. Jesus’ struggle against sin was a mortal one. The Hebrews were “growing weary and losing heart.” (vs. 3) They were giving up to soon.  Consider all that Jesus gave up.  He gave up heaven then suffered cruelly for us. If we are still living, our struggle hasn’t yet cost us our lives as it did Jesus. We are like the Hebrews, “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.” (vs. 4) Jesus suffered the shameful cross because He saw the goal - being seated at the right hand of God. If we want to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy lord”  and “receive the crown of life,” we will have to do the same things.  

In order to “run with endurance,” live like the faithful, not the faint. Look to Jesus, not th

Why Are You Anxious?

In Matthew 6:28 Jesus asked, “Why are you anxious?” Jesus said that God cared for the grass and the birds and so He will surely meet our needs as well.  Yet are so often very anxious.

Anxiety frustrates and immobilizes us without giving us any goods results.  It causes bad mental consequences such as confusion, discouragement and preoccupied minds.  It can physically effect us with stomach troubles; heart disease, high blood pressure; suppressing our immune systems. And it effects us spiritually by weighing down our hearts (Luke 21:34) and even choking out the word of God. (Mark 4:19)

Anxiety is enhanced by a lack of faith as we dwell on a great parade of imaginary horribles that our mind dreams up. Most of all, anxiety is increased by sin. “I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin.” (Ps. 38:18)

Anxiety can be reduced by a number of godly measures: Trust (1 Pet.5:5,6; Ps. 55:22); Prayer (Luke 21:36); not worrying about what we’ve been forgiven of (1 Cor. 15:9,10); taking problems one day at a time (Matt. 6:34); being busy for others and filling our mind with godly things (Phil. 4:8,9).

Finally, if all else fails to reduce you anxiety for the future, count your blessings.  Recall what God has done for you in the past and is doing for you now. (1 Thess. 5:16-18) Then think on what God will do in the future for those that trust in Him.  Jesus continues to ask, “Why are you anxious?”

Difference Between Fools & Wise Men

The fool doesn’t learn when wisdom is presented to him because he’s too full of himself to hear.  

Prov. 12:15“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.”

Prov. 26:12“Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?  There is more hope for a fool than for him.”

The fool doesn’t even learn even from his own mistakes though he suffers terrible consequences for his folly.   

Prov. 17:10“A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred blows into a fool.”

Prov. 26:16“The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer. [sensibly - NKJV]”

The wise man doesn’t need to personally see the consequences of sin and folly, but who learns by hearing or reading wise counsel.  

Prov. 10:8“The wise of heart will receive commands, But a babbling fool will be thrown down.”

Prov. 13:1“A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.”

Prov. 23:19“Listen, my son, and be wise, And direct your heart in the way.”

The wisest of all is the one who hears and reads the true wisdom, the wisdom of God in His revelation, to learn the ways of life.  

Ps. 19:7“The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”

Settled On Their Lees Zeph. 1:12

“And it will come about at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the men Who are stagnant in spirit [that are settled on their lees - KJV], Who say in their hearts, 'The LORD will not do good or evil!'” (Zeph. 1:12)

Pictured here is undisturbed wine. The dregs (lees) have precipitated out, and have not been disturbed for a very long time. When bottles of wine are not rotated in their racks or casks of wine that are not turned, the wine becomes thick and it’s flavor is unchanged. So good wine becomes great and bad wine simply becomes worse. Wicked men, too long undisturbed, sink into sin and degradation that it is impossible to recover from. 

Their indifference caused them to think that the Lord cares, rewards or punishes. As the prophet Amos said, they are “at ease in Zion.” (Amos 6:1) It wasn’t they they didn’t know, but that they didn’t care. These are not atheists in profession; yet they are atheists in practice. They don’t take the time or effort to deny God in thought and work out a philosophy of it, they just live like He doesn’t matter, with complete disregard for the Creator who showers them with life and all blessings. So they rest at complete ease in their evil.  

Rather than be complacent, and let your sins stack up, continually have the attitude of David: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.” (Ps. 139:23,24) You know that God will examine everything concerning our lives anyway, so invite Him in to cleanse and perfect it, rather than just waiting until He comes and give punishment for the sin that we’ve all committed.

The Good Life 1 Pet. 3:10-11

Peter quotes Ps. 34 in his instructions on how to conduct live so that you will be pleasing to God and so you will can enjoy the best life here on earth. Peter states, “Let him who means to love life and see good days refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile. And let him turn away from evil and do good;  let him seek peace and pursue it.”

There are three instructions to those who wish to “love life and see good days.” Men have always sought a life on earth. God wants us to have a good life here on the earth. God did not create us to come here and suffer. He intended for this earth to be a good place to live. (Rf. Gen. 1:31)

To have this, first instruction is to control the tongue.  James calls the tongue is a fire, hard to control (Jas. 3:3-8).  As Proverbs notes that the tongue can quickly get us in or out of trouble, Prov. 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” 

Second, to turn from evil and do good. The good man will not be troubled as the evil one is. The evil man must always be worried about being caught in his lies and deceptions and watching out for the retaliations of and recriminations from those whom he has harmed.“‘There is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked,’” (Isa. 57:20,21).   

Third, “seek peace and pursue it.” Peace with your neighbors is paramount to a good life.  This peace is to be sought and pursued, it is to be hunted for and actively looked for.  It is not an easy thing to find or maintain in a world full of malice, envy, strife, and murders. But we, as Christians, are to pursue it though prayers (1 Tim. 2:1-3), and reconciliation (Matt. 5:23-25).

But Now Brought Near Eph. 2:13

What a horrible and hopeless condition the heathens in before being called by the gospel.  They did not have Christ, where all spiritual blessings and forgiveness of sin are found, (Eph. 1:3) nor did they have the Law that would lead them to Him. The Jews were also lacking the fullness of these blessings, but they had the hope of the expected Messiah. The Gentiles were excluded from both the blessings and the hope. The Messiah was coming through the nation of Israel and very few Gentiles had even heard of it.  

They were “strangers to the covenant of promise.” Abraham was promised a descendant who would be a blessing to all nations. Moses promised a prophet like him that all should listen to. The prophets promised the Messiah. The Jews had a school master preparing and bringing men to Christ. But the Gentiles were ignorant of all of this and excluded from the hope. The whole Gentile world was outside of these promises and blessings. They had nothing to look forward to, just as they no conciliation in this life. 

Without God, the heathens had no hope, only blind groping because what witness God had given them was ignored or forgotten.  God was still there, but their lives did not reflect it. Paul described the gloominess of this spiritual “blind man’s bluff” search for God to the Athenians: “that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.”  (Acts 17:27) 

But then, thanks be to God, Christ came and offered His blessings to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. “But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Eph. 2:13) Reconciliations and forgiveness were found in Christ form them too.

Grace From God

A quandary of the salvation is, “How does God, who is so merciful and loving that He will go to any length to save his creation, BUT is also so just and holy that sin cannot be allowed in His presence, reconcile sinful man back to Himself?” The answer lies in a system of salvation that 1.) will allow man to be justified and 2.) satisfies God’s mercy and graciousness, and His holiness and justice. To accomplish this man could be saved by a legal system. A man would be required to keep the law, without sin or fault and so be justified. This would satisfy the justice and holiness of God. So the a law was given, revealed, and accessible to the Jews; and all they had to do was keep it (Deut. 30:8-14).  The problem was that no one kept it, Rom. 3:9,23. This was the fault of man, not the Law which was good, Ps. 119.

A System of Grace is what we need. With all under the penalty of sin, we need someone to do us a favor, to show us some grace. We need someone to pay the debt we owe, which would satisfy the demand of justice. The problem is that all men same debt. All men are equally debtors, so none can pay for his own sins nor the sins of anyone else. We need someone to pay the debt, we need a willing and equal substitute. To unwillingly take from one to give to another is robbery, so the one who pays the price for our sins has to be willing to pay the price for us (Rf. Jn.10:17,18). We needed in this system of grace is one who can pay the price for us.  So the substitute must be debt free, sinless, without moral scar or blemish. This satisfies the holiness and justice of God and shows his marvelous grace. Here is the great grace of God — salvation in Christ, the sinless, willing and equal substitute. He paid the price for our sins! By grace are we saved, Rom. 4:4; 11:5,6.

Nine Reasons Not To Fornicate 1 Cor. 6:9-20

1.) Those who practice sin will not inherit the kingdom of God. “Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (vss. 9,10)   

2.) You were washed, sanctified and justified from such sin. “And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.” (vs. 11) 

3.) Don’t under the control of anything outside Christ. “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” (vs. 12)

4.) The body is for the Lord, not fornication. “Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food; but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body.” (vss. 13,14)   

5) You are joined to the body of Christ. “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? May it never be!” (vs. 15) 

6.) We are commanded to flee from it. “Flee immorality.” (vs. 18)   

7.) It is sin against the body. “Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.” (vs. 18)   

8.) You are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” (vs. 19)  

9.)  “You have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (vs. 20)

He Served God In His Own Generation

Acts 13:35-27“Therefore He also says in another Psalm, 'THOU WILT NOT ALLOW THY HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.'

36For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers, and underwent decay;

37but He whom God raised did not undergo decay.”

What a marvelous epitaph that would be for any of us, that we “served God in our own generation.” While we know that Christian duty and faithfulness is an unchanging standard, we recognize that each generation faces unique challenges and problems that test our faithfulness and devotion to God.  

The only thing that will guarantee our faithfulness in the future is faithfulness day by day until we get to and through it. Standing firm on the troubles of today does not necessarily mean that we will stand firm on the troubles of tomorrow. 

If we are to attain to the stature of David, that we “serve the purpose of God in [our] own generation,” we must be faithful to the end.  The old king faced much different temptations after 40 years in the royal palace than he did when hiding in desert caves from Saul as the anointed, though as yet uncrowned king. But David stayed faithful through each transition, or repented and was restored when he did not. Let us recognize that times change, new issues come, and troubles shift as the years roll by. And, like David, let us always have the humble mind to repent when, through the tides of time, we inadvertently drift off course.

Pray 2 Thess. 3:1–4

The Thessalonian brethren faced continual persecutions from the time that the gospel was preached to them (Acts 17:1-9; 1 Thess. 1:6,7; 2:14-16; 2 Thess. 1:4-7). How could they cope with such continual troubles and prospects for only more trouble in the immediate future? As Paul began to close the second letter to them, he enjoined them to pray: 

2 Thess. 3:1-4 “Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.”

1.) Pray For Others. Paul said, “pray for us.” When facing troubles we aretempted to say, “I'm just going to pray for ME.” But people with selfish thoughts seldom pray much anyway. No, they should pray for Paul and those who helped bring them the gospel. 

2.) Pray For Spiritual Progress.  They were also to pray “that the word of the Lord may spread.” If the gospel has conquered our hearts for Jesus it can do the same for others also. Pray that it does so. 

3.) Have Confidence In The Lord.  Know that the “Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you...” He is stronger than our troubles. 

4.) Have Confidence In Your Brethren. Sometimes we are disappointed with our brethren. But Paul said, “we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.”  Have faith in the faith of others.

Resurrected Or Not?

What are the evidence and arguments for and against the resurrection? The main objection to the resurrection today isn’t even verifiable evidence at all; rather it’s a philosophical argument.  It is argued that since no miracles are scientifically observable today, no miracles have ever happened. This is not sound logic, but rather materialistic, naturalist presumption. This is no stronger proof against the resurrection that the simple assertion that, “We don’t believe it.”  Still, this is the strongest and most common argument that is used today.  

On the other hand, the evidence for the resurrection is strong and multifaceted.  The direct evidence includes the predictive prophesies of the Old Testament and by Jesus in the gospels. There were the many witnesses who saw Jesus after there resurrection and the miracles worked by the apostles as they preached that Jesus was raised. Then there is the circumstantial evidence of the changed character of the apostles after the resurrection, the rapid spread of the church and its continued existence to this day.  

Christians can, and should, face with confidence any challenge to the historical proof of the resurrection. The apostle Paul did so in 1 Cor. 15. He considered whether or not Jesus was raised and argued with convincing proof that He was. Paul affirmed the inspiration of the gospel message, listed the witnesses, presented the effects of resurrection not taking place, then told what the results of the resurrection will be and quoted a predictive prophecies concerning it. Study the scriptures, consider the proof of the resurrection, consider the alternatives, consider its effects and believe.

Jesus Questioned On Taxes

The of the four gospels record that Jesus was questions about paying tribute (tax) to Caesar. (Matt. 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26) The Pharisees did this after taking counsel together on how to trap Him, even including the Herodians in on the plan. 

They sent people pretending to be honest seekers to ask the question. Their hope was that he would play to the crowd and denounce the Roman governance (an easy thing to do) and then they could accuse Him of fomenting rebellion. 

Jesus easily saw through their ruse but still fully answered the question. He said that we should give the rulers of our land (whoever they are, and whatever land we’re in) what is rightfully due them. They have the power to tax us. The fact that the Jews were using Roman coins showed who was in charge, as did their armies in Jewish cities. 

But Jesus also acknowledged a higher and more important duty – the duty to God that we have wherever we are and no matter who civil authority does. So “Give to Caesar’s what’s Caesar’s, and to God what’s God’s.” Caesar is our king. God is our God. 

Those determined to condemn Jesus ignored His answer and told the authorities what they’d wished Jesus had said. “And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” (Luke 23:2They lied about His answer because truth was not their goal.

Jesus’ Love, Sickness, Death and Hope

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. And it was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. The sisters therefore sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” But when Jesus heard it, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”  Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.  (John 11:1-5)

Even though the Lord loved Him, He still was sick. Righteousness protects the soul — not the body from all infirmity. Yes, even though Jesus loved him — he still became sick and died. This is not what the love of Jesus protects of from. This is what the love of Jesus gets us through.

So never think that sickness and death mean that Jesus doesn’t love you — know in the comfort of the hope of the resurrection that Jesus l loves you!

Jesus went to His grieving friends. He cried with them at the cemetery. Then He made a great hopeful promise that all believers ever since have shared:

Jesus said to her, “Your brother shall rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world. (Jn. 11:23-27)

And then He raised His friend from the dead. 

Doctrine

Matt. 16:6,12Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

12Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. 

Jesus condemned the Pharisees for what they taught. Not that they taught. He was concerned about the content of their teaching (as well as their personal sins) because they greatly harmed other people.  

Jesus taught an awful of doctrine as well. “And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine...” (Mark 4:2) “And they were astonished at his doctrine.” (Luke 4:2) “When Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine.” (Matt. 7:28)

We teach these same doctrines because it is the word and will of God.  “Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (Jn. 7:16,17) Today many are surprised to see such doctrinal teaching, but the true gospel has always been taught and advanced by teaching its precepts. 

So Timothy was taught, “charge some that they teach no other doctrine.”  (1 Tim. 1:3) Speak against all “that is contrary to sound doctrine.” (1 Tim. 1:10)  “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1 Tim. 4:16)

Jesus Walked On The Ice?

“Jesus may not have walked on water as the Bible claims but rather skated on ice formed through a freak cold spell, a scientific study has suggested.”  (BBC News, “Did Jesus walk on water - or ice?” April 5, 2006, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4881108.stm). 

A few years ago, in a silly attempt to give a naturalistic explanation for a miracle, a professor at Florida State made news by “seriously” proposing that Jesus’ miracle of walking on the water was really just Him shuffling along on ice. The professor made got lots of press with this for a few weeks. 

Many “scientific,” “rational,” cynical, and skeptical men look down on people who still take their faith seriously enough to believe in miracles.  They view believers as gullible simpletons of the same type as those who fear or use magic spells and witch doctors. Yet it is the folly of unbelief that leads men to the acceptance of truly fantastical things.

What would it say about Jesus’ moral judgment if He chastised Peter for lack of faith when he merely fell off the ice?  (How well would you do walking on ice at night in a storm?)  And what would it say about the character of Jesus if He accepted worship as the Son of God on the basis of being able to walk on water and calm the storm when He really just skated out to the boat?  

The “scientific” explanation removes the stumbling block of the miracle for the skeptic, but it attacks the credibility and character of Jesus and the inspiration of the scriptures. The folly rationalists is apparent even as they look down on us for believing in miracles.

“Judge Not, Lest You Be Judged”

These words from the sermon on the Mount (Matt. 7:1-5) turn out to be some of the most famous words Jesus said, but unfortunately not always for the right reasons. These words are often used as a bludgeon against those who are raising concerns about objectionable or sinful conduct. These is obviously a misuse, since some judgement is required as we go through life. 

While this passage is commonly misused, it does have a true use and Jesus’ words are to be carefully considered for what they do mean, not just what they do not. The lesson here is to judge fairly, rightly, and with a generous spirit since that is how we will be judged as well.  The whole teaching of Jesus on the sermon on the mount is to be generous in our giving and helping of others, and our treatment of them even if they are different from us or have done us harm. 

This generosity of spirit is to extend to the way that we judge them as well. Think of how unfair it is the judge people based on standards that they do not know, or to excuse our friends and family (and especially ourselves) but to never excuse faults in others. The Pharisees were especially known for finding all faults in others but never finding faults in themselves. Or, as Jesus brings up with the log (beam) and the speck, making much of small faults in others while overlooking large faults in those that we favor. 

“The commandment is leveled at rash, censorious and uncharitable judgments, and that fault-finding spirit or disposition which condemns upon surmise without examination…forgetful that we also shall stand in the judgment and shall need mercy.  (McGarvey, Fourfold Gospel.”)