Matthew 10:31 – “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”  NKJV

Looking at this passage, I immediately think about our calculated worth to God.  If you only look at the comparison to a small bird, I’m not sure that would make anyone feel worth very much.  How many are many in this passage?  If two sparrows are sold for a small amount, that would indicate their abundance and low esteemed value to man.  However, if we read the paragraph, I believe we can see something in the heart of God as to the value of His creation to Him.

Jesus was teaching us to give our witness publicly to whomever and wherever we could.  He instructed those listening not to consider the public opposition and the vileness of the Pharisees who might seek to silence them with death.  He contrasted what man could do to us and what God could do to the disobedient. 

Here, He inserts His comments on the sparrows, which almost seems out of place, but is it?  He says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?  And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.”  Wow! God is concerned about even the tiny birds in that region were so plenteous that they were virtual nuisances. 

In other places, in Scripture, we read that God cares for the grass of the field, the flowers that grow by the wayside, the cattle of the hills, and all creation.  Jesus emphasizes that by saying, “But the very hairs of your head or all numbered.”  That is nothing short of amazing!  God cares enough about us and is so detailed in His attention to us that He has numbered the hairs of our head, and when one falls out, He says, “There goes hair number 714.”  (I say that jokingly but the point is that He knows EVERY DETAIL of our lives.)

Here in our text verse, our Lord says. “Do not fear….”  The message is that God is so concerned and cares for His creation that He knows when the sparrow falls and has numbered the very hairs of our heads.  Therefore, we should not fear because man can only kill our bodies but cannot touch our souls.  He emphasizes our value to God and the instruction to be at peace and never let anyone determine our destiny or message by saying, “…you are more valuable than many sparrows.” 

If I calculated my worth based on the elements that make up my physical body, I would be depressed, for if you combined all the elements in the human body, it would be worth less than $2,000.  However, were you to harvest the various body parts and sell them, they could be worth millions. I am concerned that this market will become a Last Days Market where people are systematically selected to harvest their organs for commerce. 

Whether we calculate the worth of our bodies by the chemical components and elements or based on the Black-Market Value of our organs, that could never compare to the value God has placed on us.  He looks at far more than the value of the ‘dust of the earth’ that we are and to which we will return.  He looks at our Eternal Souls and the fact that we are Eternal Spirits housed in a physical body. 

What is our calculated worth to God?  The best way that I can identify our worth to God is the Cross!  God placed a valuation on each of us as worth the death of His Son, Jesus Christ.  He values us enough that “He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16). 

Jesus values us enough that He was willing to leave His former estate in Glory, come to earth born of a woman, live among us as man and for man, suffer the shame and reproach of the Cross, and be killed so that we could be Forgiven and Live Eternally!  That is our Calculated Worth to God, and I challenge you to stop discounting your worth and never again say, “I am a nobody.  I am worthless. I am of no value.”  

That attitude is an insult to God, and when you read that you are worth more than many sparrows, do not view that as God deeming you unimportant and of little value but that He considers you so valued that He has numbered the hairs of your head.  My fellow believer, you are worth the Blood of Jesus to God, making you priceless.

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!

Matthew 28:1-8 – “Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.”  NKJV

Imagine the scene at the sealed tomb on that eventful day.  The Roman soldiers assigned to guard the tomb were, in all likelihood, unbelievers whose only concern was ensuring that the followers of Christ did not steal His body and perpetrate fraud upon the people.  They were, as their superiors, convinced that the only way Jesus’ prophecy of rising again on the third day could even appear fulfilled was by His followers taking and hiding His body. 

The disciples were perplexed; their Messiah was dead.  Everything about that troubled them because they had been convinced, He had come to restore the kingdom to Israel, but now He was dead.  The two Marys went to the tomb that morning with many questions nursing their disappointment and despair. 

Matthew records that there was a great earthquake when they went, and an angel of God descended, rolling away the stone from the door and sitting on it.  The angel’s countenance was like lightning, bringing terror to the guards’ hearts. The angel’s announcement to the two Marys was, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here; for He is risen, as He said….”  

The angel brought them into the tomb to witness its emptiness of it.  They then instructed them to go quickly to the other disciples and tell them that JESUS IS ALIVE!  He further stated that He would go before them into Galilee, where they would see Him.  The two Marys went quickly from the tomb with “FEAR and GREAT JOY.” 

In many respects, that is precisely the condition we should live in following our LORD.  Proverbs 9:10 instructs, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”  Proverbs 2:5, where the writer is speaking about God’s Words and Wisdom, tells us that as we mine out the nuggets of truth in the Word, we gain an understanding of the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

It is as we KNOW God that we both FEAR and LOVE Him!  As we KNOW God and His WORD, we have a foundation to understand His purposes, promises, and provisions.  As we KNOW Him, we understand the importance and impact of being God-fearing.  It is reverential, but it is more than just respect. It is an understanding that He loves us unconditionally but is Holy and will judge sin unforgiven without favor. 

The FEAR of God can and should bring Great Joy because it enables us to comprehend the choice between sin and salvation, heaven and hell, and life and death.  The women went from the tomb with FEAR because His resurrection anchored their Hope that He was the Messiah and God.  It produced Great Joy because, in that confidence, which brought trembling to their mortal minds, they could REJOICE that ALL HE SAID and PROMISED WAS REAL!

Every year about this time, I have someone seeking to argue that there is no biblical evidence or historic evidence for the Resurrection.  That is wrong!  You may believe that, and if you do, that is between you and God, but I know He Lives because He Lives in me.  He saved me, and I was changed!  I believe the biblical report and believe that He not only lives but is coming back for those of us who have received Him as Savior and Lord!

On this day of Celebration of His Resurrection, may we move forward with Holy Reverential Fear and Great Joy!  May the richness of His presence, the power of His provision, and the permanence of His promises explode in your hearts today! 

Happy Resurrection Day, and God bless!

John 10:11-18 – “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.  12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.  13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.  14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.  15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.  16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”  NKJV

Through the years, I have been troubled by many, even in the Christian church, who endeavor to blame the Jews for Jesus’ death and have called them “Christ Killers.”  The Jewish hierarchy was responsible for pressing the issue.  They pressed Pilate because they wanted the death of Jesus because they considered Him a heretic and destructive to the ‘nation and place.’  They were motivated by ignorance and their theological understanding, but WHO KILLED JESUS?

If I take the Bible and our LORD’s declaration as factual, and I do, then man did not kill Jesus in the ultimate sense.   According to Jesus in the passage above, He LAID HIS LIFE DOWN.  He further declared that NO ONE could take it from Him and that it was HIS CHOICE to die and rise again as a commandment from the Father.  Therefore, the Jewish religious hierarchy and the Roman rulers were tools used to bring about the defeat of Sin and open the door to redemption for mankind.

Some find it convenient to hate particular groups of people for various reasons and then misapply scripture in an attempt to validate their views.  If we are to be true followers of Christ and the Bible is to be our guide for faith and practice, we must allow the Bible to shape our views, not misuse the Bible to validate our preferences. 

When I think of the Cross, I do not think of the Romans or the Jewish Sanhedrin; I think of my Redeemer, who willingly gave His life for me.  I think of the Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World who died for the Sin of the World.  I think of Salvation; I think of forgiveness, not a reason to hate another member of the human family.   It was a ploy of the devil to defeat the purposes of God, and he mistakenly thought that the earthly death of Jesus would accomplish his end.  He was wrong then, wrong when he attempted to supplant God in heaven, and continues to be wrong and will remain so throughout eternity. 

Jesus had to go to the Cross to pay the price for our sin, and to view the Cross as anything other than a display of LOVE for mankind is a mistake.  It is a revelation and demonstration of love in the highest order.  Jesus was not forced to go to the Cross; He chose to go there out of LOVE! Therefore, our sin and His Great Love took Him to the Cross!

May the Lord be with you as you go through your day!

Mark 15:42-47 – “Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. 45 So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.”  NKJV

Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 12 that He was going to spend three days and nights in the heart of the earth the rise from the dead.  Although they understood, they did not understand.  The many prophecies regarding Jesus’ life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension had to be fulfilled, but I must ask, “Why Was Time in the Tomb Necessary?” 

There are some far more accomplished in biblical commentary than I who can and have addressed this issue.  Let me offer something that dropped into my heart as I contemplated this time of the year and the day the church identifies as “Good Friday.” 

The disciples had demonstrated, up to the time of Jesus’ death on the Cross, that they still had not fully wrapped their heads around the Spiritual Kingdom.  They were clinging to the hope of an earthly one.  Deep inside, there was still a flicker of hope that Jesus was going to overthrow the Romans and establish an earthly kingdom in which Israel was restored.  He tried to convey the truth to them, and they believed in Him, but their carnal minds still held to the desire for restoration in the natural world.

I believe it is possible to say that Jesus did not need to spend three days and nights in the heart of the earth for Himself.  Therefore, if He spent time in the tomb, it must have been for our benefit.  He could have died on the Cross, and aside from fulfilling the prophecies of rising from the dead after three days, Salvation would have been purchased.  Once His blood touched the Mercy Seat in Heaven, Salvation was! 

However, to confirm that He had truly died,  spending three days in the tomb provided indisputable evidence that He was truly dead from the natural man’s view.  Still, further, the ‘Time in the Tomb’ provided an opportunity for the disciples to grieve the death of their Natural Restoration Hope and allowed the Death of their Dream to grip them.  They had believed in Jesus and hoped for the Natural Restoration of their nation, and now that hope was gone.

Looking back on the events, we call it Good Friday, but they would never have called that Friday Good! They saw nothing good on that day! The tomb was ever before them, signifying the death of their dreams.  The time in the tomb provides the foundation upon which the Holy Spirit can take the seeds that have been sown in death and allow them to germinate into life.  Had He not gone to the tomb and stayed there three days, the disciples might have continued their Natural Restoration Theology and never transitioned into the True Kingdom of God and might have become a hindrance rather than a powerful witness of the Gospel.

The Time in the Tomb was for mankind, and looking back, we can call it GOOD FRIDAY!  It marked the death of a natural dream and the birth of a spiritual reality called the KINGDOM OF GOD!  Sometimes in life, we need Time in the Tomb to ensure that only what rises is what God desires rather than persisting in pursuing the dreams that are the product of our own imaginations rather than the promise and purpose of God.

So on this GOOD FRIDAY, I pray that God will allow you to see the death of any dreams not of Him in your life. I pray that just as Jesus arose from the dead on that third day, may His purposes rise to power in your life as well.  

May the LORD bless you richly and cause the reality and purpose of the Cross and Resurrection to explode in your hearts.  THIS IS VICTORY!

Psalm 95:1-2 – “O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.  2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.”  NASB

I love the Psalms; they are filled with wonderful spiritual nuggets that lift my spirit and elevate my view far above the turmoil of this life.  Today I have been struggling with what is happening in our world and the condition of man’s heart as I see it.  Then in my reading, I turned to this Psalm and immediately heard the Holy Spirit ask, “Are you going just to read it, or do it?”  I made the Choice to Rejoice, and my spirit is soaring!

Consider what he said: 

Let us sing for joy to the LORD. (A definite decision for us – do or not do?)

Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. (I know that may not be dignified, but I have been having a spell shouting to the Lord here alone in my house and feel good about it.)

Let us come before His presence with Thanksgiving. (As I sang to the LORD and shouted to the LORD, my heart was filled with thankfulness.)

Let us shout joyfully to Him with Psalms. (That is just what I did!)

We have at least two choices every day and in every situation.  We can turn it all inward and become depressed or look outward and upward and choose to rejoice.  I have done both in life and can testify that the latter is the better of the two choices.

A country song by George Jones – “Choices,” speaks to this as well.  The opening lines of the song are – “I’ve had choices since the day that I was born.  There were voices that told me right from wrong.  If I had listened, I wouldn’t be here today, living and dying with the choices I’ve made.”   We all make or have made bad choices, but if we cast them on the LORD, He will blend all things together (good & bad choices) for our good and transform us!  We have the choice to follow Him and rejoice, so let’s do it!

So, as you go through this day – Rejoice with singing to the LORD, shout to the LORD, come before Him with a THANKFUL HEART, and just let go singing and shouting the Psalms; you might be amazed at how therapeutic that is. 

May God be with you as you go through the day!

Genesis 6:13-22 – “So God said to Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is full of wickedness through men; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.¹⁴ Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and daub it without and within with pitch.¹⁵ And this is how you shall make it: the length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.¹⁶ And you shall make a window in the ark, and to the width of a cubit shall you finish it above; and the door of the ark you shall make in its side; with lower, second, and third decks you shall make it.¹⁷ And, behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh that has the breath of life in it from under heaven; and everything that is

 on the earth shall die.¹⁸ But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall enter into the ark, you, and your sons, and your wife, and your son’s wives with you.¹⁹ And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every kind bring into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.²⁰ Of fowls after their kind, and of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind shall enter with you, that they may live.²¹ And you must take a supply of all food that is eaten, and you shall store it by you; and it shall be for food for you and for them.

²² Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Recently, my kids planned and provided a trip to Kentucky to take me to something I have desired to see – The Ark Encounter.  We flew to Cincinnati, Ohio Airport, which is in Northern Kentucky, and visited the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter.  The Ark spoke volumes to me that I continue to download in my spirit, heart, and mind.  It was beyond impressive; it was awesome! 

One of the things that moved me was the intricate details, planning, logistics, and preparation that Noah had to do.  When you read the directions of God in Genesis 6, much is left out of the details.  God said, “Build an Ark.”  He specified the type of wood, the number of decks, and a few other details.  He specified that of the animals, the number of each “kind” to bring onto the Ark. 

The logistics and provisions of water and food were a colossal assignment.  Not only did he have to secure the provisions, but he had to provide containers and space for them to be kept.  Cages for the animals, living quarters for him and his family, the ability to repair the cages, etc.  A system of food and water distribution as well as waste removal.  It was an endeavor that was no small feat.

God had to give Noah the wisdom and skills to build the Ark and link him to people who could help.  The vessels for water, food, etc., that had to be manufactured or purchased are in the thousands.  Shipbuilding would not have been a naturally learned skill of Noah.  Farming was involved.  The understanding of how to care for the various animals had to be divinely taught or revealed.  The miraculous in the entire process is incredible.  There is so much more involved than ever crossed my mind when I read, “God said, build an ark.” 

If we realize that they were in the ark for an entire year, that magnifies the issue.  Water had to be onboard before the flood or captured during the 40 days and 40 nights of rainfall.  All the water after that would not have been potable, or it would seem unlikely that it was.  The Ark Encounter an artistic recreation has cisterns and water jars, but the requirement of water for eight humans and over 6,000 animals is in the hundreds of thousands of gallons.  This is a miracle far beyond the vessel itself.

This highlights and reveals the intricate detail and care God, gives with every command.  The logistics of Moses taking Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land is an example.  We have example after example in the Bible that speaks to God’s attention to detail.  It speaks to man’s need to listen and carefully obey each step in the process.  Noah could take no shortcuts, omit nothing, and had to be fully persuaded that God had directed and trust God who directed him to ‘build an ark.’ 

What is your ark?  What has God told you to do that is beyond your known capacity or ability to perform?  What dream or vision has He given that seems implausible and impossible?  What urging in your heart seems so far-fetched that you have relegated it to fantasy? 

Remember the words of Jesus, “With man, it is impossible, but with God, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!”  We either believe the Bible and trust God, or we do not.  Years ago, I heard of a little lady in a church who walked in incredible faith with incredible exploits.  Someone came to her and asked about her willingness to do whatever God said.  She said, “If God tells me to jump through the hole in the wall, it is my business to jump and His to make the hole.”  That is apropos for Noah, Moses, Abraham, Daniel, and many others in the Bible and it is the key for us today. 

Trust and obedience are the keys!  If we want to walk in God’s fullness, we must learn to trust Him completely and be swift to obey.  It does not matter how far-fetched or implausible it is; IF He said it, then do it!  God is not a man that He should lie or the son of man that He should repent.  If God said it, God will do it!  God is God, and His word does not fail.  If there is failure, it is not God! 

Of course, we may mishear or misunderstand the directive, but if we know that we know that God said it, THEN DO IT!  The earth is His, and everything in and on it belongs to Him.  If He needs to send ravens to feed us, He will.  The gold and silver are His.  The air we breathe is His.  The food is His.  Everything is His, so we need to learn to be like Noah, Moses, Abraham, David, Paul, and Jesus and do what He says when He says it and the way He instructs. 

This is just a tiny portion of what I am downloading in my spirit from the Ark Encounter.  What a Mighty God we serve!   One day that same LORD is coming back for us, and the eternal dwelling place He has prepared will be occupied by you and me.  Lord, help us to trust You and obey You in everything all the time!

God bless you as you continue your journey through this thing called life, and I pray He will help us to be fully surrendered and confident in Him.   Have a Great Day!

Genesis 1:1-3 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said…” NASB

If I counted correctly, there are nine (9) times in Genesis 1, where we find “Then God said…”  Nine times he spoke something into existence, and almost that many times, the Bible tells us that “God said….”  In these two descriptions, we have a clear revelation that God is ALIVE, SEES, and SPEAKS.   In the New Testament, we find the words of Jesus in John 10:27, where He declared that His sheep HEAR His voice.  Yet, many today look at you as if you fell out of a well if you say, “God told me” or “God said to me.”  Can I ask a straightforward question, “When did God stop speaking?” 

Jesus told the disciples that the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, would come and teach them all that Jesus had SAID! I do not know how He was to teach, but one of the most used teaching methods is speaking, and I believe that the Holy Spirit speaks to people today.  I am not telling you that I hear an audible voice, but I hear God in my heart and know that I am hearing God.  I have learned when it is me and when it is outside me.  I have learned the voice of Jesus and the voice of the Spirit of God.  Any voice that contradicts scripture is immediately rejected, but when God speaks, and I know it is God, I Listen!

Who would you rather teach you what is in the book, the author, or a commentator giving an opinion as to what the author meant?  Who would you rather instruct you in life, the one who sees the end from the beginning or the one who sees the beginning from the end?  Who would you rather guide your life, the one who created all things or someone with limited experience, as do all humans? 

Therefore, if God is the creator of all things (and He is), Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent, why do we relegate Him to speaking only through the Bible or preachers?  I do not suggest and would reject any notion that God would ever say anything contradictory to the written Word of God.  But, as Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice and follow Me.”

I desire fellowship with God, and when I have fellowship with any human being, some talking takes place. Why would it be different with God?  In my prayer time, I talk, and I listen.  Sometimes I hear that still small voice in my deep inner man, and sometimes I hear a much bolder voice in my heart, but I Hear God!  You Hear God and probably much more than you think you do.  I contend that God is “always speaking,” but we are not “always listening,” so we need to learn to listen and expect to hear more.

As you go through this day, expect to hear God speak to you in guidance, counseling, and comfort.  He wants to communicate with you and will guide you through the maze of life.  

May the Blessings of the LORD go with you as you go through your day!

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.” NASB

When I was in my teens and even in my twenties (after I returned from Vietnam), I never thought about my mortality.  I was ten feet tall and bulletproof; at least, that is how I lived.  As time progressed, I had my children of my own and lost my grandfather, and then my father. I began to realize that I am just passing through this life and will one day pass from this life. 

Some people resist planning for their funeral, thinking it is too morbid, and some have told me that they don’t want to invite “bad karma” by doing so. That is a personal decision.  The Bible says it is appointed unto men “once to die and then the judgment.”  We Will all depart this world via death should Jesus tarry His coming, so ignoring that eventual reality is foolish.

Paul addressed the reality of losing loved ones and friends in this passage, and it has long been a comfort and encouragement to me.  He addressed our mortality and the Promise of the Lord to return for us.  He identified the scene of the Lord’s coming for those alive and remaining.  He tells us that the Lord will bring back those who have preceded us as He descends from heaven. He will give a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and at that time, the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then those of us who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and that will begin our eternity with God.  He concludes by saying, “Comfort one another with these words.”

Mortality is a reality that none of us can avoid.  You are not invincible!  You are mortal.  You can make yourself immoral but not immortal, only God can do that! Once you are born, you begin the process of dying.  That is a scientific and biological reality that you cannot change.  You cannot take enough HGH or anti-aging creams, rubs, or pills to avoid the absolute eventuality of the end of your mortal existence on this planet.  It Will Happen!  There is nothing that any of us can do to stop it.

What we can do is prepare for it spiritually and, if we so choose, financially for those we leave behind.  I have had friends who completely planned their memorial services, picked out their burial plots, and purchased their caskets.  They have determined what clothes they want to wear, and everything is settled long before they departed.  Most of the loved ones in those situations have said they appreciated it, but some have said they felt restricted in what they could do and the honor they could give because of it.  That is a family thing, and I won’t touch it, but spiritual preparation is not an option. It is a requirement.  So, I do not hesitate to remind you that you are Mortal, and you should begin thinking about that reality today.  Today is the day of salvation!

May God be with you as you go through this day!

2 John 7-11 – “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.”  NASB [Emphasis mine]

It is more than a message about tolerance because we are to love everybody.  Yet, there are multiple warnings in Scripture about avoiding those who promote false doctrine and practice evil.  I’ve been castigated by well-meaning believers who tell me that I should tolerate no matter what a person believes, so long as they are sincere. 

Let me address that in two ways:

• According to the Constitution and Bill of Rights of the United States of America, everyone has a right to believe what they choose.  They are free to practice their religion without interference from the government.  Of course, limitations might be imposed if their practice becomes a “Jonestown and Jim Jones” type cult that endangers the lives of multitudes of people.  Otherwise, they are at liberty to practice their religion.  So, in that sense, I tolerate everybody, although I may disagree with them entirely and want nothing to do with them.

• Spiritually, biblically, and from a Christian perspective, this passage will not allow me to abandon my core convictions and faith.  It demands that I adhere to sound doctrine regarding Jesus and His coming in the flesh and all that goes with that in purchasing our redemption from sin.  I’m well aware of the perversions that have been put out there, such as “Jesus Christ Superstar,” the false theories that Jesus had sexual relations with Mary Magdalene and did not die on the Cross but was quietly eased out of the country and lived and raised a family in the European area. 

Please take note of verses 10-11 in this passage and their unmistakable message to the followers of Christ if you are IN Christ and believe that Jesus came in the flesh.  That He lived a sinless life.  That He gave his life a ransom for whosoever will.  That He rose on the third day and ascended to the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us.  That He will come again to receive us unto Himself for Eternity.  If you embrace those truths, then this is a message for you.  If any group comes to you with another message that dilutes, perverts, or denies that truth as presented in the Bible, then John tells you how to respond.

Do not receive that person into your house.  (That is important because the custom at that time was to entertain strangers and wayfarers as a way of life, always showing kindness and generosity).

Please do not give them a greeting.  That goes directly to something that every Hebrew and then most Christians understood that comes directly from Numbers 6:22-7:1. 

“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, 23 “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them:  24 The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance on you And give you peace.’ 27 “So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.” NASB)

If you have studied “The Blessing,” you realize how important this was in the life of every Hebrew.  It also became imperative for many of the 1st-century believers to have someone speak The Blessing upon them when they greeted each other.  John advises us to follow the directive of Psalms 129:8 – “Nor do those who pass by say, “The blessing of the LORD be upon you; We bless you in the name of the LORD.” NASB

There are many cults and false religions today; from time to time, some of them make their way to my front door.  I follow this passage and usually attempt to witness to them about CHRIST, the Son of the Living God; when I do, they run like scared jackrabbits. 

I would be the first to acknowledge that I do not know all truth revealed in the Bible, but I do know HIM, who is the TRUTH!  Therefore, I say without shame that I am a follower of Christ and believe that He came in the flesh and is truly the Only Begotten of the Father.  He is the one who died for my sins, and through Him, I have Life Eternal!

I encourage you to make 1 Peter 3:15-17 a foundational principle in your life: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” NKJV

This is my prayer for you: “May the Lord Bless you richly as you go through your day in Him and give you a spirit of meekness and gentleness that exudes His Love so that all you encounter see Him in you.”  I do not suggest being mean, rude, or vicious, but I recommend that you know what you believe and stand by those convictions without wavering!  

May the Blessings of the Lord be upon you this day and every day!

Matthew 21:18-22 – “Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry. 19 Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered. 20 Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, “How did the fig tree wither all at once?” 21 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly 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 even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.  22 “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”  NASB

Have you ever wondered about this account in the Bible?  Was this simply an example of Jesus being angry, and since the fig tree had leaves but no fruit, he cursed it?  The disciples were amazed, not only by his words and action but by the result.  If Jesus cursed it out of anger or frustration, He tainted His piousness and holiness by succumbing to man’s emotions and retaliating against an object that could not strike back.  Not very Messianic if that were the case. 

Mark’s account of this incident reveals several things that need to be considered.  Jesus took note of the fig tree from afar or at a distance.  He could see leaves, and in Palestine, the fruit appeared before the leaves. Therefore, He was right to expect it to have fruit. It had the appearance of fruit but no fruit.  It was all show but no substance.  Jesus was hungry for fruit and saw an object that cried out, “I have fruit,” but had none.  What was His purpose in cursing the fig tree rather than simply walking away?

It was an object lesson for the disciples and all who would read and hear the account in perpetuity.  But an “object lesson” of what?  What was the lesson to be gleaned from this event?  I believe He had multiple lessons He desired to convey.  One that is often missed, so it seems, is that of appearance without corresponding fruit. 

Sometimes people talk the talk without walking the walk. The Pharisees, in that day, loved to appear pious and holy, but inside, they were full of corruption.  Jesus repeatedly taught about the heart versus the outward appearance. He used this as an opportunity to teach a lesson on prayer, faith, righteousness, and fruit-bearing.  He wanted to emphasize the danger of appearing to be something you are not. 

If you remember, in the Book of Acts, Ananias and Sapphira where they pretended to be something, but when exposed, it cost them their lives.  That is a situation that is repeatedly warned against in Scripture.  Our Confession must be backed up by our manifestation of “Christ in us, the Hope of Glory.”  Jesus even said, “Not everyone that says to me Lord, Lord will enter in but the one that DOES the will of the Father.”

A second lesson He was conveying was the power of Prayer and Faith in facing any obstacle in life.  The statement of Jesus, “…if you have faith and do not doubt…” is directly connected to what is manifested in our hearts, not what we Profess or Confess. It is not what we appear to be, but what we are that opens the door to faith that dries up fig trees or moves mountains in life. 

Notice that in the last verse, our Lord says, “And…”  that is an important word because it connects the message to the previous verses, including the fig tree’s cursing.  He says, “And, all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”  Not to chase a rabbit down another trail, but how much does ALL cover?  The directive was Prayer, Believing, and Receiving, which includes expectation.

If we are to develop our prayer lives and our faith lives to the place of moving mountains and seeing problems wither, We Must become what we appear to be.  If we are professing and confessing that we are Christians, then We Must manifest the life of Christ in us.  We must have the Gifts of the Spirit operational in our lives and manifest the Fruit of the Spirit in our hearts.  It is one thing to talk the talk but another to back up that talk with the walk that embodies what we profess.

The fig tree is a warning and appeal.  A warning against being all show and an appeal to allow the Holy Spirit to make Jesus so alive in our hearts that we have His mind in us and trust Him completely in all things.

God bless you richly as you go through this wonderful day!