“I will repay each of you according to your deeds.” - Not Intentions! Rev 2:23

“I will repay each of you according to your deeds.” - Not Intentions! 

NIV - Revelations 2:23

“.... Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.”   - Rev 2:23

Be assured, the LORD will repay us according to our deeds and not according to our intentions. “.... I am he who searches the hearts and minds...” If he searches our hearts and minds, he knows our intentions. He knows our deeds. Personally, I am long on (have many) good intentions and short on (have few accomplishments - actions) - DEEDs. It’s not what we intend to do that counts, but what we do, and... do not do. It is also important, that when we do something, we need to be doing the right thing. Let’s look at some examples:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.” 

- Mk 9:41

“Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” - Mt 25:34-40

“They also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” - Mt 25:44-46

Worth noting: “.... whatever you did not do ...”  Inaction on our part, is a deed, we do not want to be rewarded for. Clearly, the LORD has certain expectations for the righteous. Especially relating to our dealings with one another. When we find ourselves presented with a situation where we can intervene and remedy an effect for the good, the LORD’s expectation is that we will do the right thing.

One day, along time ago, I was out visiting some sick people and I came across a Muslim, a believer in Allah, the moon god, Islam and his prophet, Mohamed. I found this out rather quickly, because I told him, I was a Christian. He didn’t think I wanted to visit with him because he was a Muslim. Long story, short, he invited me in anyway and we had a conversation. He asked me, “What’s in it for you?” I asked him if he meant, since I was spending some time out visiting people, what was I expecting in return? I told him, I could only be “so-SAVED” and I was not out “earning my salvation.” I went on to tell him the things I do, when I do the right things, are a result of having a personal relationship with Jesus and having been saved (forgiven). The works were a result of my faith and affect that Jesus Christ was having in my life. It was not a result of my wanting to earn anything. It was the impact of the Word-of-God on my heart and the reflection of that power in my life. Sadly, like most people, he was not interested in what Jesus had done for him and the visitation ended.   

There were two criminals sentenced to death and crucified along with Jesus. One on his right and another on the left. One accepted Jesus as Savior, the other rejected him. One of the criminals hurled insults at him, questioned his authority and ability to save, and then tried to tell Jesus what to do. This one rejected Jesus, and would not acknowledge he was getting what his own deeds deserved. He did not want to account or be held accountable for his own sinfulness. In contrast, the other criminal realized he was under the same death sentence as Jesus. He feared God, acknowledged he was getting what his deeds deserved and that Jesus had done nothing wrong. He recognized Jesus had the authority and power to save him and asked Jesus to remember him . - Lk 23:32-43

We are all like criminals, under a death sentence, about to be punished justly for what our deeds deserve. We likewise, need to fear God, humble ourselves, and recognize we need a Savior; we do not have the power to save ourselves - There is no other name, by which men must be saved - Jesus Christ, the sinless who died for the sinful, which God has raised from the dead!

Stay True to the Gospel of Jesus Christ - Don’t Abandoned Your Convictions! Galatians 1-6

"But even if we or an angle from heaven should preach another gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned.” Gal 1:8

I started to look at Galatians in November of 2010. It appears to me that everything that followed was addressing the main concern that the Apostle Paul first articulated. I was encouraged to learn, after coming to my own conclusions, there was debate in the Christian community, if the letter was addressing one continuous theme or several issues. You will need to draw your own conclusions.

Paul was addressing Christian believers that were deserting the grace of Jesus Christ by turning to a perverted gospel preached to them by men with twisted minds. This resulted in division of the Christians into different factions, confusion, envy, jealousy, strife, loss of joy and most importantly loss of effectiveness in peaching the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of  Christ.” Gal 1:10.

I believe what Paul was stating, and what he was about to say, stemmed from the problems associated with and caused by the desire of church leaders and other Believers who became more concerned about being accepted and pleasing to men than God.  Peter and others abandoned their convictions and contributed to perverting the gospel of Jesus Christ by teaching and preaching another gospel by their actions and example. As an example, Paul cited they drew back from other believers and taught others to do the same. There is no place in the Bible the LORD commands believers to separate themselves from other believers - unless they are involved in practicing sin. Peter would have done well to separate himself from those of the circumcision group - because they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel! Instead - he joined them. Please help me LORD Jesus. This is an example of what not to do.  “They were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel. They were, by their actions, in effect preaching another gospel. Paul said, I don’t care who it is that is preaching it! I guess he meant that. Paul was being true to his convictions by serving God and not pleasing men. Paul brought rebuke to Peter and others because they weren’t lining up! Peter was afraid of men who came from James in Jerusalem and the Jewish believers on the ground in Galatia. Peter was more concerned about what the clergy from Jerusalem was going to think about him mixing with other believers, than what God commanded! Peter was more concerned about what the “laity” of the “Circumcision Group” was going to think about him mixing it up with other non-Jewish believers, than what God had commanded him. WE WILL do the same things, if we care more about pleasing men, and having their approval, than serving God and what he has commanded! The result of their actions caused the separation of believers into different camps; it caused confusion, upheaval and loss of joy. It caused conceit and envy within the church and got them out of step with the Spirit of God. It caused one group to think they were 2nd Class Kingdom citizens and the other group to think they were something special because they were…. Jews… they practiced separation, circumcision or other traditions. 

Wanting to please men caused Peter to abandon his convictions, embrace the traditions of men and move away from the truth. He led others in the wrong direction - We cannot substitute our traditions for the commands of God and call it the truth! What can we learn from this? Said another way - the fear of men, and the desire to please them, will cause us to compromise our convictions and accept substitutions (traditions) for the truth (the Gospel). Be a servant of the LORD Jesus Christ and never allow the fear of men or the desire to please men cause you to abandon your convictions and stop serving Jesus Christ.

“When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face,  because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But whe  they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles, because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.” 2:11-13.

“When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, ‘How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?” 2:14

Paul was an expert on Jewish customs and traditions. He knew bondage, error and hypocrisy when he saw it. “.... he was clearly in the wrong.” See Galatians 2:11.

Traditions and customs in line with the truth of the gospel are fine. Be careful the traditions and customs you elect to follow don’t cause you to conduct your life in a way contrary to the truth and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The fear of men can cause us to embrace another gospel and miss the purpose to which Jesus Christ has called us - to bring others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ! Not convinced? Look at Galatians 1:10 “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

To add more gravity to Paul’s concerns, Galatians 1:6-15. He wanted anyone, angels and himself included, to be eternally condemned for preaching another gospel. I believe Peter, who he was to confront, because he was not acting in line with the truth, was preaching another gospel. He was preaching another gospel by the example he set of separating himself from other believers, because “they were not of the circumcision group.” Gal 2:12 It is hard to think, the Apostle Peter, was back to denying the LORD by compromising with those that were teaching observance of circumcision was necessary, in addition to believing in Jesus, for salvation.  It may have been that the circumcision group was teaching, if you were circumcised, it would make you a better Christian! I have heard many “teachers” add to the “requirements for salvation” that would make you a better or special Christian...

Here, Paul was setting the example of serving Christ, by not being concerned about pleasing men, by confronting Peter about his hypocrisy. Peter, was setting the example of what happens when you compromise your convictions and you become more concerned about what others think of you. This is an example of what happens when your fear men. It was the example of compromise. From time to time, we will be faced with a choice to make regarding who we will serve. Will we be a servant of Christ, or a servant of man? A Christ pleaser or a man pleaser?

Blessings to my New Brothers-In-The-LORD - Toby & Nelson

I had the honor and previlage of sharing my faith in Jesus Christ when I was out traveling this week and observed the salvation of God! Both drivers that picked me up and dropped me off at the Chicago O'Hare Airport had Devine Appointments and came to know Jesus Christ as their personal LORD and Savior. I am truly grateful to the LORD for finding me worthy to share "The Good News." It was truly a miracle and the power of the LORD that reached out a mighty hand to save. Toby is 41, married for 7 years and has a 6 year old son. He gets up every morning between 4-4:30 to pray to God look for help and direction for him life... and guess who shows up in Chicago and needs a ride to St Charles? After we prayed together, he was very excited to get home to his wife and tell her all about what the LORD had done for him.  Nelson is in his mid-sixty's, a Marine and Viet-Nam Veteran of multiple tours and campaings, one includeing "The Siege at Khe Sanh."  He came to Viet-Nam believing in God, and left not believing in God. By the time our 1 hour trip ended, I had spoken bucketfuls of faith and all he said in the end before we prayed together is that he really believes all that I was saying and wanted March 31st to be the first day of the rest of his new life. He want me to pray with him and it was a done deal! I also had an opportunity to meet James Fabian, a 21 year old student from Dublin, Ireland, traveling the world in support of a Debate Team. He was on his way to Burlington, VT. I had the opportunity to share my faith with him over lunch for 1.5 hours. I am confident the seed of the gospel will bare fruit down the road. It was wonderful to experience being the hand of God once again. I started getting use to standing around breathing and taking up space. My faith has been boosted and I hope to be writing again soon.

Blessings to all my family and friends -

“…. won’t you be my neighbor?” - Mister Rogers

Jesus said:

Matthew 7.24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock…”

It is one thing to listen to Jesus and another thing to hear what he said the put it into practice. Lots of people listen; fewer people hear; and fewer still put what they hear into practice…

Jesus said:

Matthew 7.12 & 22.40 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22.37-.40 “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Luke 10.29 “And who is my neighbor?”

So, the important lesson to learn is – who is my neighbor? Because, if we can get the answer right, understand who are neighbor is and how to treat him, it will helps us with our relationship with the LORD and with one another. It is important to know who your neighbor is and how you should treat him because the Lord has commanded us to Love your neighbor as you love yourself. It is not a recommendation, but a commandment.

SO:

WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?

Luke 10.25-.37

An expert skilled in the Law asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life?
Jesus asked him, “What is written in the Law?” “How do you read it?”

The expert answered, “Love the Lord your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” “You have answered correctly.” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

But the expert wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

You know the story. He told him about a man that was beat up, robber and left half dead on the road-side. Three guys traveled by him and the third one, a Samaritan, went out of his way to help him. He had compassion and took pity on him and also went to personal expense to see that he was taken care of in his absence. Jesus then asked the expert which one of the three was the neighbor? Jesus used this as an example of how we should love/treat our neighbor. The man in need was never identified as a believer or non-believer.

A point to consider: If a Samaritan (generally considered a “Dog” or unbeliever) can be a good neighbor to a stranger, can’t we, as Believers, be good neighbors to other Believers? (That are perhaps… “not one of us.”) If this is how I am to treat my neighbor, how should I treat my brethren? Whether or not they are assembled with us or at another location? Should I treat them with any less respect, care, concern or compassion? Woe to me if I should discount them or devalue them by taking away from their reputation or good name. How do I appear to the LORD if I should engage in a lessening or a cheapening of their reputation? (Part of the definition of “envy” by Webster)

Ephesians 4.3-.6 "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of us all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

AGAIN:

Matthew 7.12 & 22.40 “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22.37-.40 “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 5.17 “…. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

V .18 and I paraphrase: “Every detail is important!” You don’t pick and choose from the Word of God. Christian living is not … ale-cart or `a la carte.

FOR:

Matthew 5.19 “Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands well be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

EXAMPLE:

Matthew 15.1-3 & Mark 7.5 “Why do your disciples (those that are part of your group and not one of us) break the tradition of the elders” Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? Religious people can always find fault with others that do not hold to their traditions.

Application:

We need to make sure we don’t start accepting and practicing traditions substituting them for the commands of God. Do not exchange traditions for commandments. We need to stick with the commands and reject the traditions; especially, if they are contrary to the commands of God.


Matthew 7.12 & 22.40 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22.37-.40 “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself.”

If Not One Of Us... Who Is?

Mark 9.38

Teacher,” John said, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

“Do not stop him.” (Give him a cup of water! Vs41) Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.”

Remember in Number 11.16-30 when the LORD told Moses that he was going to take of the Spirit that was on him (Moses) and put it on 70 elders to help Moses carry the burden of the people? He had them assemble around the Tent and the LORD came down in the cloud and the Spirit rested on the 70 elders and they prophesied. Do you remember what Moses said to Joshua when a young man and Joshua took issue (not one of us) with Eldad and Medad, because they were not assembled where some thought they needed to be, yet were prophesying in the camp? (casting out devils in your name) .28 Joshua said to Moses - “Stop them!” 11.29 – Moses replied - “Are you jealous for my sake?” Remember the Apostle Paul said the most important thing is that Christ is preached regardless of the motivation! - Philippians 1.15-.18.

Again - Mark 9.38

Teacher,” John said, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

“Do not stop him,” Jesus said…

Mark 9.42-.48

“And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.”

You have heard it all before that you do not want to be a part of causing someone else to sin. It would be better to cut off your hand or pluck out your eye, than for you to be responsible for causing someone else to sin. To be more precise – it had to do with getting in the way of someone who was not part of the group, not recognized by (the 12), “not one of us.” Someone else that was having success in the name of Jesus. Yes, this individual is considered “a little one!” To add more context here: Be careful that your actions and the things you exercise control over, those things at your command and fall under your jurisdiction, don’t hinder or cause others to fail in their mission in Christ. There are many ways to be un-welcoming to others. We can learn from good examples and bad. So the question I must ask myself is – why is it or what causes someone else to have this type of disposition? Is it because they don’t believe others measure up to their standard? They didn’t want to compete with others? They were afraid of losing their influence over others for the cause of Christ. What about others measuring up? What about the LORD’s standard? The Lord’s standard is his Word and his Word is his command. (More on this on the next Blog Post.)

Matthew 18.10 & .11.

“See that you do not look down (despise) on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” We would be wise to remember that all believers have angels in heaven just waiting on God to send them on a mission! I would hate to be the object of their mission. If I am considerate, welcoming and encouraging to other believers, I can be assured of God’s favor and blessing - not his judgment.

Consider how hard it would be to look down on someone if you were washing their feet? Jesus told the disciple that they would be blessed if that did what he did. You can sin by causing someone else to sin. Did you know that you can cause someone who is serving the Lord to sin by looking down on them and despising them, because they are not part of your group (not one of us)? We need to do everything we can to encourage and welcome those who are serving the Lord - who are serving in the name of Jesus – especially if they are having success in serving him! Why would anyone look down on someone serving the Lord and having success? Why would you want to stop anyone who is being successful in serving the Lord? Why would you want to discredit or discount the service of another Saint? What if you cause that servant, because of your actions to become discourage and sin (to miss the mark)? Jesus warns the disciples to see to it that they don’t! Again, consider how easy it would be to look down on someone if you were ruling or lording over them? There is a difference between Leaders and Rulers – Leadership and Lordship. Jesus and Peter told those who wanted to be the greatest or shepherds serving as overseers of God’s flock that they could not lord it over others, but had to be servants and examples. He was trying to spare them from the judgment that comes as a result of taking a hubristic (prideful or arrogant) position or expressing such a disposition with his people. Luke 22.23-.27; 1Peter 5.5-.3

Luke 9.46; Mark 9.34-37

An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus knowing their thoughts took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”

“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me…”

Webster defines Welcomer as one who welcomes, salutes or receives kindly a newcomer.

You can be more concerned about your position that you can forget all about the mission!

You can be more concerned about losing your position that you forget about the mission.

You can be more concerned about someone else’s position that you can forget about the mission!

You can be more concerned about someone gaining a position that you forget about the mission.

MK 9.19 - Don’t forget, the disciples just got rebuked by Jesus because they were unable to drive out a spirit in the son of a man that was brought to them for help.

MK 9.18 - “I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they were unable to.”

.34 - The disciples were more concerned about who was going to be “the greatest” than who was going to be the most effective in serving the Lord.

The Lord new their thoughts. Before John could tell Jesus about their “Police Action.” Jesus took a child – “Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me…’” (IN MY NAME) gets repeated over and over again. “We tried to stop him!” What would have Jesus said to the disciples if they reported to him that when they saw a man casting out devils in his name that they tried to encourage him? “We tried to provoke him on to do more!” “We were cheering him on!” Thank the Lord, even though they tried to stop the man driving out devils in the name of Jesus, in spite of the opposition from those who appeared closest to Jesus, he still carried on with his mission and was successful in serving him! What a great example of perserverance in the face of persecution and opposition, especially from those that appeared closest to Jesus! They were in the group of twelve (12) were they not? I am sure they enjoyed having the folk’s look-up to them, because they were with Jesus! They were riding his shirt-tails! Before, they were fishermen like most everyone else in town. “We left all to follow you.” We want our due!

So to those who are on a mission from the LORD - don’t let anyone stop you! Don’t let anyone discourage you; especially if they appear close to Jesus.

Could it be, since the disciples were concerned with “who is the greatest,” that after their failure to help the man’s son, (drive out the spirit) if someone else was allowed in their group, allowed to be “one of us” or they validated someone not part of their group, that was a successful servant… that person might BE THE GREATEST! If we can discount him, he can’t be in our group. He won’t be qualified to run for the greatest! After all, we haven’t gotten the job done! This guy is showing us up! How am I going to explain his success to others since he is not part of our group?

The LORD answered the disciples concern regarding their climb to the top, their quest to be considered the Greatest and contrasted their desire with his desire to accomplish his mission by sending out 72 other disciples to get the job done! Now they got more competition! Luke 10.1-.20 Numbers 11.28-.29 – Moses replied,”…. I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!” Moses had the right attitude.

In conclusion, we need to focus on the mission the LORD has given us and not worry whether or not others - that are “not one of us” - are measuring up to our standards, because they are, for sure, one of HIS!

To my Sister Florence:

I was wondering why you were on my heart the last two days. Yesterday I found out you were not feeling well and that you broke your hip. I thought to call Sam and see if it would be OK to come over to visit you. So much for my intentions - “…. the road to Hell is paved with them. “ Once again I let the busyness of life rob me of another opportunity to be a blessing and encouragement to someone I truly admired. I will cherish my memories of you and will never forget your kindness, encouragement and words or wisdom. You reminded me so much of my mother. I am sad for my loss and yet happy that you are no longer in pain or feeble, but strong and vibrant in the presence of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. See you again – at the East Gate!

".... for whoever is not against you is for you."

Luke 9:49-50 "Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us."

"Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."

Mark 9:18-50; Luke 9:40-10:20 The notes above are from Matthew Henry. I am preparing to share my thoughts on this. Tune-in later.