Daily Bible Devotionals

“‘Quit your preaching,’ they preach. ‘They should not preach these things; shame will not overtake us.’ House of Jacob, should it be asked, ‘Is the Spirit of the Lord impatient? Are these the things He does?’ Don’t My words bring good to the one who walks uprightly?" Micah 2:6-7 (HCSB)

There is a serious debate within the Church at large. The argument is over how to present the gospel: Should we focus on God’s forgiving love or on His standard by which mankind will be judged?

I believe we should present both equally. To me, that is what sharing the whole gospel is about. It’s what the Bible would call “not straying from the path.”  

“Watch the path of your feet, and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn your foot from evil.”  Proverbs 4:27 (NASB)

God has given us the Bible to show us how we should live. In the Bible, we understand God’s Holiness, man’s sinfulness, Jesus’ gracefulness, and the believer’s thankfulness.  

When we stray to the “left” of the Bible’s instruction, we abuse God’s liberty by rebelling against accountability. Swing too far to the “right,” and we worship the discipline of religion while denying ourselves God’s gracious gift of a personal relationship with Him.

A healthy “walk” with Jesus is a balance of freedom with accountability and discipline with a personal relationship.

In the days of Micah, the liberal “left,” so to speak, had taken the Lord’s grace for granted to the point that they worshipped idols. Understand, they had not completely abandoned the Lord. They simply presented the “positive” aspects of God’s loving provision while denying the reality of His hatred of sin, which leads to judgment.  

This approach to worship led to spiritual compromise: the Lord + idolatry. They sought a religion that allowed them to retain a primary identity with the Lord yet didn’t isolate them from their sinful desires or profitable political relationships with other nations. Does this sound familiar?

Whenever the prophets would preach of the true standard of God, Israel would reject their message. It would be very confusing for anyone on the outside because both parties claimed to be God-honoring Jews. Given the options, the average person would probably go with the religion that asked “least” of their devotion while promising the most liberty. We read God’s Word to know the truth and walk according to it.  

Lord, grant us the opportunity (along with the boldness) to share the “whole gospel” with others. We want to walk in Your ways, neither adding to nor taking away from your Word.

“This is what the Lord says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who proclaim peace when they have food to sink their teeth into but declare war against the one who puts nothing in their mouths. Therefore, it will be night for you— without visions; it will grow dark for you— without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them.” Micah 3:5-6 (HCSB)

When I was 20 years old, I humbled myself before the Lord. With my whole heart, I confessed my sin to God and professed that I believe Jesus is the Messiah. I told Him I believe Jesus rose from the dead and is alive, offering salvation to all who would turn from their sin and follow Him. At that moment, I received salvation by God’s grace.

In addition to that prayer of salvation, I asked the Lord to teach me what it means to be a disciple or “disciplined follower” of Him.  Shortly afterward, someone handed me a copy of the New Testament. At the time, I figured Christians believed in the New Testament, and the Jews believed in the TANAKH (Old Testament). Thus, I began my early journey of discipleship, reading the New Testament and disregarding the Old. But before that “New Testament only” philosophy took deep roots, the Lord “hid” me, as it were, by placing me in a great Bible study group that stressed reading the entire Bible, not just the New Testament. Over time, I grew in Scriptural knowledge to the point where I could discern between sound doctrinal teaching and destructive/heretical teachings present among the church at large.

What if I had found myself, as a young believer, in a group of heretics - men who appeared to teach God’s Word but were perverting the truth for their own profit? This was the case with Israel at the time of Micah. Israel was full of “for-profit” prophets & priests.  

Eventually, for the good of His Kingdom, the Lord afflicted Israel, first by war with Assyria and later by the Babylonians and eventually the Romans. These “afflictions’ caused them to be scattered throughout the nations. God was rebuking them for their sin. But for redemptive reasons, He also acted as a “gang-buster,” protecting the greater community from centralized heretical teaching.

The reason there is a “New Testament” and an “Old Testament,” per se, is because God silenced significant prophetic vision among Israel for 400 years. This was to “cleanse the palate,” so to speak. Micah (and other righteous prophets) prophesied this would happen.

When we recognize the reason for the “silence” or “black-out” period, we view the Old & New Testaments from a different perspective. Put into perspective, the Bible, in its entirety, is one completely connected and continuous message. And what is that message? It is the story of the Messiah, the redeemer of creation from before creation (Micah 5:2; Revelation 13:8), continuing throughout history (1 Corinthians 10:3-4) and extending into eternity (Revelation 11:15). (See also: John 3:16-17)

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Micah 4. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me. His origin is from antiquity, from eternity. Therefore, He will abandon them until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of His brothers will return to the people of Israel. He will stand and shepherd them in the strength of Yahweh, in the majestic name of Yahweh His God.” Micah 5:2-4a (HCSB)

Some would say that the culture we live in is “postmodern.” Perhaps you have heard that term and wonder exactly what it means. A quick tutorial may be in order since “postmodern” has become a generational catch-all term in many respects.

Let’s say the height of the “modern era” was the WWII generation. This was a generation where the big “isms” flourished:  Industrialism, Communism, Capitalism, Fascism…  The general belief was that there were “absolutes” worth dying for, non-negotiable rights and wrongs. Each movement had its own literary manifestos.  

Moving beyond the political realm, “modernism” stretched into all facets of culture, including religion. Every religious patron declared theirs was the ONLY way.

In response to the failures of many modern “isms,” postmodernism rejects absolute truth altogether. A postmodern attitude toward religion holds to the notion that every religion may own a piece of a larger puzzle, but no one religion is the “only” way. This philosophy is, of course, a lie. Declaring “no absolutes” is itself an absolute statement.

Perhaps the most observable method of determining whether the Lord is the only God is through Biblical prophecy. If God alone can call His prophets from such varied social, economic, and educational backgrounds to predict the future of such various events as wars, the rise and fall of kingdoms, famines, the weather, etc., then surely He is absolutely the ONLY true God. Furthermore, His Word should be considered the ONLY source of Spiritual truth. The Bethlehem birth of Messiah Jesus was predicted in Micah chapter 5. In addition, the deity of Messiah is clearly stated. Jesus’ human birthplace may be Bethlehem, but His “origin” is “from antiquity, from eternity.”  Also, the 400-year silence of Israel’s prophets is predicted, its silence broken with the birth of Messiah.

Is there absolute truth? Absolutely. As every pool shark knows, Any fool can knock a few balls into the pockets. Only a pro can call his shots. Only God can call His shots thousands of years in advance and make everyone! After all, if what God has predicted has come true, what logical person would assume the rest of the prophecy would not unfold as the Lord has determined? It’s not a question of pre-modern, modern, or postmodern philosophy. It’s simply an acknowledgment of prophecy, combined with the faith that God is able & willing to accomplish His purposes.

“Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet…”  Matthew 1:22 (HCSB)

“What should I bring before the Lord when I come to bow before God on high? Should I come before Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with 10,000 streams of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, the child of my body for my own sin?" Micah  6:6-7 (CSB)

During Christmastime, you will probably hear the term “immaculate conception.” Most people believe the phrase means “virgin conceived.” While a virgin named Miriam (Mary) did, in fact, conceive and give birth to Jesus, that’s not what the term “immaculate conception” means. The term refers to the Catholic notion that “Mary” was without sin when she conceived by the Holy Spirit that Mary herself was immaculate. That is simply false. (See: Romans 3:23) Miriam was an otherwise normal Jewish girl whom the Lord chose, by His infinite wisdom, to bear & raise His Son. She conceived not by virtue of her perfection but because of the perfection of the Holy Spirit, who worked despite Miriam’s sinful nature. Miriam’s conception of Jesus, whose “origin is from antiquity, from eternity” (Micah 5:2), was determined by God’s miracle and not by human merit/achievement. We may relate to Jesus’ humanity, but it is His Divinity that we need, the divinity that atoned for sin and secured our salvation.

Micah spoke of the impossibility of anything purely earthly or fleshly atoning for sin. Notice Micah’s examples: Hanukkah is recorded in John, chapter 10, as the “Feast of Dedication.” Hanukkah is the remembrance of a miracle where God allowed one day’s supply of oil to last eight days. This was so the Menorah could stay lit in the temple while new oil could be consecrated. That said, Micah exhorts that 10,000 streams of oil could not fully please God. Religious Jews await the modern rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple so they may resume sacrifices. Micah indicates that animal sacrifices cannot sufficiently atone for sin. What of the notion that an average “fully human” Jewish firstborn child could substitute for a father’s sin? Sin begets sin.

Consider the words of Jesus, to the Levite Scribes & Pharisees: “…and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have taken part with them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ You, therefore, testify against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ sins!” Matthew 23:30-32 (HCSB)

So, what does the Lord require?

“Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 (CSB)

Only Jesus has accomplished this directive by virtue of His divinity. And only through a personal saving relationship with Him can we stand justified before God.

In short, Jesus didn’t need Mary’s righteousness. She needed His.

“Who is a God like You, removing iniquity and passing over rebellion for the remnant of His inheritance? He does not hold on to His anger forever, because He delights in faithful love. He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. He will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show loyalty to Jacob and faithful love to Abraham, as You swore to our fathers from days long ago.” Micah 7:18-20 (HCSB)

Someone once said the difference between “Sympathy” and “Compassion” is that a sympathetic person sees and feels but does nothing. A compassionate person sees, feels, and gets to work amending the situation.

I thank God that He didn’t simply “sympathize” with our sin struggle. He has compassion and puts His love into action. That’s what the Biblical idea of Messiah is all about. God provided redemption to the spiritually bankrupt because of His great compassion. He set into motion His plan to remove our iniquity by vanquishing it, and He cast our sin into a “sea of forgetfulness,” as it were.  

“But God demonstrated His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and save the lost.” Luke 19:10 (HCSB)

Anyone holding to the opinion that the “Old Testament God” was always angry, smiting, and purely a God of wrath should heed Micah’s message. There is no “Old” and “New” God. There is only God because His character never changes. That is why His promises are always trustworthy. He promises to 1) Judge & rebuke sin and 2) Show grace & mercy to all who humble themselves, wholeheartedly turning to Him.  

When Micah speaks of “Jacob,” he is referring to “Israel,” i.e., “Hebrews.”  When he says of “Abraham,” he is including anyone who, like Abraham, believes in the Lord by faith and is counted righteous by God’s grace. We must remember that Abraham was a Gentile (from Ur of the Chaldees) when he responded to the call of God. Matthew 1:1 describes Messiah Jesus as “Son of David, Son of Abraham” for this very reason. Salvation is (and has always been) offered to both Jew and Gentile, by God’s grace, through faith in Him.

It has always been God’s heart to honor true repentance, regardless of a person’s ethnicity. Israel does not hold exclusive rights to the Lord. That Jesus would be the Savior of the world (John 3:16-17) is not an exclusively “New Testament” idea.

“He says, ‘It is too small a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make you a light of the nations, so that my salvation (Yeshua) may reach to the end of the earth.’”  Isaiah 49:6 (NASB)

“The burden against Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite: God is jealous, and the Lord avenges; the Lord avenges and is furious. The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies; the Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon wilts. The mountains quake before Him, the hills melt, and the earth heaves at His presence, yes, the world and all who dwell in it. Who can stand before His indignation? And who can endure the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him.” Nahum 1:1-6 (NKJV)

Before Messiah Jesus was taken into custody through the betrayal of Judas, there were several attempts made by Jewish religious authorities to apprehend Him. One such failed attempt is recorded in John’s gospel. Take note of the Pharisees’ rationale of “Biblical ignorance” for why anyone would believe in Jesus…also, Nicodemus’ (the Teacher of Israel – John 3:10) defense of Him!  

“Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, ‘Why have you not brought Him?’ The officers answered, ‘No man ever spoke like this Man!’  Then the Pharisees answered them, ‘Are you also deceived? Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.’  Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, ‘Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?’ They answered and said to him, ‘Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.’” John 7:45-52 (NKJV)

I mention this because of the comical (albeit tragic) rationale of the Pharisees that “no prophet has arisen out of Galilee,” and anyone who would think otherwise was ignorant of God’s Word. In fact, there were TWO Old Testament prophets from Galilee: Jonah & Nahum. And BOTH were called to preach to Nineveh. Jonah was called to preach GRACE, and Nahum preached JUDGMENT, both to lead the Gentiles to repentance! So, the Pharisee’s indictment toward Christians as being Biblically illiterate actually proved their personal Biblical illiteracy. By this time, Nicodemus had most likely become a Christian. (John 19:39)

Getting to today’s passage, it is easy to read the Old Testament and feel that God hates Gentiles. Nothing is further from the truth! He is God “of the world and all who dwell in it.” As such, His heart has always been that all men, everywhere, would repent. (Acts 17:30) Have you received His offer of peace through faith in Jesus?

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its place, and darkness will pursue His enemies.” Nahum 1:7-8 (NKJV)

“The shields of his warriors are dyed red; the valiant men are dressed in scarlet. The fittings of the chariot flash like fire on the day of its battle preparations, and the spears are brandished. The chariots dash madly through the streets; they rush around in the plazas. They look like torches; they dart back and forth like lightning. He gives his orders to his officers; they stumble as they advance. They race to its wall; the protective shield is set in place. The river gates are opened, and the palace erodes away.” Nahum 2:3-6 (HCSB)

For many years, it was speculated that the stories of Jonah and Nahum were merely metaphors, moral stories not based on real occurrences. The thought was that there was no archaeological evidence for the existence of Nineveh. But in the late 1800s, the deliberation was silenced. A pair of explorers named Layard and Rawlinson made excavations and discoveries that brought to life a “metropolis” so vast that no serious mind could doubt what Jonah and Nahum prophesied concerning Nineveh’s splendor and the destruction at the peak of its glory.

Furthermore, the ancient Greek historian, Diodorus Siculus, describes Nineveh’s end in the following language: “There was an old prophecy that Nineveh should not be taken till the river became an enemy to the city. And in the third year of the siege, the river became so swollen with continual rains, overflowed every part of the city, and broke down the wall for twenty furlongs; then the king, thinking that the oracle was fulfilled, and the river became an enemy to the city, built a large funeral pile in the palace, and collected together all his wealth and his concubines and eunuchs, burnt himself and the palace with them all; and the enemy entered at the breach that the waters had made and took the city.”

So the prophecy was true, down to the details. With violence, Nineveh’s pride was laid low, and the “established” people were led away captive. Nineveh had proudly thought herself so established that she would live forever, but her end came suddenly because she exalted herself above God’s Word.

An interesting detail to note in Diodorus Siculus’ account is how the king of Nineveh knew of Nahum’s prophecy yet failed to repent! God, in His grace, had sent Jonah. And when the people repented, in His mercy, God spared them. In His grace, He also sent Nahum, and when the people refused to repent, in His justice, He destroyed them. Nahum had spoken of Nineveh’s destruction 100 years before it fell. Plenty of time for a generation to leave their idolatry and embrace the Lord!  

So, how are you going to respond to the Gospel? Are you going to seek the Lord and His mercy or turn away and test His justice?

“Because of the continual prostitution of the prostitute, the attractive mistress of sorcery, who betrays nations by her prostitution and clans by her witchcraft, I am against you. This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.” Nahum 3:4-5 (HCSB)

The book of Nahum has been doubly valuable for us. It has shown us how prophecy has been completely fulfilled in the past. In doing so, Nahum has assured our hearts that all prophecy, yet to be fulfilled, will come to pass exactly as the prophets have spoken.

“And He said to me, ‘Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.’” Ezekiel 3:1 (NIV)

As Ezekiel was commanded to eat the scroll of the Lord and share its words, so we are encouraged by the apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 14:1) to prophesy - literally, to consume God’s Word and seek His revelation, with the expressed purpose of sharing it to a generation that faces an Assyrian-style ultimate end. The more we read God’s Word, the more we learn His character, the more we see the same scenarios of redemption and judgment mounting around us, and the more faithfully we respond to life’s ever-changing social, economic, and religious climates. The Bible reveals attitudes and actions we once considered acceptable to a holy God as dangerously offensive.

I have seen several world dictators come and go in my time: Manuel Noriega, Idi Amin, Sadam Hussein, Pol Pot, Kim Il Sung, Augusto Pinochet, Papa Doc Duvalier, Efrain Rios Montt, Slobodan Milosevic, Foday Sankoh…and many more. They were all men of lies and violence. And they led bloodthirsty regimes that kept whole nations in terror but only for a season. This describes the Assyrians, the fiercest nation of their day. And they bore the filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Prostitution and sorcery were openly accepted as they worshipped their demonic gods. Therefore, God’s face was against them.

Today’s chapter tells of the inevitable end of such nations, along with all who follow in their corruption. When I lived in California, two blocks from where I used to study the Bible in the mornings, there was a “palm reader.”  The palm reading establishment was a well-kept residence; it had a nicely manicured lawn, and the neon sign read “open.”  Sorcery. Three miles away, women were walking the streets, sauntering up to cars, negotiating their bodies for sale. A mile in the other direction, at a local shopping center, I recall being handed a brochure urging me to vote to protect “marital equality,” which was code for “gay marriage.”  And we think our country’s present economic and political downturn is simply the natural response to market and geopolitical conditions? In the words of Nahum: WAKE UP!!

We, too, must “eat” The Book! Read the Bible. Savor its sweetness. Our eyes must be opened to God and (ultimately) to our sinful selves. Yes, it will sour our stomachs, but the restoration that comes from its knowledge is something for which we will be eternally grateful. Hence, we are compelled to share it with others so that they, too, might escape the certain coming judgment.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Habakkuk 1. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“I will stand at My guard post and station myself on the lookout tower. I will watch to see what He will say to me and what He should reply about My complaint. The Lord answered me: Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; it testifies about the end and will not lie. Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late.” Habakkuk 2:1-3 (HCSB)

When I was in college, I had a fraternity brother whose Labrador retriever could do all kinds of tricks. To me, the most impressive trick had nothing to do with fetching a beer from the fridge or catching a Frisbee. This guy’s dog would allow his master to put a treat on the dog’s own nose. Then, the dog would sit there for long periods, treat resting upon his snout. Then, the master would snap his finger, and the dog would finally devour the treat. Impressive for a beast. Not many humans display such control of their fleshly desires.

There is nothing harder for mankind to do than wait on God. The restlessness of our flesh will not stand delayed gratification. We count the time we spend waiting as lost time. It was the opposite for Habakkuk. Habakkuk had sought the Lord eagerly and anxiously. Then, he took the attitude of a patient learner who remains silent until the master is ready to make his thoughts known. The apostle Peter had a similar exhortation:

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

Adding to Peter’s words, the Apostle Paul underscored that God’s delay has a sense of urgency attached to it. Like those “Limited offer” commercials we have become so familiar with.

“Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.” Romans 13:11 (NASB)

While God may take His time, the time of His visitation will certainly arrive. And when it comes, like an expired coupon, the grace extended today will have been reeled back in.

“I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.” Revelation 2:21 (NASB)

I say it often, but I believe it bears repeating: Two things confound a fool: How slow God is to judge sin and how quickly He shows up! Commit to follow Him while it is still daytime because no one can imagine how terribly black the night will be.

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will triumph in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! YHWH, my Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights! For the choir director: on stringed instruments.” Habakkuk 3:17-20 (HCSB)

I don’t like to go work out at the gym. But I know I need to go in order to be healthy. I have experienced that while I never like to start a workout, I always feel revived when it’s through. Presently, many of us are facing tough “workouts.”  Some are facing job loss, health loss, loss of a loved one, loss of a home, or the loss of a relationship. If I have learned anything in my walk with the Lord, it is simply to trust Him and cling to His character. This, He has revealed in His Word. That’s not to say I have mastered faith! I’m just saying I know my Master is faithful.

The last three verses of Habakkuk’s prophecy are the expression of a truly revived man who has learned to find all his “springs” in the Lord. You almost have to live in a desert region (as I have) to appreciate water that emerges from the least likely sources. But if we change the backdrop to finances, don’t we all appreciate when money or opportunity shows up seemingly out of nowhere? Paul surely had Habakkuk in mind when he encouraged the Philippians through a season of bitterness & strife:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Messiah Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true, honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any praise – dwell on these received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:4-9 (HCSB)

There is such a difference in the spirit of Habakkuk from beginning to end. He begins bewildered and confused, full of questions and perplexities. And Habakkuk ends as one who has found the answers to all his questions, whose soul has found satisfaction in the Lord God Himself. We can all identify with his questions and confusion, and in Habakkuk’s patient endurance, we find encouragement to hold fast in faith.

Habakkuk is such a short book; if we blink, we will miss the major lessons:  Even the most pious men have questions. Nobody fully understands God or knows His plans, although He has revealed enough of Himself (clearly articulated in His Word) for us to follow Him rightly. Therefore, no man is without excuse on the day He comes to test (or ultimately judge) us. We all have doubts, and God constantly allows situations in our lives that weigh our personal theologies against His Biblical truth. And when He has tested us, given we hold faithfully, we shall emerge rejoicing.

“I will bring distress on mankind and they will walk like the blind because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung. Their silver and their gold will not be able to rescue them on the day of the Lord’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy. For, He will make a complete, yes, a horrifying end of all the inhabitants of the earth.” Zephaniah 1:17-18 (HCSB)

We don’t know much about the prophet Zephaniah beyond what he tells us of himself in the first verse. His pedigree is traced back four generations, and the date of his ministry is given as “in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah.” Those were days of blessing and revival for a “remnant” of Judah, but obviously, the vast multitude of Judeans, though outwardly reformed, were in the sad spiritual state described in this book (a message echoed in the early chapters of Jeremiah). Lesson: Having a reputation of holiness is not the same as being holy. And there is a time when the Lord will search throughout the earth, looking for half-hearted men, to separate them from His people, intending to destroy them. The object of Zephaniah’s prophecy was to warn those clinging to a “form of godliness” of the coming judgment. The apostle Peter also echoed Zephaniah’s sentiments:

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them and will bring swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their unrestrained ways, and because of them the truth will be blasphemed. In their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation, pronounced long ago, is not idle, and their destruction does not sleep.” 2 Peter 2:1-3 (HCSB)

Besides clinging to a distorted version of the truth (a half-truth is no truth), the Judeans were counting on their stored-up wealth to help them ride out any seasons of a market downturn. Whenever people turn away from the invisible God, revealed only in Scripture, their only refuge is to cling to tangible things. We see this even in our present-day culture. People are still looking towards modern versions of “gold and silver” to sustain them through turbulent times. I am not against wise investments, but if it were possible to pinpoint that the source of a specific market and natural disasters was the Holy God, what other refuge would there be for the unrepentant?

God has determined a Day when He will completely sweep mankind from the earth. For those who do not believe in a literal rapture, you may find it hard to get around this statement! He is doing business in Jerusalem, just as He is cleansing the other nations. While this prophecy is in advance of Babylon’s invasion, its totality of destruction must also be extended to that “Day of the Lord,” which is yet to come. In this knowledge, we have an advantage (and higher degree of accountability) over God’s people in Zephaniah’s day. Because we know how God’s prophecy was fulfilled – to the letter – we can only expect it will likewise be fulfilled in the end to come. Therefore, let’s take Zephaniah’s prophecy to heart; let’s repent from our sinfulness and wholeheartedly follow the Messiah, our only Hope.

“Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, before the decree is issued, or the day passes like chaff, before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you! Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger.”  Zephaniah 2:1-3 (NKJV)

Of the little information we have about the prophet Zephaniah, we are certain that he prophesied during the era of the divided kingdom at the time of Judah’s darkest days. Zephaniah commented during the reigns of Judah’s most wicked kings, Manasseh and Amon, and he was around toward the beginning of the reign of the young righteous king, Josiah. Given the evil culture that had taken over Jerusalem, it is easy to see why Zephaniah’s primary message focused on God’s impending judgment. Zephaniah speaks more about the “day of the Lord” than any other Old Testament book.

Yet, the purpose of prophecy is to reveal the ending BEFORE the story unfolds. Every good storyteller knows that a story is not a legend until it ends. Therefore, the prophet’s message tells of TWO endings, one of the unrepentant hearer and another for the repentant. We must understand that God desires all people everywhere to repent.

“Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has set a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.” When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him. But others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.”  Acts 17:30-32 (HCSB)

This idea of God’s grace and mercy is not solely a New Testament “Christian” idea. It is inconsistent with God’s character throughout Scripture. We see it in God’s sending of Jonah to preach to Nineveh, and we also see God’s heart in Ezekiel’s message.

“‘Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?’ This is the declaration of the Lord God. ‘Instead, don’t I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives?’” Ezekiel 18:23 (HCSB)

There is a judgment, a “reckoning” forthcoming for our generation, just as sure as there was a reckoning for Zephaniah’s generation. And your response to that message of impending judgment will be one of the two responses to Zephaniah’s prophecy. I plead with you to turn to Messiah Jesus! He is our only refuge and salvation, yet His atonement is offered liberally to anyone who would turn from their sin and receive it. Invite Him into your heart and surrender your life to His Lordship today. You WILL be hidden in the coming day of the Lord’s anger.

“Woe to the city that is rebellious and defiled, the oppressive city! She has not obeyed; she has not accepted discipline. She has not trusted in the Lord; she has not drawn near to her God. The princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are wolves of the night, which leave nothing for the morning. Her prophets are reckless – treacherous men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to instruction. The righteous Lord is in her; He does no wrong. He applies His justice morning by morning; He does not fail at dawn, yet the one who does wrong knows no shame.” Zephaniah 3:1-5 (HCSB)

Today’s passage delivers a picture of a religious culture that has utterly rejected the truth. At the same time, within that religious culture stands a remnant that, even in weakness, has held fast to the Word and the Name of God. Princes are lions, Judges are wolves, prophets are reckless, and priests are profaners. But God dwells among His faithful followers within the community. It was an accurate picture of Jerusalem in Zephaniah’s day, and it pretty much describes the Messianic community (the Church-at-large) of our generation.

Jerusalem, the most highly privileged of all cities, is described in verse one as “rebellious, oppressive and defiled.”  Here, we find a four-fold indictment in verse two: She has not obeyed or accepted discipline. She has not trusted in the Lord; she has not drawn near to her God. These are intensely solemn statements, to say the least. But in them, we are forced to search ourselves to detect (in our lives) any departure that may lead us to a state similar to what Jerusalem is charged with.

Ask yourself, “Have I obeyed the voice of the Lord?” What does that mean? It means, “Have you read God’s Word and allowed it to affect you to the point that you would be willing to apply it?”

Ask yourself, “Have I accepted discipline from God’s Word?” Based on what God has revealed through His Word, have you taken active steps to change your way of living and thinking to align yourself with His will?

Ask yourself, “Do I truly trust in the Lord?” Even though He may not work on the timetable of your personal expectations, are you willing to walk by faith?

Ask yourself, “Do I really draw near to the Lord?” Do you confide in Him, bringing your requests and confessions, knowing He cares and is faithful and just to forgive us if we confess our sins?

You see, God is showing us a consistent pattern of discipleship. If we seek God’s Word with the intent to know and live according to it, He will reveal its truth to us. In return, we discipline ourselves to obey His revealed will. When we faithfully follow Him, we experience His faithfulness extended to those committed to following Him.  When He proves Himself faithful, it builds our trust, so we reciprocate by drawing nearer to Him, making confessions and petitions, and experiencing Him more personally. If we refuse to seek His Word, the whole equation unravels exactly in the reverse process.

“The Lord of Hosts says this: ‘Think carefully about your ways. Go up into the hills, bring down lumber, and build the house (of the Lord). Then I will be pleased with it and be glorified,’ says the Lord. “You expected much, but then it amounted to little. When you brought the harvest to your house, I ruined it. Why?’ This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts. Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house.”  Haggai 1:7-9 (HCSB)

The Bible has much to say about giving. My personal tendency is to give only when I have ample access to money. It reminds me of the Bob Dylan song, “Like A Rolling Stone.”

“Once upon a time, you dressed so fine. You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?”  Bob Dylan

It is harder to be generous when you are the bum begging for a dime when times are lean. Still, the Bible commands and exhorts us to give (regardless of the abundance of our wealth), so I do. God is more concerned with the abundance of your faith than the size of your offering. (Mark 12:41-44)

“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:17-18 (NIV)

Somehow, the Lord has always provided abundantly when I have been obedient. When I have withheld my giving, it was as if He withheld His blessing because I would begin sinking financially. However, many followers of Jesus can say “Amen!” to what I have shared; how and when God provides for us is still a great mystery for many others. I do not believe God’s faithfulness can be truly understood until we faithfully obey God in this matter.

“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:24-25 (NIV)

Today’s passage is not just a story about ancient Israel. The Lord is using Haggai to speak to us, as well. On average, 20% of church attendees provide 80% of the finances needed for their local ministry. Does that mean 80% of all Christians live below the poverty level? Absolutely not! It means 80% of church attendees are more concerned with building their own houses than God’s Kingdom! (See also: Luke 21:1-4)

Where do you fit into that 80/20 split? As we move toward finishing the TANAKH (Old Testament), let’s remember to faithfully worship the God Who provides instead of worshipping the provision of God.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Haggai 2. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the Word of the Lord came to the prophet, Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo: ‘The Lord was extremely angry with your ancestors. So tell the people: This is what the Lord of Hosts says: “Return to Me”’ – this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts – ‘and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. Don’t be like your ancestors; the earlier prophets proclaimed to them: This is what the Lord of Hosts says: Turn from your evil ways and your evil deeds. But they did not listen or pay attention to Me’ – the Lord’s declaration. ‘Where are your ancestors now? And do the prophets live forever? But didn’t My words and My statutes that I commanded My servants the prophets overtake your ancestors? They repented and said: ‘As surely as the Lord of Hosts proposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so He has dealt with us.’” Zechariah 1:1-7 (HCSB)

From the opening words of Zechariah’s prophecy, we notice that Zechariah and Haggai prophesied within two months of each other. Haggai had aroused the people’s consciences, and as a result, they began the work of rebuilding the Temple. Furthermore, Haggai encouraged the now-awakened people by directing their attention to the coming day of Messiah’s glory. In the following month, Zechariah was called by the Lord to prophesy: first, in a rousing call to self-judgment and repentance, then, later on, to a remarkable description of Messiah that Haggai had only briefly outlined.

Interesting to note is Zechariah’s genealogy. “Zechariah” means “YHWH remembers”; “Berechiah” is “YHWH blesses,” and “Iddo” is “the appointed time.”  So, when read through Hebrew understanding, we have: YHWH remembers, YHWH blesses at the appointed time.” Thus, when the set time to favor Zion has come, all the promises of the Lord will be fulfilled and carried out in blessing. That’s an encouragement for us, too!

Given such an encouraging pedigree, one would think the returning Babylonian exiles would have graciously received Zechariah’s exhortation/prophecy/encouragement…not so. Like so many of his predecessors, Zechariah died a violent death at the hands of his countrymen when spiritual decline had, once again, set in. Jesus mentioned this:

“So all the righteous bloodshed on the earth will be charged to you, from the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. I assure you: All these things will come on this generation! Jerusalem, Jerusalem! The city who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, yet you were not willing! See your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!” Matthew 23:35-38 (CSB)

Jesus’ words are the “mirror image” of Zechariah’s prophecy: Indictment, prediction of Judgment, and restoration through repentance. Its message is still relevant for our generation: A reckoning is forthcoming – grab the grace and mercy while it’s extended.

“‘Daughter Zion, shout for joy and be glad for I am coming to dwell among you’ – the Lord’s declaration. ‘Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day and become My people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent Me to you. The Lord will take possession of Judah as His portion in the Holy Land, and He will once again choose Jerusalem. Let all the people be silent before the Lord, for He is coming from His holy dwelling.’” Zechariah 2:10-13 (HCSB)

Today’s chapter contains only one vision – a man with a measuring line in his hand. Upon seeing him, Zechariah asks where he is going. The man replies, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and length.” At this, the interpreting angel left the prophet’s side and met another angel coming toward him. The latter cried, “Run, speak to this young man, saying Jerusalem will be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle inside her; for I, says the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire around her, and will be the glory in the midst of her.”

Important to note is that the Mormons foolishly believe the young man with the measuring line to be Joseph Smith (the false prophet) and the angel to be Moroni, who is fabled to have revealed to him the golden plates of the Book of Mormon. I point this out simply to illustrate that people fall into such cults primarily because they are Biblically illiterate. Even the most casual reading of today’s chapter would make clear that it has no reference to a “Zion” in America but is ultimately connected to what has gone before and follows after, as to Jerusalem and the land of Israel.

Now, onward to today’s passage. Many theologians believe the angel that the “interpreting angel” left Zechariah to speak with was the Angel of the Lord, a specific title for pre-advent Messiah (Jesus). That is Jesus, in the glory He had with the Father before he came to earth as a baby. (Micah 5:2) The reason for this belief is the language the Angel used: “Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day and become My people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent Me to you”. The idea that Gentiles would be accepted by the Lord as His people is not a New Testament invention. God’s redemption of Gentiles is firmly rooted in the Prophets. Notice the similarities in today’s passage with Isaiah’s and Jesus’s words.

“‘And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord minister to Him, love the name of Yahweh and become His servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold firmly to My covenant— I will bring them to My holy mountain and let them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.’ This is the declaration of the Lord God, who gathers the dispersed of Israel: ‘I will gather to them still others besides those already gathered.” Isaiah 56:6-8 (HCSB)

“Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, ‘It is written, “My house is a house of prayer,” but you have made it a den of thieves.’” Luke 19:45-46 (NKJV)

“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?’ Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, ‘Take away the filthy garments from him.’ And to him He said, ‘See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.’” Zechariah 3:1-4 (NKJV)

Today’s chapter is so full of theological “gold” that it seems shameful to limit the exposition to one aspect. Still, we have our limits with these daily devotionals. I always recommend you dig further into a good commentary to help you “mine” all the gold there is.

There were three significant “Joshuas” in the Bible. First, there is Joshua, son of Nun, who led Israel into the Promised Land. There is, of course, “Yeshua” (a form of the name Joshua), known by most of the world as “Jesus,” the Messiah. And there is today’s “Joshua,” high priest and associate of Zerubbabel, and the uncrowned heir of David’s line. In essence, Jesus was a combination of the two “Joshuas.” He is our great High Priest who atones for our sins, and He is leading us to the New Jerusalem.

In today’s passage, the high priest, Joshua, stands before the Angel of the Lord as if for judgment. At his right hand stands Satan, the Accuser, the never-ceasing accuser of God’s people. We see this scene of Satan the Accuser at least three other places in Scripture:

“Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?’ So Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing?’” Job 1:6 (NKJV)

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32 (NIV)

“My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the Righteous One. He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2 (HCSB)

God’s great grace and mercy is that, even though Joshua was standing next to Satan the Accuser and was wearing filthy clothes (instead of the usual spotless garments of the priesthood), God rebuked Satan before he could speak. And He gave Joshua new clothes. As the high priest, whose job was to atone for the sins of the community, new clothes for Joshua meant forgiveness for the community. Who could ask for more? Satan is silenced, and righteousness is extended by grace. Sounds like Jesus to me!

“So he answered me, ‘This is the Word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts. What are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel, you will become a plain. And he will bring out the capstone accompanied by shouts of: Grace, grace to it!’ Then the Word of the Lord came to me: Zerubbabel’s hands have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you. For who scorns the day of small things? These seven eyes of the Lord, which scan throughout the earth, will rejoice when they see a plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” Zechariah 4:6-10 (HCSB)

When I was in college, I ran cross-country and long-distance track. I had a guilty pleasure back in those days. I used to laugh when the young runners would compete in their first college races. They would always start out in first place, but most of them would be rounding out the last place by the race’s end. That is because they had not developed a significant mileage “base,” which is essential for enduring long races at fast paces. Long-distance runners cannot have sprinters’ strategies. Otherwise, they burn out too fast.

As briefly mentioned in yesterday’s devotional, Zerubbabel was the uncrowned heir of David’s line. It was his job to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. Solomon, another son of David’s, had built the original Temple. Yet another, known as the “Son of David,” Jesus, would come later and, indeed, He has gone ahead of us, not just to build another Temple, but to prepare a whole New Jerusalem for those who faithfully believe in Him.  Zerubbabel was a building contractor. As such, he had a long-distance runner’s mindset. To finish his task, he took a step-by-faithful-step strategy.  

If you have ever been on a large-scale construction site toward the end of construction, you have probably noticed it was pretty impressive. But construction is unimpressive for the first 2/3 of the build. That is because any good contractor knows the importance of building a proper foundation. Wise contractors don’t get over-excited about getting the walls & roof built. They level the ground, wait for it to settle, steamroll it, grate it, wait…then pour the foundation. After that, everything seems to go quite quickly.

The same is true with our spiritual growth. Often, we are too concerned with producing the “fruit” of evangelism that we neglect to lay a strong Biblical foundation. We ask, ‘Where’s the fruit?” but whoever asks about the foundation? That is why many talented young believers have successful ministry experiences and then quickly crash & burn. Sadly, the whole Messianic community suffers unnecessarily simply because people would rather be sprinters than long-distance runners!

God tells us that we should not scorn the day of “small things.”  There is power in doing simple things diligently: Bible study, prayer, seeking His will above ours. You may not be a huge “fruit producer” initially. But foundational disciplines are “root builders,” growing seeds of readiness & righteousness. The Lord, in His timing, provides the might & strength needed for spiritual success, according to His will, which we have learned from reading His Word and experiencing His faithfulness when we obey Him.

“I looked up and saw a flying scroll. ‘What do you see’ he asked me. ‘I see a flying scroll,’ I replied, ’30 feet long and 15 feet wide.’ Then he said to me, ‘This is the curse that is going out over the whole land, for every thief will be removed according to what is written on one side, and everyone who swears falsely will be removed according to what is written on the other side. I will send it out,’ – the declaration of the Lord of Hosts – ‘and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name. It will stay inside his house and destroy it with its timbers and stones.’” Zechariah 5:1-4 (HCSB)

In Sikeston, Missouri, there is a famous restaurant called Lambert’s Cafe. Lambert’s is known as “The home of the throwed roll.” That is, whenever the dinner rolls are baked and just hot from the oven, the cook steps just outside the kitchen and yells, “Who wants a roll?” If you want a roll (and everyone wants a roll), you raise your hand, and the cook proceeds to throw your roll across the room to your table! Better yet, bring a catcher’s mitt!

Today’s chapter in the King James Bible is titled “The Flying Roll.”. My Bible titles the chapter “The Flying Scroll,” which is more accurate to the prophecy. Having left the Angel of the Lord, Zechariah is back with his “interpreting angel,” who explains the meaning of the scroll and its curse on all who steal and swear falsely by the Name of the Lord. Everyone knows what a thief is, but what does it mean to “swear falsely” by the Lord’s Name? Let’s start with what it does not mean. It does not mean to use the Lord’s Name as a swear word or as a curse. The offense is much deeper than that. To swear by the name of the Lord is more closely related to the third commandment: Do not take the Lord’s Name in vain. To understand taking (or using) the Lord’s name in vain, it helps to think of our relationship with Him in terms of a marriage. When two people get married, the bride generally takes the husband’s last name as her own. Anyone seriously studying the Bible knows that God often describes His relationship with Israel as that of a husband and wife. Furthermore, the New Testament refers to Jesus as the “groom” and The Church as His “bride.” It also commands men to love their wives as Messiah loves the Church.

Now, imagine a man and a woman getting married, and (as is the cultural norm) the woman takes the man’s last name as her own. But what if the woman refuses to live faithfully to her husband and flaunts her adulterous lifestyle? She would have received her husband’s name but in vain because she had rejected the essence of marriage: faithfulness. Now, imagine if she went around town telling people that her “husband” was saying things he never said, nor would he ever intend to say? This was Israel in Zechariah’s day. Israel wanted the benefits of being God’s “bride” and would swear to be faithful to Him. Still, all the while, she was practicing idolatry, serving other gods, all the while claiming that her “husband” had authorized such behavior. Just as an unfaithful woman will eventually face the wrath of a jealous husband, Israel was about to face the wrath God was storing–up for her punishment. 80% of American households have a Bible in them. On average, they have 2 Bibles. Far from a “flying scroll,” there is a “lying scroll,” i.e., a Bible lying around most American homes that testifies against all who refuse to read and obey it.

“The word of the Lord came to me: “Take an offering from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go that same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Take silver and gold, make crowns and place them on the head of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest.  You are to tell him: This is what the Lord of Hosts says: Here is a man whose name is Branch; He will branch out from His place and build the Lord’s temple.  Yes, He will build the Lord’s temple; He will be clothed in splendor and will sit on His throne and rule. There will also be a priest on His throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two of them.” Zechariah 6:9-13 (HCSB)

After eight visions, the Lord directs Zechariah to carry out a symbolic act with significant Messianic implications. Zechariah was told to take silver and gold from the relatively small number of exiles who had returned to Jerusalem and fashion a crown to be placed on the head of the high priest. It was to encourage them and demonstrate that God had a plan, and their return was part of a greater deliverance.

But there is a problem. High priests are not to be crowned kings. The kingship was exclusively given to the family of David from the tribe of Judah, and the priesthood went to Aaron’s descendants from the tribe of Levi. So, why would the Lord tell Zechariah to crown a high priest as King? God is sending a message concerning Messiah, Who will be both High Priest and King forever. We know this because God tells Zechariah this Priest/King will be named “the Branch,” specifically, a name given to Messiah throughout history.

“In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel.” Isaiah 4:2 (NIV)

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” Isaiah 11:1 (NIV)

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.’” Jeremiah 23:5 (NIV)

“In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; He will do what is just and right in the land.” Jeremiah 33:15 (NIV)

Interestingly, God says, “Here is THE MAN whose Name is the Branch,” the same words Pilate used to present Jesus: “Behold the man” (John 19:5)

Thus, we get another clear picture that Jesus’ advent, some 2000 years ago, was not arbitrary but had been planned since before time began.  (Micah 5:2; Revelation 13:8; John 1:1-14)

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Zechariah 7. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“The Lord of Hosts says this: ‘Though it may seem incredible to the remnant of this people in those days, should it also seem incredible to Me?’ – the declaration of the Lord of hosts. The Lord of Hosts says this: ‘I will save My people from the land of the East and the land of the West. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem. They will be My people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God.’ The Lord of Host says this: ‘Let your hands be strong, you who now hear these words that the prophets spoke when the foundations were laid for the rebuilding of the Temple, the house of the Lord of Hosts. For prior to those days neither man nor beast had wages. There was no safety from the enemy for anyone who came or went, for I turned everyone against his neighbor. But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days’ – this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.” Zechariah 8:6-11 (HCSB)

Today’s chapter is another one of those incredibly encouraging, exhorting, and uplifting sections of Scripture. Yet, we will only focus on a small portion of it. But what a portion it is!  

Have you ever thought to pray for something yet paused and said to yourself, “That would be asking too much of the Lord.”? I have. But God’s statement to Israel conveys precisely the opposite sentiment. He tells Israel that what may seem incredible to them is commonplace to Him. Split a sea in two? No problem. Speak the cosmos into existence with a single word? Easy. We begin to take on His character when we align ourselves with His Word. We want the things He wants and seek His will over ours (or the world’s will). Then, we know what to pray for. Therefore, if you are pursuing such Godly Biblical “alignment,” pray away! Through His Spirit, God will guide you and teach you that some of the things we used to pray for were Worldly and trivial, and He will direct you toward His heart. It is amazing when our prayers are God-led because that is when we see what is humanly impossible materialize before our eyes.

This is what God is telling the remnant of Israel: He is saying that a day will come when Jerusalem will be rebuilt, restored, and re-populated. It seemed impossible to the Babylonian remnant, standing amidst the dirt & rubble of their destroyed city. It seemed impossible in 1948, just before Israel was again reformed, seemingly overnight, and it will seem impossible in the days of the Antichrist, when evil will dominate the world, threatening to annihilate all who follow the Lord. More than simply rebuilding the city, the Lord will literally lower the “New Jerusalem” from Heaven. Seems far-fetched? It is not for God, especially in light of all the other “miracles” documented in the Bible.

God will save His people from the West and East. The West, with its “Liberty without accountability” mindset, and the East, with its “Discipline without personal relationship” ideals, will be laid to waste; out from the East and West will come true accountable disciples with freedom in their personal relationship with Messiah Jesus. We must take in the words of the prophets that everything we need will be eternally provided in God’s timing & wisdom. It is planned. The Lord has declared it.

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter of Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you; He is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9 (HCSB)

The book of Zechariah is divided into two parts. The second division embraces chapters 7-14. Chapters 9-11 deal with the coming of Messiah, Jesus, and His rejection by Judah. (Chapters 12-14 follow with the inspired account of Jesus’ second coming and His acceptance by the repentant Remnant.)  

Israel’s refusal of the Messiah was connected with the state of moral decline into which the people had fallen long before. The cross was just the culmination of a course of willful hardening that had been going on since the days when Moses was guiding Israel through the wilderness. Because of this “willful hardening” of the heart, Israel suffered various captivities, and many afflictions had come upon them. When these Divine disciplinary rebukes resulted in true repentance, God mercifully relented His rebuke. It was such repentance that Israel was called to in chapters 7 and 8.

In chapter 9, the prophet begins speaking of the coming of the Savior King and how hearts must be prepared to receive Him. Today’s passage is quoted in three of the four gospels: Matthew 21:2-5, Mark 11:1-9, Luke 19:28-35, and all three speak of the direct fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy.

And what an accurate prophecy it was! Try and visualize, if you will, Jesus riding into Jerusalem amid the welcoming cries of His disciples, a “remnant” from among those who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. They all cried out, “Hosanna!” which literally translates, “Save us now!”  Surely, they saw Jesus as the fulfillment of Zechariah’s prediction. In this way, Jesus came as the Prince of Peace, the chief Cornerstone of the rebuilding of Israel’s worship, only to be despised and cast away as a stonemason casts off a rock unfit for construction.

But when Jesus comes a second time, it will not be as the humble Prince who rides His donkey through the streets while His disciples herald his arrival. No, in the second coming, He will present Himself as the Warrior-King on the white horse of victorious judgment. (Revelation 19)

But between verses 9 & 10, this entire dispensation of grace comes in; it is evident that the latter part of chapter 9 has never been fulfilled. The King came but was refused. His cross has become the sign of salvation for all who trust in Him, while He Himself has taken His seated beside the Father in the Heavens. Never, for even one hour, has He occupied the throne of David. He will take that throne with power and great glory when He descends from the Heavens. Then He will cut off all the enemies of Jerusalem, and “He will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea, from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.” Zechariah 9:10b. Only when He appears in person will Zechariah’s words fully come to pass.

“Ask the Lord for rain in the season of spring rain. The Lord makes the rain clouds and He will give them showers of rain and crops in the field for everyone. For their idols speak falsehood, and the diviners see illusions; they relate empty dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore, the people wander like sheep; they suffer affliction because there is no shepherd. My anger burns against the shepherds, so I will punish the leaders. For the Lord of Hosts tended His flock, the house of Judah; He will make them like His majestic steed in battle. From them will come the cornerstone, from them the tent peg, from them the battle bow, from them every ruler.” Zechariah 10:1-4 (HCSB)

Today’s chapter details a time when another Remnant of Israel will again reach out to Him, whom they once “spurned” as the Anointed One. From verses 6 and 7, we see that the Remnant will not merely come from Judah but will represent all twelve tribes. These are those brought into blessing and who will settle in the land of their fathers, never more to be uprooted by an enemy’s hand. This chapter communicates more than simple immigration of Jews to the land of Israel. It carries with it the implication of returning to the Lord through Messiah and being restored to the land. In that sense, a Jewish person may immigrate to modern Israel yet not be fulfilling Zechariah’s prophecy if they do not embrace Jesus as Messiah. Furthermore, suppose a Jewish person comes to faith in Jesus and never moves to Israel in their lifetime. In that case, they fulfill Zechariah’s prophecy because Scripture promises they will eventually reside in the New Jerusalem. (Revelation 21:2)

Considering agriculture & meteorology, without the latter rain (Joel 2:23), Israel becomes little better than a desert wilderness. Under natural conditions, the former and latter rains are required to ensure agriculture and, hence, the prosperity of the people. Therefore, we should not be surprised to find the prophets using these “rains” in a figurative sense.  

Spiritually, Israel (in her history) had received her former rain when God blessed her by allowing her to be a nation and His Temple established in Jerusalem. But a long season of drought had set in, triggered by her idolatry. Zechariah encouraged them to look up again and ask the Lord for “rain in the time of the spring rain.”  In response to their request, God pledged Himself to give them showers of blessing. There is no doubt that Zechariah is speaking prophetically of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit predicted by Joel. It would be Israel’s “latter rain.”  But for us, looking forward, the giving of the Holy Spirit constitutes our former rain. We are still awaiting our latter rain when the Holy Spirit works mightily again in this present season of spiritual drought. This will be a brief time before Jesus returns, resulting in a revival that includes Jewish people.

Until then, a spiritual famine of sorts prevails. Yes, Jewish people are coming to faith (and in increasingly significant numbers) in our day, but since the days of Jesus, they have primarily been like “sheep without a shepherd,” blindly following blind guides. (Mark 6:34) That is why our proper understanding (and preaching) of God’s Word is so important: We don’t know how long the Lord will tarry, so we cannot assume our present Jewish friends will be part of this prophesied revival. We must preach as if He will tarry!

“Then I said to them, ‘If it seems right to you, give me my wages, but if not, keep them.’ So they weighed My wages, 30 pieces of silver. ‘Throw it to the potter,’ the Lord said to me – this magnificent price I was valued by them. So I took the 30 pieces of silver and threw it into the house of the Lord, to the potter. Then I cut in two my second staff, Union, annulling the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. The Lord said to me: ‘Take the equipment of a foolish shepherd. I am about to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are going astray, and he will not seek the lost or heal the broken. He will not sustain the healthy, but he will not sustain the healthy, but he will devour the flesh of the fat of sheep and tear off their hooves.’” Zechariah 11:12-16 (HCSB)

Reading today’s passage, one might believe they were reading one of the New Testament descriptions of Jesus’ betrayal by Judas, for it is a perfect fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy:

“Then one of the twelve – the man called Judas Iscariot – went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?’ So they weighed out 30 pieces of silver for him. And from that time, he started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.” Matthew 26:14-16 (HCSB)

“Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was full of remorse and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,’ He said. ‘What’s that to us?’ they said. ‘See to it yourself!’ So he threw the silver into the sanctuary and departed. Then he went and hanged himself. The chief priests took the silver and said, ‘It’s not lawful to put it into the temple treasury since it is blood money.’ So they conferred together and bought the potter’s field with it as a burial place for foreigners.” Matthew 27:3-7 (HCSB)

So, the Good Shepherd has asked for His wages and broken His shepherd staffs, named “Favor” and “Union.” It reminds me of the violinist who not only retired from performing but he smashed his violin, making a return to the concert stage nearly impossible. But what of the new shepherd? Contrary to The Who song, for Israel, it was not a case of “meet the new boss, same as the old boss.” It was more like, “Meet the new boss; he is evil and selfish.” In other words, Meet the Anti-shepherd, “Antichrist.”

The scenes leading up to today’s chapter have contained some lovely pictures of God’s favor for the repentant Remnant of Israel. But the glory of Israel’s full return has been held at a distance from our present generation because of the rejection of the Shepherd upon whom the blessing depends, Jesus. So, we are still left with the sorrowful account of the refusal of the Good Shepherd. (Isaiah 53). The spirit of Anti-shepherd, who seeks only his own glory and doesn’t care a bit for the ruin and scattering of the Lord’s “Flock” is rampant. The former passage predicting the events surrounding Jesus’ betrayal was fulfilled precisely as prophesied, so we can expect Anti-messiah to arrive on the scene exactly on time. Already, the signs of the end are appearing. Are you ready? Jesus is coming to redeem and shepherd His Flock. Have you joined His sheepfold?

“Then I will pour out the Spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at Me whom they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly for Him as one weeps for a firstborn. On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning of Hadad-Rimmon in the plains of Meggido. The land will mourn, every family by itself: the family of David’s house by itself and their women by themselves; the family of Nathan’s house by itself and their women by themselves; the family of Levi’s house by itself and their women by themselves; the family of Shimei by itself and their women by themselves; all the remaining families, every family by itself and their women by themselves.” Zechariah 12:10-14 (HCSB)

Today’s passage presents a picture of the awakening of Israel when the “veil” begins to be taken away. (Romans 11) Then the call will come to self-humility and contrition of heart for Israel having rejected Messiah and having sinfully refused the testimony of the Holy Spirit as to Jesus’ true identity. This will be, for that Remnant, their great “Yom Kippur” (day-of-atonement). At least two millennia have elapsed since Messiah atoned for the sin of the World, and since that time, the community of Israel has not kept that day of fasting and introspective soul searching, as God commanded. In 70 A.D., the Romans destroyed the Temple, which is in ruins today, making Temple sacrifices impossible. So, while the Jewish community may set the day aside, they fall short of God’s desired requirements for the day.

It is important to note that we are studying the words of an ancient prophet who predates Jesus’ earthly advent by almost 600 years! For the sake of discussion, let’s say that Jesus is not the Messiah, and the “real” Messiah was to come on the scene today. According to Scripture, the Jewish community would not accept him, either! They would reject him and kill him - simply because it is prophesied, all the way down to their acknowledgment of wrongdoing and grief for having “pierced” him.

Now, back to reality: Jesus IS the Messiah! And there will come a time when a Remnant of Israel will not only worship Him; they will grieve, family by family, for how they had once rejected Him. We see it also in Revelation 1:7

“To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood, and made us a kingdom of priests to His God and Father – to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him. And all the families of the earth will mourn over Him. This is certain. Amen.” Revelation 1:5b-7 (HCSB)

It is not a wailing of terror that is described here but the anguished mourning of the awakened Remnant when they realize the dreadful impiety their fathers were guilty of in crucifying the Lord of glory. Yet God will pour on that believing Remnant of David’s house (and on Jerusalem) His spirit of grace and prayer, not one of judgment & wrath!

“Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the Man Who is My Companion,” says the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; then I will turn My hand against the little ones. And it shall come to pass in all the land,” says the Lord, “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, but one-third shall be left in it: I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; and each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” Zechariah 13:7-9 (NKJV)

Speaking of Messiah, the great Shepherd of Israel, Zechariah reminds us of Messiah’s primary role in His first coming: Atonement for sin. He does not come first as the great King whom so many people in the Jewish community are awaiting today. While He will return as the triumphant King in His second coming (Revelation 19:11-16), Messiah first comes to atone for the sin of the flesh with His own flesh, offering atonement, even to the rebels who opposed Him.

“Therefore I will give Him the many as a portion, and He will receive the mighty as spoil, because He submitted Himself to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet He bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.” Isaiah 53:12 (HCSB)

Of course, we know the Messiah has been revealed in the person of Jesus. A portion of our evidence (that Jesus is Messiah) comes from His fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy (and Micah’s (Micah 5:2), David’s (Psalm 22), and Isaiah’s (Isaiah 53), to name a few. He was struck down, and His crucifixion resulted in the scattering of His “sheep,” aka His disciples.

“Then Jesus to them, all of you shall be offended because of Me this night: for it is written, I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.” Matthew 26:31 (see also: Mark 14:27; John 10:12)

But more than fulfilling prophecy, the scattering of Jesus’ “sheep” also had a therapeutic result. It separated His disciples from the vicious “wolves” posing as shepherds in Jerusalem, separated “wheat-from-tare” among those who called themselves His disciples, and helped spread the gospel by 1) Scattering the evangelists around the world and 2) Ensuring that the gospel preached was pure. Job spoke of the purifying nature of his own hardships.

“But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10 (NKJV)

A great thing about God’s chastening & refining His people is that the season of chastening & refinement does not last forever. Hence, He fulfills Hosea’s words.

“Say to your brethren, ‘My people,’ and to your sisters, ‘Mercy is shown.’” Hosea 2:1 (NKJV)

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Zechariah 14. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am your father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me? Thus says the Lord of Hosts to you priests, who despise My name. ” Malachi 1:6 (HCSB)

It may not sound very hip, but I am concerned with what corporate worship services have become for many congregations. I say this from the perspective of having performed over 1,000 concerts in worship settings worldwide.  

There is a growing sense, present in many churches, that following God is all about us as individuals. The music, theatrics, marketing & promotion, and message series seem to be focused on our pleasure. The whole production seems to be at the expense of simply teaching the Bible comprehensively and living out God’s Word in a community of accountability.

This was very much the case with Israel in the days of Malachi. Prophets and priests tickled the ears of the public and showed favor to whoever contributed the most money. The religious leaders spoke of the positive and popular aspects of God’s blessing, and they steered clear of the negative and unpopular elements of His standard.  

Selective preaching perpetuated an ignorance of God’s Word. Ignorance of His Word leads to a diminished view of God’s character. A diminished view of God leads to a heightened view of oneself.  

Ultimately, the leaders were more concerned with the approval of men than with glorifying God, at the risk of man’s rejection. As a result, Israel heralded Adonai neither as Father nor Lord.

Most modern-day production-centered churches assume that their methods result in the spiritual growth of their congregants. Research has discovered that this may not be the case. For instance, consider this example from Chicago seeker church, Willow Creek: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/march/11.27.html

Please understand I’m a showbiz guy. The music business is my professional background. I love a great worship experience when music, media, and message are artfully woven together. But problems arise when a congregation focuses more on gathering, retaining, and (dare I say) entertaining congregants rather than graciously yet comprehensively teaching the Bible.

“The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding.”  Proverbs 4:7 (NASB)

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17 (NASB)

When we acknowledge God as Father AND Lord, we will worship Him as such.

“You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you ask, ‘How have we wearied the Lord?’  When you say, ‘Everyone who does evil is good in the Lord’s sight, and He is pleased with them,’ or ‘Where is the God of justice?’”  Malachi 2:17 (HCSB)

Here is a saying that bears repeating. Two things confound a fool: 1) How slow God is to respond to sin, and 2) How quickly He shows up to judge.

The religious contradictions in Israel had reached their peak by the end of the first prophetic age. On the one hand, the religious leaders were teaching that God was overly gracious, to the point that He was pleased with those who practiced evil. On the other hand, they demanded God’s justice for their enemies.

How can a God, who is pleased with evil, serve justice? Justice demands that God hates what is evil.

Today’s verse reminds me of a conversation I had with a gentleman in Israel a few years back. This young man told me he didn’t believe anyone was going to Hell. He thought we shouldn’t risk personal confrontation by preaching about judgment and redemption because God would pardon the whole world at the last moment.

Later that day, the issue of suicide bombers came up. The same fellow’s comment was, “I hope those suicide bombers get what they deserve!”  Contradiction. When we refuse the Bible as the standard, we allow feelings, politics, and secular philosophy to determine our theology. With this approach, our opinions “seem” to make sense in isolated situations, but they don’t collectively agree. We elevate our intellect to be the judge and humiliate the Bible to be “just another opinion.”  

We find a similar situation in the book of the Judges.

“In those days, there was no king in Israel. Everyone did whatever he wanted.” Judges 21:25 (HCSB)

Paul lists several manifestations of moral relativism displayed in the last days.

“But know this: difficult times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of religion, but denying its power. Avoid these people!”  2 Timothy 3: 1-5 (HCSB)

The same perversion of truth, which brought judgment upon Israel before Messiah’s first coming, will eventually bring judgment upon the whole earth. It signals the approach of Jesus’ second coming, not as a Suffering Servant but as the Righteous Judge.

“At that time, those who feared the Lord spoke to one another. The Lord took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who feared YHWH and had high regard for His name. ‘They will be Mine.’ says the Lord of Hosts, ‘a special possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him. So you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked between the one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.’” Malachi 3:16-18 (HCSB)

I love this passage because it reminds me of the people who study the Bible with me in coffeehouses. Those of us who fear the Lord are getting together and speaking about Him openly and publicly. Scripture says the Lord is with us when we gather in Messiah’s Name. He takes notice and listens.

“For where two or three have gathered in My name, I am there in their midst.” Matthew 18:19 (NKJV)

Two factors distinguish the believers Malachi speaks of: 1) They fear the Lord, and 2) They have high regard for His name. Remember the third commandment: Do not receive the Lord’s name in vain. A “Book of Remembrance” is written before the Lord. All who fear YHWH are set apart as “a special possession” on the day of the Lord when the Lord judges the world. Malachi’s words are obviously Messianic.

Consider how the Lord will have compassion on those whose names are written in the book: “as a man would have compassion on his son.”  Those who follow Jesus are called sons and daughters, co-inheritors with the Messiah. (Rom 8:16-17) As God raised Jesus from the dead, so He will also raise those who, by faith, believe in Jesus. Finally, a distinction is drawn between those of Israel who fear the Lord and those who do not: righteous and wicked, servants and self-servers. Compare God’s offer of compassion (toward Israel’s repentance) in Malachi 3 with His attitude toward Israel’s wickedness in Exodus 32.  

“The Lord replied to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against me I will erase from my book. Now go, lead the people to the place I told you about; see, my angel will go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will hold them accountable for their sin.’ And the Lord inflicted a plague on the people for what they did with the calf Aaron had made.” Exodus 32:33-35 (CSB)

The idea that salvation is secured to the Jew simply by virtue of having been born Jewish is not supported even by the Old Testament. It is as ridiculous as the notion that damnation is unavoidable for the Gentile by being born a non-Jew. Righteousness must be imputed into each believer’s account by God’s grace alone. That transaction occurs when individuals turn from their sin and faithfully fear the Lord by trusting God’s Word concerning the Messiah. This is how men are saved. This is how our names are recorded in the Book of Remembrance. (Revelation 21:27)

“Remember the instruction of Moses My servant, the statutes and ordinances I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. Look, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome Day of the Lord comes. And He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”  Malachi 4:4-6 (CSB)

“And His disciples asked Him, ‘Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’  And He answered and said, ‘Elijah is coming and will restore all things; But I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands. Then the disciples understood that he was talking about John the Baptist.”  Matthew 17:10-13 (NASB)

What was John the Baptist’s message? It was the same message of return & repentance that Malachi foretold.

“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near.’”  Matthew 3:1-2 (HCSB)

Isaiah is another prophet who foretold John’s coming. “For he is the one spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, who said: a voice of one crying out in the wilderness, saying ‘Prepare the way for the Lord. Make His paths straight!’”  Matthew 3:3 (HCSB) (Isaiah 57:14)

John the Baptist’s ministry is even mentioned in the Psalms.

“Righteousness will go before Him to prepare the way for His steps.”  Psalm 85:13 (HCSB)

And how was the Lord’s way to be prepared? The way was prepared when people repented and turned their hearts toward the Lord.

If you have ever walked against the flow on a Manhattan sidewalk, you understand that it is easier to reach your destination when everyone walks in the same direction as you!

Repentance reverses the flow of spiritual and moral traffic, so to speak. By turning hearts toward the Lord and His Word, men become educated about God’s character, His commandments, the concepts of holiness & man’s depravity, and the world’s need for Messiah. In short, repentance prepares the heart to receive the gospel.

Repentance is not, in & of itself, salvation. It simply prepares the way for it. That’s why John said, “…but the One who is coming after me is more powerful than I”. (Matthew 3: 11)

Moving into the New Testament, let’s continue turning our hearts to God’s Word. Let’s commit to advancing His kingdom by sharing the Truth of Messiah, which His Spirit reveals to us, one chapter at a time.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Matthew 1. Click the links below to watch or listen.

“So he (Joseph) got up, took the child and His mother, and entered the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee. Then he went and settled in a town called Nazareth to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets, that He will be called a Nazarene.” Matthew 2:21-23 (HCSB)

My father is retired from the oil business. One of the drawbacks of my dad’s job was that we moved around a lot. By the time I entered 6th grade, I had lived in 5 different cities.

I believe the Lord used those re-location experiences to prepare me to serve Him as an adult. Every time we moved meant a whole new set of experiences. I often draw from those experiences whenever I communicate the gospel, as I’m doing right now!

My dad once told me that if he could do it all over again, he would have just stayed in one town and raised his family in a more “sheltered” environment. My dad’s retrospective desire (to have stayed in one town) may have eliminated certain emotional and logistic conflicts, but it would not have prepared me for God’s unique call on my life.

I believe Joseph planned to take young Jesus straight from Egypt to Jerusalem. We can assume this because the Scripture says Joseph was headed straight for Judea. Jerusalem is in Judea, and the angel told Joseph & Mary that Jesus was the Messiah.

Any Jew who knew Israel’s Biblical history (especially a righteous Judean like Joseph) would know that all the great Jewish kings were enthroned in Jerusalem. Little did Joseph know, as Jesus would later say, “It is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem!” In Joseph, we find a similar decision-making dilemma akin to his errant (yet well-intended) plans to divorce Mary quietly. The Lord needed to intervene.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but it's end is the way to death.” Proverbs 14:12 (ESV)

Trying to do something on God’s behalf that He never called you to do is a recipe for disillusionment. No Divine calling means no Divine equipping to complete the task. Had Joseph done what seemed right to him and decided to settle in Jerusalem, Jesus would never have survived all the vicious, exploitative opportunistic self-seekers swarming around the Temple. Can you imagine someone boasting, “I taught the Messiah all He knows; buy my book!”? Did God have a plan for Jesus in Jerusalem? Yes. Did Joseph understand from the Scriptures that Jesus’ ministry would eventually wind up in Jerusalem? Yes. Did Joseph comprehend all that needed to happen between Jesus’ boyhood and His manhood? Nope.

We may not know what the future holds, but we know Who holds it. God doesn’t usually unfold His plans to us, and often His wisdom is understood in hindsight. He simply commands us to trust Him, seek Him and His direction daily, and follow His leading, just as we are seeking Him today.

“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of Heaven has come near!” For he is the one spoken through the prophet Isaiah, who said: “A voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight!’” Matthew 3:1-3 (HCSB)

When John came preaching in the desert, there were perilous times for Israel. Both the Roman and Israeli religious leaders were oppressing the people. In terms of a pendulum, Roman culture swung way over to the left. It was Worldly, liberal, and cutthroat. On the other hand, Jewish religious culture had swung too far to the right. Void of grace, it was fanatically religious. Things had not changed much since the days of Isaiah, so a prophet in the “spirit of Isaiah” was needed to preach repentance.

Sadly, not many people heeded Isaiah’s warnings, so in the days of Jeremiah, God sent Babylon to destroy the Temple in Jerusalem. Similarly, in 70 AD, around the end of the apostolic era, the Romans also destroyed the Temple.

Still, the preacher must preach because he is called by the Lord to deliver the gospel. Our job is to be faithful to God’s Word, and God’s job is to produce results. Many people repented and turned back to the Lord in the days of John the Baptist. And while that desire to follow the Lord, in and of itself, did not lead to salvation, it made many people able to see Messiah once He was finally standing in front of them!

John was letting everyone know there was another way. It was not the broad ways of liberalism or religious legalism. It was the narrow path, the true way.

“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6 (HCSB)

The cry of John the Baptist was for the people to turn to the Lord. The “baptism” of John was a baptism of repentance, and it signified a person’s desire to be “immersed” in (re-committed to) the Lord, but how could they seek Him if the national religion had become so corrupt? By seeking God’s Word, perhaps they could distance themselves from the legalistic misinterpretations of both the Pharisees and Sadducees and the Romans’ worldly idolatry and practices. When we seek His Word, He reveals Himself to us.

By repenting and receiving the baptism of John, the people of Israel would not eliminate their need for Messiah. But repentance (turning toward the Lord) would facilitate Jesus’ mission to atone for sin on the cross. Imagine a nation of people who understood Who Messiah would be (God made flesh), when He should come to earth and what His mission was (atone for sin through suffering).

Similar to the days of John the Baptist, the first act of following Jesus today is repenting. We are not saved by repentance but by the desire to turn from our sin is still the act that precedes receiving the Grace of Jesus, by Grace, through Faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“Jesus was going all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness among the people.”  Matthew 4:23 (HCSB)

Before moving to California, my family and I lived in suburban Chicago, the #2 least-churched city in America. A person’s success in Chicago seems dependent upon their willingness to get up early and work late. In a word, it’s driven.

Soon after school began, it became apparent that our family needed to have a Bible study before school. We started in Matthew chapter 1, and each day I would teach something from the next chapter. Sound familiar?

When we got to Matthew Chapter 4, I asked, “What was the good news of the kingdom that Jesus was teaching and preaching?” My daughter Ruth answered quickly, “That Jesus died for us?” Nope. Jesus preached this message three years before He died.  

So, what was the “good news” Jesus was preaching?  

The good news that Jesus was preaching is straightforward: God can be trusted to fulfill His promises. Four hundred years had passed since Israel’s last prophet. Fourteen generations had passed since their exile to Babylon. Had God forsaken His promises and covenant with Israel? Not in the least.

Messiah was standing before Israel, accompanied by signs & wonders. Jesus came first to the Jew, then to the Gentile, because the promises were given to the Jew first.  The Jews who believed God’s promises of Messiah were looking & praying for the “deliverer.” Jesus came at the time that God appointed, and He didn’t just heal a few sick people. He healed every kind of sickness, including the root of all sickness, sin.

Are you searching for deliverance? Do you feel lonely, forsaken by God? I have GOOD NEWS for you: God CAN be trusted!‍

“For whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13 (NKJV)

God has promised never to leave or forsake His children. Because He was faithful to fulfill His promise concerning the atoning work of Messiah, we know that God’s yet-to-be-fulfilled promises to believers (including spending eternity with Him in Heaven because of our faith in Jesus) can be trusted, as well.

“You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?” Matthew 5:43-46 (HCSB)

I’ve heard from colleagues that Gospel singer CeCe Winans used to wake up before everyone else on her tour bus. She would be studying her Bible in the front lounge when, one by one, her band members awoke. As soon as they reached for the coffee pot, she would say, “The Lord woke you up today, and He didn’t have to. Now, why do you think that is?”

God has been gracious to me. For 20 years, I chose to ignore the gospel, and I chose the World’s way. Quite honestly, the World seemed more fun! Nothing about the gospel seemed more attractive than the World. I used to laugh at followers of Jesus for so blindly believing in something I felt scientists could easily explain away.

I was pretty much done with “God,” but there was that nagging feeling deep inside that kept drawing me back. I felt empty in my Worldly pursuits and began to wonder if the Lord was right after all. God never stopped calling out to me.

Why did God keep pursuing me, even though I continued to choose the World over Him? He sent messenger after messenger to tell me that Jesus is the Messiah. Finally, one of those messengers connected.

What I connected with was the LOVE of Messiah, even more than the music or the preaching. I met someone who lived as if they knew Jesus personally, and that person loved me enough to persistently try to introduce me to Him. LOVE made that person different from all the others I had met who claimed to be believers. I wanted that kind of relationship with God, where I could receive and share His LOVE. So, I prayed and asked God for His forgiveness. I surrendered control of my life to Jesus, and at that moment, my life was changed for all eternity.

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13 (NKJV)

“But God proves His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!” Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

It is incredible to me that God LOVES us so much that He would wake us up this morning, design something for us to do, and choose to challenge us to choose Him again.

Why do you think He woke you up today? Perhaps, He wants you to read His Word, so He can, again, reveal the depth of His LOVE for you (and for all who are perishing) so that you can remember the urgency of the gospel and share His LOVE with others.

“‘So don’t worry, saying “What will we eat” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.  Therefore, don’t worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.’” Matthew 6:31-34 (HCSB)

My family is from Arkansas.  We’re SO Southern that my mom’s name is Dixie!  One time we were asked to leave a Chinese restaurant after my mom wandered into their family shrine and asked my dad to take a photo of her tickling Buddha’s belly while she said, “Koochy-koochy-coo!”

After that episode, whenever I heard a preacher talking about idolatry, the only image I had was of Dixie rubbing Siddhartha’s tummy.  I wondered, “How could those people be so crazy as to believe that an idol carved from wood or stone (or pressed in plastic) has the power to bless or curse them?” I was so glad Americans aren’t idol worshippers.  Well, try telling that to Simon Cowell of American Idol fame.

An idol is anything that you assign power to bless (or curse) you.  An idol is anything (intended or not) that you trust more than God or the Bible.  

How does this look in our culture?  Let’s see.  Are you satisfied with your wardrobe?  Do you feel more powerful or attractive when you wear certain outfits?  What about the clothes that you just sent to Goodwill?  Did they use to make you feel powerful but somehow they lost their “power” last season?

What about cars, electronics, or comfort foods?  Americans are no less idolaters than any other pagan culture.  It’s just that our idolatry is more sophisticated.  We are all guilty to some extent, including me.  Now, there is nothing wrong with owning nice things or being fashionably trendy.  The sin is the power and worship we ascribe to such things.  Power and worship belong to God alone.

To quote the great theologian Mick Jaggar of the Rolling Stones: “You can’t always get what you want, but you get what you need.” Of course, Mick Jaggar was as far from a theologian as a person could be, but the Bible says God knows what we need, so don’t worry about fashion or food.  We should always be keen to focus our worship on the Provider instead of His provision.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 (HCSB)

A friend of mine is very wealthy. When I asked if he grew up rich, he said, “No.” When I asked how he succeeded, he said, “While everyone else was partying, I was studying. Now, I can party.”

Last week, I challenged you to read the New Testament, a chapter each day. I am also personally committed to doing the same so that we can grow in community. So, how’s your first week going? Are you diligent or belligerent? Has it been easy, or has it been a battle?

It seems like there’s never enough time to do everything we want. There is a high-stakes battle for our attention. Advertisers pay millions for 30 seconds of your Super Bowl time. If we never had to sleep, it seems there still would not be enough time to engage in all the activities (offered by so many various entities) begging for our attention.

Why do we often find ourselves too tired for God or His Word at the end of the day? Ask yourself, have you included God in your list of options, or have you committed to making every option subject to spending quality time with God?

Do you find yourself sprinting down the “broad road’, trying to redeem a wasted past?

“In high school, I could throw a football a quarter mile! If Coach had only put me in, we woulda’ took State. I woulda’ gone Pro….” Uncle Rico - Napoleon Dynamite

Matthew warns us that the “broad road” bottlenecks in a multi-car pileup. But it’s not too late to turn around. The Psalms encourage that God establishes the steps (and lights the way) of His children. The “narrow road” will broaden and be leveled beneath your feet as you follow the Lord by faith.

Let’s seek the “narrow way” together, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, faithfully pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God! (Philippians 3:13-14)

Keep reading the Bible together, praying this simple prayer, “Lord, give me something today from Your Word, and give me someone to share it with!” Let’s be among the few who find the way that leads to life and invite a few more folks along the way.

“‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’” Jeremiah 6:16a (NIV)

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Matthew 8. Click the links below to watch or listen.

“While He was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came as guests to eat with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ But when He heard this, He said, ‘Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” Matthew 9:10-13 (HCSB)

A few days before I moved to California, I saw my (soon-to-be) new boss on Larry King Live. Just before a commercial break, Larry figured he’d catch Pastor Greg Laurie on a trick question. Larry asked, “Greg, isn’t religion just a crutch?”

Pastor Greg quickly retorted, “Larry, for me, it’s not just a crutch. It’s a whole hospital!”

What’s up with “the church” that so many have lost their perception of being a hospital? Is it wrong to enter a hospital and admit you need care? Why are people afraid to approach their congregation similarly? We praise the hospital triage staff for quickly diagnosing our condition and immediately rushing us into treatment. Why do people in the church have a stigma about “diagnosing” a sin issue and promptly suggesting a proper course of treatment, in this case, discipleship?

The Pharisees were in denial. They ministered in the synagogue more than anyone, yet they denied their own need for inner healing. “How could the ‘doctors’ need medical attention?” was their attitude. Doctors? They couldn’t heal themselves, much less anyone else. Yet, they criticized Jesus for healing and associating with patients they dismissed as untreatable or “uninsured,” as it were.

Before the Great Physician heals us, we must humbly present ourselves for His diagnosis. Then, we must trust His prognosis and submit to His treatment plan, which will lead to our wellness. I once had a doctor prescribe me medicine and say, “Take every pill.” The moment I felt better, I quit the prescription, only to get sick again.

In today’s passage, Jesus made a house call. Matthew risked his reputation to 1) Show his friends that he was (spiritually) healed and 2) Introduce his (spiritually) ill friends to Messiah. Jesus honored that risk.

The Church is supposed to be a spiritual hospital, with its members acting as paramedics. God calls us to seek and serve the lost and needy. We exist to search out the sick and dying, share our stories of crisis and healing, and bring the people back to the “hospital” for ongoing care and community.

“Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and harmless as doves. Because people will hand you over to the Sanhedrin and flog you in their synagogues, beware of them. You will even be brought before governors and kings because of Me, to bear witness to them and to the nations. But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you should speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour because you are not speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you.” Matthew 10:16-20 (HCSB)

Children bear a resemblance to their parents. That can be good or bad. Often negative attitudes or self-destructive behavior are learned from living in a worldly family environment. You never know how much your upbringing affects your values until you’re under pressure. People are like teabags: you never know what’s inside until you put them in hot water!

Soon after calling His disciples, Jesus sent them out. He tossed them the keys to the Kingdom, as it were, and said, “Take her for a spin!” He gave simple instructions and faith-building challenges. When they returned, they were bragging about how even the demons submitted. Overconfidence is the crown of adolescence.

However, Jesus told them how serious things would get. Little did they realize that persecution was just around the corner. They weren’t quite so “slap-happy” when they learned that following Jesus often means entering the Kingdom to come through the door of martyrdom.

There is a reason why we study the Bible in community, discussing it and sharing what the Lord is revealing to us. We are sowing the seeds of readiness. We are allowing the Lord to “tattoo,” so to speak, His Word on our hearts and minds.

“‘Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days’ - the LORD’s declaration. ‘I will put My teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people.’” Jeremiah 31:33 (HCSB)

Eventually, each of us will be called to “give reason for the hope within us.” For many, it will be a series of simple conversations. Others will face life-or-death faith challenges. Whenever that time comes, the faithful will open their mouths, and the Spirit will speak from the inventory of scripture in their hearts. He will literally draw from the scripture you are storing in your heart daily. God often gives “pop quizzes” at extremely inopportune times for His students…so stay alert and be prepared.

Miles Davis once said, “If you don’t live it, it won’t come out your horn.” Be diligent in scripture and prayer. You never know when the Lord will throw you a solo!

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (HCSB)

In the days of Jesus, rabbis were well respected. In many ways, rabbis were the central cohesive figure in day-to-day village life. They were funny, insightful, commanding, and entertaining. Jewish parents wanted their sons to be rabbis.

Each rabbi had their own method of adhering to the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament). Some taught that you had to memorize the Torah. Others would add discussing the Torah or praying a certain way. Each rabbi’s “course load” was a burden, hence the term “yoke.”

Occasionally, a rabbi would come through town and choose the best young boys to be his Talmidim. (students) They usually chose 12, representing the 12 tribes of Israel. There was a ceremony, customary to many rabbis, where the instructor would pour honey on a writing slate, then hold it over the boy’s mouth. The honey signified the sweetness of God’s Word. This would have been a treat for any boy and a proud day for the parents.

For those boys who were passed up, the rabbi would tell their parents the boys should find a trade. If they married a nice Jewish girl, maybe their son could be a rabbi, but as for them…no cigar.

This was the setting when Jesus traveled to Capernaum and called four young fishermen to be His disciples. See also Luke 5:1-11. Four rejects just got the call of their lives! Is it any wonder they left everything to follow Him? He was Messiah, yet His “yoke” (course load) could be summed up as “Love God, and love people.”

Are you tired? Do you need rest? Have so-called “church leaders” loaded you down with impossible burdens and senseless traditions? Come to Jesus. Learn from Him who is gentle and humble in heart, and find rest for yourself.

“He was still speaking to the crowds when suddenly His mother and brothers were standing outside wanting to speak to Him.  Someone told Him, ‘Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.’ But He replied to the one who told Him, ‘Who are my mother and brothers?’ And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, ‘Here are My mother and brothers!  For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, that person is My brother, and sister and mother.’” Matthew 12:46-50 (HCSB)

I love my parents and my brother & sister.  We had plenty of fun times growing up, but in reality, these days, we’re not as close as I wished.  We love each other but seldom talk on the phone or visit each other.  Part of the problem is that we live so far away from each other.  

I suppose it can be somewhat depressing, but then I think about my family in Messiah.  In the absence of my immediate family, the Lord has provided a church family: hundreds of mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters.

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.” Matthew 19:29 (AMP)

We know from elsewhere in Scripture that Jesus’ family had come to take Him away.  They simply didn’t believe in His Messianic mission.  Perhaps they were concerned for His safety and possibly their own.  They had abandoned the faithful vision and trusted their feelings more than the Lord.  Jesus saw past their scheme.

He turned to those following Him and defined their relationship.  They were no longer only followers.  Now, they were FAMILY!  That relationship is still offered to us today.

The Bible says,

“But to all who did receive Him, He gave to them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His Name, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13 (HCSB)

It’s true.  

“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe it in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 (HCSB)

The Lord desires that everyone will repent and follow Him.  As a result, we become co-heirs with Jesus, sons and daughters of God and brothers and sisters of Messiah.

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“‘Have you understood these things?’ ‘Yes,’ they told Him. ‘Therefore,’ He said to them, ‘every student of Scripture instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who brings out of his storeroom what is new and what is old.’” Matthew 13:51-52 (HCSB)

Over the past 15 years of performing concerts and touring around, I have met some brilliant people. Some folks are almost too smart. You may want them as your “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” lifeline phone call, but otherwise, they can hardly relate to the average intellect.

I’ve also met people who are almost exclusively socially oriented. They are by no means scholars, but they’re sure fun at a party! These folks are always up on the newest movies, music, and media. Sadly, their interests seldom go beyond the surface level.

The bookworm and the socialite generally only communicate with others of their kind, but Jesus connects with anyone. Fully God and fully man, Jesus is perfection personified. Unlike Jesus, we are hindered by our personalities.

The Bible calls us “members” of the body of Messiah. Individually, we may not be too impressive, but put us all together, and you get a better picture of Jesus. It is sort of like staring at an impressionist painting close-up; you need to take a few steps back to catch the artist’s true visual statement. The same can be said for analyzing the shortcomings of an individual believer instead of seeing what Christians can do collectively. The purpose of community is to make our weaknesses ineffective. A healthy Christian community overrides our weaknesses and enables everyone to work within their God-given strengths, each person’s strength covering another’s weaknesses.

Jesus taught His disciples to be well-balanced. When we search the Bible, God’s Spirit reveals the truth, making it clear. The Holy Spirit literally puts God’s Word into the storehouses of our hearts.

In addition, Jesus calls us to be His witness in our day. With His Word stored away, we carry His message wherever He leads.

The Gospel is timeless. It will never change or lose its power. Every generation may hold a unique perspective on the Gospel, but the Gospel’s truth is constant. Kingdom-minded believers are continually developing new societal, media-driven, and contemporary platforms from which to share the Gospel. Still, the Bible never changes.

As you read the Bible, ask God to bring new light to the ancient text. Then pray He will give you someone to share it with today in a relevant way: Something old and something new. From the storeroom of Scripture, He is filling up in Your heart.

“‘Come!’ He said. And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those in the boat worshiped Him and said, ‘Truly You are the Son of God!’” Matthew 14:29-33 (HCSB)

It’s May 8, 1990. I’m sitting in my ’75 Corvette, listening to a sermon on a cassette titled: “The Crisis of Decision.” If I turned right, I would go home to a lucrative summer job under the blessing of a full-ride track scholarship; turn left, and I would follow the Lord’s call on my life into the uncertain world of the music business.

I turned left. I stepped out of the boat, so to speak. Just like that, I made a step of faith. It didn’t hurt at all; as a matter of fact, it felt kind of warm and fuzzy.

Three months later, things weren’t looking so good. I didn’t have any money or apparently enough REM sleep to make my Rock & Roll dreams come true. I panicked and started doubting if I had indeed heard from God. I began making decisions without seeking the Lord, trying to get back to the smooth college life I had so cavalierly abandoned. I was sinking fast, and everyone around me was watching.

Whenever you choose to follow the Lord, there’s always a boatload of onlookers. You’ve got to hand it to Peter; he had enough faith to step out while the others were hugging life jackets! He took a few steps, but like the rest of us can do, Peter took his focus off Jesus and began sinking. I like Jesus’ response, reaching out His hand and adding, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

In chapter 8, Jesus rebuked His disciples for waking Him during a storm while on a boat. It seems Peter attained some faith from that lesson because this time, Peter braved his fears and stepped out of the boat amid the storm. The moment Peter called out to Jesus, He gave support. Interestingly, the wind and waves didn’t cease until they got back in the boat.

Have you stepped out in faith, only to find yourself weaker than you hoped? Call out to Jesus, and He will support you. The storm may not stop automatically, but He will deliver you safely back to the boat. When you arrive back safely, just know everyone in the boat will worship the Lord with you, encouraged by 1) how the Lord called & supported you and 2) how your faithful response to His call led to a blessed ending. Then, the next time He beckons you out onto the water, perhaps, you’ll have a few others stepping out with you!

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Matthew 15. Click the links below to watch or listen.

“‘An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.’ Then He left them and went away. The disciples reached the other shore, and they had forgotten to take bread. Then, Jesus told them, ‘Watch out and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’” Matthew 16:4-6 (HCSB)

What is an adulterous generation? Spiritual adultery forsakes belief & faith for the latest sign or wonder. It is, at its core, idolatry and paganism.

Spiritual adultery may display itself as overtly as leaving the Church for another religion. It may also show itself in subtle signs such as “church hopping.” Unlike people seeking God to find the right church, chronic church hoppers think the worship experience is all about them. They crave excitement but don’t commit to serving beyond their comfort zone. When the church services become uncomfortable or unentertaining, they move on in search of a better experience.

People who are not mature in their faith (i.e., aren’t grounded in God’s Word) are less likely to be reliable members of a congregation. They are also more likely to be enticed by subtle heretical teaching.

Ask yourself: If your church were your spouse, would it say you were faithful?

This was the case with the Pharisees, who were secretly communicating with Jesus’s disciples. They were engaged in hushed conversations with the disciples, planting subversive thoughts. Jesus said, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees.” What was He talking about?

“Yeast” describes heretical teaching that entices the flesh. Because it is subtle, yeast spreads undetected until it grows too big to control. In the Bible, yeast is synonymous with sin because it spreads quietly until it’s almost too late. Yeast is more dangerous than blatant heresy. At least blatant heresy is easily spotted.

Yeast theology works hand-in-glove with an adulterous generation. When people reject sound doctrine, they end up attending a church that doesn’t challenge them with the truth of Scripture. When a pulpit is compromised, Bible teaching is replaced with “Bible-themed” messages. Rote volunteerism replaces discipleship & kingdom-building.

Sadly, years can go by before a person recognizes the emptiness of this type of theology. Many people spiritually starve to death. Others just bounce from benign congregation to benign congregation. They grow increasingly bitter about anything that convicts of sin, and they get bored unless the congregation’s “production” is entertaining.

Here’s a good rule: look for a congregation that considers the Bible to be the source of sound doctrine instead of just another resource for positive living.

“When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the double-drachma tax approached Peter and said, ‘Doesn’t your Teacher pay the double-drachma tax?’  ‘Yes,’ He said.  When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, ‘What do you think, Simon?  Who do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes from?  From their sons, or from strangers?’  ‘From strangers,’ he said.  ‘Then the sons are free,” Jesus told him.  “But so we don’t offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and catch the first fish that comes up.  When you open its mouth, you’ll find a coin.  Take it and give it to them for Me and you.’” Matthew 17:24-27 (HCSB)

A “double-drachma” wasn’t a wrestling move.  It was a tax established in Exodus 30:11-16.  The tax’s original purpose was to atone for any mortal sin that an Israelite soldier might commit in battle.  The tax was utterly unnecessary because Israel didn’t have an army!  It was even more unnecessary that Messiah, the One who would Himself atone for ALL sin, should pay the tax.

King Herod had greatly expanded the temple complex.  Part of this expansion included the building of a marketplace.  It was Herod’s version of Walmart.  It is suggested that Herod re-imposed the double drachma tax to pressure the public to pay for his construction projects.

Jesus would not have sinned by ignoring the tax, yet He paid it.  The temple was the house of the Lord, and Jesus detested what it had become.  Herod’s expansions were designed to extort worshipers.  Now, Jesus, God’s Son, was asked to pay for unwanted additions to His Father’s house!  Jesus had plans to take a whip and clear Herod’s merchants from the temple complex, but that would be another day.

Jesus still had ministry to do around Galilee.  Paying the tax kept Him and His disciples on the good side of the religious Jews in the area.  He chose His battles wisely.  He was winning souls as well as saving them.  That’s a lesson for us all:  Keep the main “thing” the main thing.

By asking Jesus and Peter to pay the double drachma, the tax collectors prove they didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah.  They treated Him as a common stranger in God’s house instead of its inheritor.    

Finally, observe Jesus and Peter didn’t have money readily available.  Perhaps Jesus was showing Peter he would eventually be supported by a byproduct of evangelism: offerings.  Fish symbolize evangelism.  This community support system is observed in Acts 2, where early Messianic believers committed “all they owned” to the community of believers, laying their belongings at the apostles’ feet.  Even today, the Church is supported in this manner by the generous support of Kingdom-minded believers.

“If your hand or your foot causes you downfall, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, rather than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire!” Matthew 18:8-9

History tells of scores of people who overcome severe physical disability to reach inspiring heights, folks like quantum physicist Steven Hawking or artist Joni Earekson Tada. Many of these folks’ contributions to society have proven invaluable.

In the days of Jesus, the disabled were considered outcasts, possibly demon-possessed. The religious leaders of Jesus’ time were too concerned with their images to risk being identified with (or defiled by) the disabled. Interesting, it was the “disabled” who received healing from Jesus…both the physically and spiritually disabled!

Image has always influenced human culture. People are still preoccupied with projecting an image that is bigger than reality. Why are we so afraid to simply be ourselves? In a culture that preaches, “image is everything,” is it any wonder that so many people are afraid to admit they need a Savior? Some folks would rather go to Hell with a good reputation than confess their sin and receive salvation.

The problem with projecting a false image is that you’re living a lie. It promotes fear and fosters anxiety because we will never measure up to the image! Even if people buy into the image, it’s not because they love you for who you really are. They love your IMAGE. I believe the most prevalent form of idolatry in the world is our worship of the images we create of ourselves.

Jesus looks past the exterior and focuses on the inside. First, He chooses to love us despite our spiritual deformities. Then, He offers to trade His righteousness for our corrupt flesh. He sees past our images and accepts us, not just as we are, but also as we WILL BE, once He has completed what He begins in us. No wonder His atonement is also known as His “covering.” He completes what our images could never accomplish. He covers the reality of our shame.

You receive the covering of Jesus by first admitting your sin. That is, you acknowledge the fact that you are not perfect. (Perfection is God’s standard and impossible to attain by our own merit.) Next, you turn from your sin and turn to face Jesus. (Jesus and sin travel in opposite directions.) Then, receive His atonement for your sin, His free gift of life. Simply pray, “Lord, I believe Jesus is the only Way. I accept His free gift of atonement. Now help me with my unbelief!”

Why spend your time and resources building an IMAGE of perfection when Jesus offers the REAL thing…for free?

“‘If you want to be perfect,’ Jesus said to him, ‘go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.’ When the young man heard that command, he went away grieving because he had many possessions.” Matthew 19:21-22

Growing up, I heard the gospel many times. I considered myself a follower of Jesus, but I was never really sold out. Matthew tells the story of a successful young man who considered himself a follower of the Messiah. He addressed Jesus as “Teacher,” and he traveled to the Judean desert just to ask Jesus one question: “What good thing must I do to have eternal life?” He was about to learn the difference between genuinely following Jesus and merely following Him around.

This young man’s question defined his personal theology. He truly believed eternal life could be achieved by human effort, but he was not overcome by the total depravity of his sin. He wasn’t a beggar looking for food. He was the exact opposite. He was confident in himself, and he believed he was capable of living a perfect life.

Jesus was gracious. He questioned the young man the way any other rabbi would question a potential disciple. The young man was impressive. He would have aced any Fortune 500 interview, hired on the spot. Then, Jesus threw him a curveball that rocked his success paradigm. “Sell all you have, give it to the poor, and then follow me.”

Can’t you just sense this man’s thoughts upon hearing Jesus’ instruction? “Sell my possessions? That’s not success! That’s the opposite of what all the other rabbis told me. You’re a good teacher, Jesus, but that’s too extreme.” I get a sense this young man was so gung-ho that if Jesus had told him to scale Mt. Everest in a Speedo, he would have done it! But Jesus went to the core of this man’s sin: His possessions.

Jesus never said that charity earns eternal life. He simply revealed the obstacle that hindered this particular young man from being a true follower. He laid out the truth and let the young man choose. Sadly, the young man walked away.

There is a difference between “hanging around” Jesus and genuinely following Him. Following Him means we have forsaken all others, turned from our sin, and committed to trusting His leading, wherever, whenever, and however He leads. It’s easy to proclaim that Jesus is Lord. It’s a whole other thing to obey Him as Lord.

“Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven.” Matthew 7:21

“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.” Romans 10:9-10

“While going up to Jerusalem, Jesus took the 12 disciples aside privately and said to them on the way: ‘Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death. Then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked, flogged, and crucified, and He will be resurrected on the third day.’” Matthew 20:17-19

For several summers, my wife and I traveled to Israel with a tour geared for college students. I am looking forward to our next trip! One of our goals is to assist Israeli Messianic congregations in sharing the truth about Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus).

Most of the time, the Israelis are receptive to conversations about Jesus. But they always bring up three eras in Western history as defenses against following Him: The Crusades, the Catholic Inquisition, and the Nazi Holocaust.

In all three instances, millions of Jews were persecuted and killed in the name of “Jesus.” Of course, Jesus would never have approved of such treatment. Jesus came to earth as a Jew, and He continues to love and redeem Jewish people, along with anyone else who would come to Him by grace, through faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

One of the arguments that errant Christian leaders have given to justify Jewish persecution is that God cursed the Jews for having killed Jesus. That rationale is entirely false on two accounts:

1. God has not rejected the Jews (Romans 11:11)

2. The Jews did not execute Jesus.

Jesus addressed the 2nd false rationale in today’s passage. Yes, the Jews beat and condemned Jesus, but it was the Gentile Romans who ordered the near-death-inducing “cat of 9 tails” flogging and oversaw His crucifixion. Perhaps one of the reasons he allowed those particular circumstances to surround His crucifixion is that Jew & Gentile would be collectively guilty of His death. In today’s passage, Jesus tells His followers EXACTLY how His crucifixion will play out.

The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus rose on the 3rd day! As Jew & Gentile share the guilt of His death, we also share in the hope of His mercy & grace!!

Pray for our efforts in Israel as we continue to seek opportunities to share the truth of Messiah Jesus. Also, pray for the Shalom of Jerusalem and that restoration through Jesus would come to the Jewish people and all Nations.

“Jesus went into the temple complex and drove out all those buying and selling in the temple. He overturned the money changers’ tables and the chairs of those selling doves. And He said to them, ‘It is written, My house will be called a house of prayer. But you are making it a den of thieves.’” Matthew 21:12-13

I’ve tried to imagine Jesus clearing the temple within the context of all the other images of Him that exist. There is the simple wisdom of “country-come-city” Jesus...almost an Andy Griffith type. Don’t forget the cartoonish Sunday School “felt board” Jesus. And of course, you’ve got the image of the vulnerable blond-haired, blue-eyed frail “Jesus” portrayed by renaissance European Stained glass and fine artists. “Clearing the temple” Jesus foreshadows the returning King redeeming His bride (the Church-at-large) and judging the World.

Jesus announced a new era when he cleared the temple. He sent two emphatic messages to the ruling elite:1) The temple is His inheritance, and 2) There is room in the covenant for all the nations.

Jesus claims ownership of the temple by quoting Isaiah, “MY house…” This was personal. He didn’t say “Your” house, “Our” house, or “God’s” house.

A more in-depth look at the context of the Isaiah quote reveals why Jesus chose this particular passage. Isaiah 56 sends a message of hope for all people. Jesus’ statement: A relationship with God has never been (nor would it ever be) an exclusive Hebrew thing. It has always been (and will forever remain) a “by grace, through faith” thing. Ephesians 2:8-9

“And the foreigners who convert to the Lord, minister to Him, Love the Lord’s name and are His servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it, and who hold firmly to My covenant – I will bring them to My holy mountain and let them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Isaiah 56:6-7

Jesus told the temple establishment, in essence, “I am restoring My house to its original intent: WHOSOEVER turns to Me, may worship me here!”

“For God so loved the World, He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Note that Isaiah did NOT prophesy, “Whoever converts to Judaism,” rather, “Whoever converts to the LORD.” What worship had become in Israel had strayed from God’s Word; Jesus was restoring a proper understanding. I pray that the Lord gives you clarity and correct understanding of His Word by the revelation of His Spirit so that you can walk rightly before Him and rightly divide the truth when men claim to be speaking on His behalf.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Matthew 22. Click the links below to watch or listen.

“Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have taken part with them in shedding the prophet’s blood.’ You, therefore, testify against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ sins!!” Matthew 23:29-32

When I was a teenager, I had a list of things I would never say when I grew up and had children of my own. Guess what? I say MANY those phrases to my kids, and they’ll probably say them to their kids! Like it or not, we are products of our upbringing.

The Pharisees and Sadducees had commendable zeal. They were willing to suffer for what they believed. The problem was that they were sincerely wrong in certain crucial theological conclusions, mainly in that they did not recognize Jesus as Messiah.

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day loved to work for the Lord, but their works were ultimately deemed ineffective for the Kingdom because they had been taught attitudes & opinions that were contra to God’s heart. When the foundation is flawed, the structure built upon it is jeopardized. Israel’s spiritual leaders had mostly traded the solid foundation of the TANAKH (Old Testament) for the unsteady foundation of the rabbinical opinions & judgments concerning the Old Testament. The practice of learning rabbinical tradition had largely replaced personally seeking God’s revelation, His Word.

Religious leaders became so consumed with the “How” that they lost the “WHO.” Forms of worship overshadowed the object of worship, the Lord.

What’s worse, these leaders believed they had evolved beyond the righteousness of their fathers, who had rejected the prophets. Jesus gave a simple exhortation: Like Father, like son.

To that end, they remind me of some church leaders in our generation. Indeed, some preachers believe today’s society has evolved beyond the Bible. They scoff at conservative believers who suggest that we should take the Bible literally regarding various issues like homosexuality, church leadership paradigms, and abortion. In doing so, they elevate their opinions above those of Moses, the Apostle Paul, or even Jesus!

We mustn’t accuse our fathers without recognizing we have inherited many of their well-intended, yet sinful, attitudes about God. The only way to break sin patterns is to humble ourselves, repent, and ask God to reveal the truth of His WORD to us. We must then commit ourselves to living within that truth, even when uncomfortable or unpopular.

“Then Jesus replied to them, ‘Watch that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name saying ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many. You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed because those things must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these things are the beginning of birth pains.’” Matthew 24:4-8

When my wife Misti was pregnant with our first child, some friends threw us a baby shower. Although she was several weeks away from her due date, by the end of the evening, Misti announced she was in labor. I drove like NASCAR to the hospital!

Two hours later, I was driving Misti home, staring out the window, neither of us talking to each other. Chalk it up to first-time pregnancy, but sometimes, false labor feels like the real thing. When in doubt, trust the doctor. We ended up having two false alarms before her water broke and ushered in actual labor.

Reading the Bible and looking around the World, it seems we are living in the last days. I believe Jesus’ return is imminent. War, natural disasters, and rank immorality are all signs of the end times. How will one know the difference between the “birth pains” and the actual “day of deliverance?” It will be as evident as a pregnant woman’s water breaking!

I say it often; there are two things that confound a fool: 1) How slow God is to act, and 2) How quickly He shows up!

Where is Jesus?

“In My Father’s house are many rooms. If that were not true, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:2-3

So, why has He delayed His return?

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

Rabbinic Judaism teaches that Messiah has not yet come. Some even go as far as to acknowledge Jesus as a prophet, but His followers misunderstood him. Don’t allow yourself to be led astray. Listen to what Jesus said and make sure you are following the right WAY, the TRUTH of the gospel, so that you may enter into the LIFE promised to all who would believe!

“I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no man comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6

“For it is just like a man going on a journey. He called his own slaves and turned over his possessions to them. To one, he gave five talents; to another, two; and to another, one – to each according to his own ability.” Matthew 25:14-15

In most circles, the words “gifted” and “talented” are synonymous. While gifts and talents are both attributed to grace, each has a unique purpose.

“GIFTS,” or “spiritual gifts,” are ABILITIES the Lord bestows to all people. (See the lists in Romans 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Corinthians 13-15, and elsewhere.) Each person is created to glorify God uniquely. God desires everyone use their gifts for His glory. Sadly, most people don’t attribute their gifts to God. They simply choose to think of themselves as extraordinary and seek to use their gifts to glorify themselves.

Gifts come in combinations. Like the contents of a piñata, everyone’s gift set is varied and unique. Still, one gift usually dominates the others.

I consider a “TALENT” as an OPPORTUNITY in which to invest your gift in God’s Kingdom. When the Lord gives a talent, He always matches the opportunity with your ability: Gift & Talent. Perhaps, you have heard the phrase, “Where God guides, He provides.” I would add, “When God provides a spiritual gift, He always guides us to a place to invest that gift.

Those who follow His leading, with the intent to invest their gifts, see an INCREASE. The increase is directly proportional to the talent/gift combination. Increase is measured in 1) Kingdom impact and 2) your personal growth. Your faith broadens as others are discipled by you seizing the opportunity to invest your gift(s) in their lives. As your faith grows, the Lord gives you greater opportunities. It all spirals upward.

“To whom much has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.” Luke 12:48b

Let’s say you ignore God’s “talent.” Maybe, you’re scared or unsure. The Kingdom doesn’t grow, and nor do you. “Burying” your talent negatively impacts your faith. You never give the Lord a chance to build your faith by showing His increase. Instead of stretching, you shrink. The Lord may send someone else to accomplish what you refused to begin, and they (along with the person/people invested in) will reap the increase.

Everyone is gifted. Every believer has the privilege & opportunity to labor in the Kingdom. Let’s be sensitive to how God leads us today, and let’s invest the gifts (He has given us) in the opportunities He presents, thus reaping the rewards of the faithful!

“Then Jesus told him, ‘Put your sword back in its place because all who take up the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions of angels? How then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?’” Matthew 26:52-54

It is challenging for us to understand Kingdom economy. Even our most spiritual moments are filtered through the lens of our experience in this world. The disciples had spent three years hearing Jesus teach. But the years prior were spent listening to various rabbis effuse on how Messiah would look, what He would do, and how the Jewish people would benefit by Messiah’s coming.

Even down to the moment of Jesus’ arrest, Peter still thought He was starting a political coup. The disciples even argued and lobbied for cabinet positions in the coming kingdom. They didn’t have dreams of world evangelism or global reconciliation. They definitely weren’t looking for martyrdom. They simply wanted an eternal power shift that let them be bosses for a change.

The disciples looked forward to an earthly kingdom, while Jesus was concerned with the Heavenly one. So, how do you gauge your kingdom allegiance?

Those who set up earthly kingdoms would barter their souls for dominion in this world. They don’t humble themselves before the Lord. They consider Him an intellectual equal, at best. They lack the faith to live sacrificially because giving up possession & power would diminish their kingdom. In the words of Adrian Rogers, “the only ‘god’ they serve is the one they see looking back in the mirror.”

People living for the heavenly Kingdom conduct their lives in such a way that it would be utter foolishness were there no resurrection from the dead. They are not swayed by anything earthly and would be willing to give up everything for the cause of the Messiah. Their hope lies not in the perishable earth but in the incorruptible eternal Kingdom of heaven.

Question: do you allow the joy of your salvation to transcend the “here & now” and to live for the hope of the “there & then”?

“Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left.” Matthew 27:38

I believe Jerusalem is the center of the world. That may sound esoteric, but it’s the way I feel the Bible teaches it. On the world map, everything to the left of Jerusalem is called “the West.” Everything on the right is called “the East.”

Ever wondered why Jesus was crucified between two “thieves”? Why not murderers, heretics, drunkards, or anything other than thieves?

Whenever I think about the thieves flanking Jesus, it reminds me of the differences between Eastern and Western cultures; and how the East & West have stolen from God.

What sums up Eastern philosophy? The East is typified by religious discipline, without a personal relationship to God. It is impressive (and sometimes a bit scary) how far Eastern religions go to appease God. Be it Allah, Vishnu, or any of the millions of Eastern religious gods, none of them invite you to a personal relationship with a loving & gracious Savior. Their gods are impersonal and always need appeasing. Who would dare expect that kind of god to call you a “brother” or “friend,” “son” or “daughter”?

What about the West? The West wants liberty without accountability. Western culture doesn’t want anything to hinder the pursuit of happiness. It seeks to eliminate whatever rules may stifle the desire of the individual. If Western culture has a creed, it might be, “If it feels good, do it!” or perhaps, “Your belief is good for you; just don’t interfere with my pursuit of happiness.” After all, without tolerance of others’ pursuit of liberty, how could we “Coexist,” as the bumper sticker reads?

I’m not sure that my observation of East and West was intended in Scripture. My statements are merely what I thought of when I read today’s passage. Still, it is plain to see the East and West have stolen from Jesus. Perhaps, the thieves on either side of Jesus can act as a stern reminder that being more Conservative or Liberal than God directs is stealing from Him and altering what He requires of us.

Jesus commands us to be disciplined, but He also wants a personal relationship. He bestows liberty but gives us boundaries. In contrast to thieves who steal from anyone they can con, Jesus offers mercy to the guilty and grace to anyone who will receive it.

Have you received His free gift of atonement (the covering/pardoning of sins)? Simply turn to Him. “Declare it with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe it in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.” Romans 10:9-10

In other words, believe in Jesus and make it public.

“Then Jesus came near and said to them, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” Matthew 28:18-20

When Jesus commanded the apostles to make disciples of all nations, He was allowing them to have limited participation in fulfilling the prophecy of Daniel.

“I continued watching in the night visions, and I saw One like a son of man coming in the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before Him. He was given authority to rule, and glory, and a kingdom; so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14

The idea of immersing the Gentiles in the “name” of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was utterly revolutionary to the Jewish culture of Jesus’ day. First off, notice Jesus doesn’t say “names” (plural), but rather “name” (singular). He is referencing the persons of God as “one name.” He recognizes what we know as the “Trinity” of God.

Secondly, before this command for “people of all nations” to be immersed in God’s name, it was commonly believed among the Jews that only Hebrews would be called by the Lord’s name. They had been taught (and rightly so) that the Jewish people were a special people, created by a miracle (in that He brought forth a son from Abraham & Sarah, way past child-bearing age), chosen to be a nation of priests. It’s one thing to be chosen, but another thing to accept your calling, to “choose your chosen-ness,” as it were.

Through the generations, a critical understanding of the source of Israel’s “chosen status” was lost. First off, God chose to call a man from Mesopotamia named Abraham to follow Him. Second, by faith, Abraham chose to believe God and follow Him. Third, even though Abraham was as sinful as the next guy, God counted his faithful response as righteousness. That is Grace. God is willing to consider faith from imperfect people as if it were righteousness. It is essential to know it is not our faith in and of itself that saves us. Rather, God’s grace is that he considers the OBJECT of our faith, Jesus, to be the worthy substitute for our sin debt…covering us completely.

While we were yet sinners, Messiah chose to love us, even unto death. By virtue of His resurrection, He is alive today and He chooses to offer eternal life to anyone who would receive it. He also chooses to reveal Himself by the persuasive power of His Spirit, that mankind would, perhaps, by faith, choose to repent & follow Him. In return, He chooses to impute His righteousness into our “bankrupt spiritual accounts,” so to speak.

Now that you have chosen to follow the Lord who chose to offer you salvation, do you choose to carry His gospel to all the nations…starting with your next-door neighbors?

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Mark 1. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“And then He told them, ‘The Sabbath was made because of man and not man because of the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.’” Mark 2:27-28 (NKJV)

One of the main arguments that religious Jews have against Christians is that they profane the Sabbath (“Shabbat” in Hebrew). Not only do most Christians recognize a different day of worship in the Jewish mind, but Christians have also lost touch with the Hebraic understanding of “how” to observe Shabbat. Sadly, most Jewish people have no idea that there are congregations of Messianic believers who meet every Shabbat. So, most of the Jewish community only has the “Church” as their example.

Perhaps, you have heard the old Jewish saying, “Ask five rabbis, and you’ll get ten opinions!” Not all Rabbis agree on how to observe the Sabbath either. There are Orthodox, Ultra-Orthodox, Conservative, and Reformed, and various sects of each. In the more religious homes, Shabbat controls your life. On Shabbat, everything is required to be turned off. Refrigerators, elevators, clocks…nothing is allowed to “work” on Shabbat.

But among religious Jews, there are dissenting opinions. In the Talmud, Rabbi Yonatan ben-Yosef, (commenting on Exodus 31:12-17) said, “For it (Shabbat) is holy unto you. That is, it is committed into your hands, not you into its hands!”

A similar passage appears in the Mekhilta Shabbata and is attributed to Rabbi Shimon Ben-Menaysa.

The debate concerning “man’s dominion over Shabbat” vs. “Shabbat’s dominion over man” is not exclusively Jewish/Christian. It is contested even among Jews!

David Stern, in his “Jewish New Testament Commentary,” makes this observation:

“It may be, therefore, that Yeshua’s comment in verse 28, that ‘the Son of Man is Lord of Shabbat,’ does not refer only to Himself but to EVERYONE, since the Hebrew words’ Ben-Adam’ (literal son of man) can mean simply” ‘man, person,’ with no Messianic overtone: “people control Shabbat and not the other way around.”

Perhaps, this is why Paul exhorted the early Messianic community (aka the Church):

“Therefore, no one is to act as your judge in regard to food, or drink, or in respect to a festival, or a new moon, or a Sabbath day - things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” Colossians 2:16-17 (NASB 95)

Regardless of the day a person deems as the “Sabbath,” we are the stewards of the Shabbat. Not the other way around. For practical reasons, Sabbath has been given to us to force us to rest and focus on God. It also points us to the eternal “rest” we will one day enter into with Messiah Jesus in the Kingdom to come.

“‘On the other hand, no one can enter a strong man’s house and rob his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he will rob his house. I assure you: People will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they may blaspheme. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness but is guilty of an eternal sin’ – because they were saying ‘He has an unclean spirit’.” Mark 3:27-30 (HCSB)

In today’s passage, The Scribes were accusing Jesus of using demonic power to cast out demons. There are two types of “Scribes” in the Gospels. One kind is the aged “expert” in Torah. The word “Scribe” also describes advanced Torah students who were yet to be ordained as rabbis. In today’s passage, this latter type was speaking with Jesus, the students with limited authority because of their incomplete training. These Scribes were not allowed to do two things. 1) They could not interpret Scripture independently (apart from their teacher’s articulated interpretations). 2) They were not allowed to make judgments. By their accusations, the Scribes were either 1) Stepping outside of their authority or 2) Acting as mouthpieces of their Torah instructors.

Jesus begins dismantling their argument with simple logic. “Satan cannot drive out himself.” Imagine how unwilling a pit bull is to let go of its victim. That’s Satan...and worse! Jesus is saying Satan is only & always singularly focused unless compelled by an overwhelming EXTERNAL influence.

That said, Jesus quickly compares and contrasts the impossibility of Satan’s kingdom being divided with the historical reality of Israel’s divided kingdom. Of course, this had to sting the hearts of those Scribes who had dedicated their lives to studying the Torah and Prophets, the history of Israel!

In His analogy, Jesus reminds the Scribes of how Satan had once bound the hearts of Israel’s forefathers, rabbis whose interpretations the Scribes were, no doubt, learning. Once bound up in sin, Israel’s kingdom became divided. Eventually, the Babylonians conquered Israel, exiled its inhabitants, and carried away the Temple articles to Babylon.

Per God’s direction to Israel through the prophets, if the Jews would turn back to God, He would forgive them, restoring them to the land. Regardless of their sin or blasphemy, one could be forgiven if they acknowledged their sin and repented. Jesus is extending an earthly image of restoration into the heavenly realm.

What makes Jesus’ message even more poignant is how He knew the Holy Spirit had revealed this truth to the Scribes. They knew in their hearts that Jesus was Messiah but rejected that revelation. The only sin for which there is no forgiveness is to KNOW that Jesus is Messiah and to die having rejected Him. This is literally “blaspheming the revelation of the Holy Spirit,” essentially saying, “Holy Spirit, you are revealing a lie.”

“When He was alone with the Twelve, those who were around Him asked Him about the parables. He answered them, ‘The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables so that they may look and look, yet not perceive; they may listen and listen, yet not understand; otherwise, they might turn back and be forgiven.’” Mark 4:10-12 (HCSB)

At a glance, it seems that Jesus wants some men to know the truth and others not to. But this is not the case because, if it were, His motive would be inconsistent with Scripture.

For example:

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3-4 (NKJV)

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NASB 95)

So what’s the deal with Jesus’s statement about insiders and outsiders?

First off, let’s examine who was with Jesus. Some Bible translations lead you to believe it was just Jesus and the twelve disciples. The more accurate translations indicate that the twelve were there, but there were also others.

In Scripture, Jesus is highly concerned about the source of testimony regarding His miracles and Messianic identity. He directed people to “tell no one, rather show yourself to the priests and present the offering Moses required.” He wanted things to stay on the eye-witness level and not become a mob witness. Whenever a demon announced Jesus as Messiah, Jesus would silence it. He sent the people He healed directly to the priest.

Jesus wanted the Spirit to reveal that He was Messiah, not demons, a mob, or human intellect. That is not to say that we should not preach the Gospel. It is merely that our powers of persuasion do not make unbelievers believe. The Spirit reveals Truth when we preach. And Truth is found when people humbly seek it because they are willing to receive the testimony of the Spirit, whose ministry is to reveal Truth. To the non-believer, the Bible (and Biblical preaching) is just a collection of words and ideas. But matched with the Holy Spirit, God’s Word becomes “revelation.” For those willing to receive the Spirit’s revelation, otherwise simple morality lessons or “parables” become foundations for repentance and faithful living. Outsiders come in.

“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah

[son of Jonah], for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.’” Matthew 16:17 (NKJV)

Salvation is offered exclusively through Jesus but is available to all who will humble themselves, receive the testimony of God’s Spirit, and faithfully choose to believe.

“As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed kept begging Jesus to stay with Him. But He would not let him; instead, He told him, ‘Go back home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord had done for you and how He has had mercy on you.’” Mark 5:18-19 (HCSB)

Having left the religious Jewish town of Capernaum, Jesus departed by boat to the “other side” of the Galilee. Scripture says He did this because the crowds in Capernaum were growing too large. The region of the Gerasenes (aka Gaderenes) was a Gentile region.

It is essential to know that religious Jews did not mix with Gentile communities. I say this to point out a practical reason for Jesus’ journey to the “other side.” If you want to be left alone by a large crowd of religious Jews, the region of Gerasene was the right destination!

Therefore, it cannot be assumed that everyone Jesus interfaced in the region of the Gerasenes was Jewish. If there were Jews in the Gerasene area, there would not have been many, and they were by no means religious. The plain fact that the community was farming pigs is another strong argument for the absence of Jews.

While the Jews were prejudiced against mingling with Gentiles, we know that Satan isn’t! Satan wants to control ALL nations & people groups. When Jesus and His disciples sailed into town, demons were tormenting the Gentiles, just as they had been tormenting the Jews in Capernaum. This issue posed a perfect opportunity for Messiah to communicate to His disciples: I am (ultimately) sent to redeem ALL NATIONS.

“Prejudice” is essentially the “demonization” of a people group. To undo prejudice, one must “humanize” the object of discrimination. For His disciples, Jesus was “humanizing” this Gentile, known in Scripture as a “demoniac.” Once the demons had left, a regular, friendly, likable guy remained. Jesus was breaking down the prejudice of His disciples, preparing them for the “Great Commission.” (Matthew 28:16-20)

As Jesus and His disciples were leaving, the man pleaded with Jesus to let him go with them. The Shepherd of Israel’s directive for this Gentile was for him to “Go back home to YOUR OWN PEOPLE.” Then, the man evangelized the Decapolis, 10 Greek-influenced Gentile communities. It’s all further evidence that the man was a Gentile. Note the difference to Jesus’ directives in Capernaum, where He instructed the ones He healed not to tell anyone but to go to the priest and offer the gifts Moses had prescribed. This is not the case with His words to the former “demoniac” because Jesus did not have to send the message to the Gentiles that He was not operating outside Mosaic Law.

In a sense, the “former demoniac” acted as a type of “John the Baptist” for the Apostles. He went ahead of the likes of Paul, preparing the soil of the Gentile mission field by testifying of all that God had done for him through His Son, Jesus.

“So as he stepped ashore, He saw a huge crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.”  Mark 6:34

One of the titles Matthew gives Jesus is “Son of David.” From the line of David, Messiah Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who came to redeem the lost sheep of Israel.

Perhaps, the most well-known Davidic song is Psalm 23*, “The Lord Is My Shepherd.” Not only is Psalm 23 poetically beautiful, but it is also prophetic. Here in Mark 6*, we see David’s prophecy of Jesus’ ministry being fulfilled.

“The Lord Is My Shepherd;” Psalm 23:1a

“So as he stepped ashore, He saw a huge crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” Mark 6:34

“There is nothing I lack.” Psalm23:1b

“When it was already late, His disciples approached Him and said, ‘This place is a wilderness, and it is already late! Send them away so they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy something for themselves to eat.’ ‘You give them something to eat,’ He responded.” Mark 6:35-37

“He lets me lie down in green pastures;” Psalm 23:2a

“Then He instructed the disciples to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.” Mark 6:39

“He leads me beside quiet waters.” Psalm 23:2b

“People ran there by land from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. So as He stepped ashore, He saw the crowds and had compassion on them.” Mark 6:33b-34a

“He renews my life;” Psalm 23:3a

“Everyone ate and was filled.” Mark 6:42

“He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3b

“Then He began to teach them many things.” Mark 6:34b

Perhaps, as you continue to read and compare Mark 6 with Psalm 23, you will recall similarities of Jesus’ shepherding in your own life.

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*All verses are HCSB

“Then the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, ‘Why don’t Your disciples live according to the traditions of the elders, instead of eating bread with ritually unclean hands?’ He answered them, ‘Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commands of men. Disregarding the command of God, you keep the tradition of men.’” Mark 7: 5-8 (HCSB)

Many people believe that Jesus rejected ALL traditions. This is not so. There are many New Testament traditions. (see also 1 Corinthians 11:2 and 2 Thessalonians 2:15)

As for Oral Rabbinic traditions, in John 7:37, Jesus and His disciples participated in a Sukkot festival observance, which is not mentioned in the Tanakh (Old Testament). It is only found in the Mishna, a collection of rabbinic writings. On that occasion, Jesus took the opportunity to refocus a water-drawing ceremony, traditionally conducted by the High Priest, into a statement of His Messianic role. John 10:22-39 has Jesus in the Temple at the “Festival of Dedication,” aka, Hanukkah. There He was, the “Light of the World,” in the Temple at Hanukkah, a traditional Jewish holiday not directly mentioned in the Old Testament but supported by tradition.

When Jesus took issue with the “tradition of the elders”(or the “Oral Torah” as it is also known), it was whenever the Pharisees placed human tradition over God’s command. As long as a tradition is consistent with the Bible and honored by the people as such, there is nothing wrong with the tradition. We cannot assume that ALL rabbinic tradition is bad. It must be weighed by God’s Word and should never be esteemed higher than His Word.

Pertaining to today’s Scripture, the practice of ritual hand washing is still in effect in Orthodox Judaism. The rationale has less to do with hygiene and is based mainly on the idea that “a man’s home is his temple,” with the dining table, his altar, his food, the sacrifice, and himself the priest. Since the Torah requires priests to be ceremonially pure before offering sacrifices on the Temple altar, the “Oral Tradition” requires the same for every man before eating a meal.

So, which traditions are permissible, and which ones lead to sin? My answer is simple: Read the Bible. By spending quality time in God’s Word every day, we learn His heart. We learn to love the things He loves and hate the things He hates. In short, we become discerning as to which attitudes & behaviors honor God.

The more we disregard His Word, the more susceptible we are to follow a “teaching of men” instead of the Way of the Lord.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Mark 8. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its saltiness, how can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves and be at peace with one another.” Mark 9:49-50 (HCSB)

I heard a comedian once say, “I bought some powdered water…I don’t know what to add.” Perhaps similar logic could be used to explain the uselessness of salt-less salt!

Theologians have tried to explain this passage from several different angles. First, in the days of Jesus, salt was a valuable commodity. Soldiers were partially paid in salt. The word “soldier” comes from the Latin term “sal dare,” meaning to give salt. Our word “salary” comes from the similar Latin word “salarium,” meaning to get salt. In today’s passage, the image of “Fire” is obviously speaking of a trial or difficult season.

Using this approach, Jesus could have been saying that our worth will be determined (or at least evaluated) by how well we endure suffering. That is, the trials we face should bring us to an understanding of the value of our faith.

Furthermore, if the trial exposes that we are unfaithful, what good is our religion (outward expression) if founded on such weak faith? In such a case, corrupted religion must be scrapped & hauled away, with true religion brought in to establish the proper faithful foundation.

Continuing with that line of thought, Jesus would be directing His disciples to have peace with one another by seeing each individual’s value to the kingdom, as a soldier “worth his salt” has value to the Roman Empire.

Another approach to “saltiness” is that Temple sacrifices had to be seasoned with salt as a sign of the permanence of God’s covenant.

“You are to season each of your grain offerings with salt; you must not omit from your grain offering the salt of the covenant with your God.” Leviticus 2:13a (HCSB)

“Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1 (HCSB)

In this case, Jesus is saying that the trials we endure act as a preservative reminder of God’s covenant with us through Messiah. Trials make us cry out to Him. When He responds faithfully, our faith is strengthened. If our flesh compels us to rebel against Him (because of trials), it would be better to abandon our flesh in favor of our faith. Additionally, the strength of a healthy church is that it holds us accountable and encourages our relationship with the Lord.

Here’s the obvious: The Christian life is not absent of conflict. Rather, it is the presence of peace in the midst of conflict that should distinguish us as belonging to Jesus.

“As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘Why do you call Me good?’ Jesus asked him. ‘No one is good but One – God.’” Mark 10:17-18 (HCSB)

At the end of Mark chapter 8, we read Peter’s confession that Jesus is Messiah. The backdrop for that conversation was a place called Caesarea Philippi. Caesarea Philippi was a place of pagan worship, where idols were carved into the cliff face, ala Mt. Rushmore. Three rivers merge there and form a waterfall that feeds the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River, eventually ending in the Dead Sea. Caesarea Philippi was considered so evil among the Jews that it was known as “the gates of Hell.”

When Jesus asked His disciples who people said He was, behind Him would have been various idols.

“So they answered, ‘John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.’” Mark 8:20 (NKJV)

In Mark 10, a man known in Scripture as “the rich young ruler” calls Jesus “Good Teacher.” It is an honest evaluation from a young man who is impressed with Jesus’ teaching but stops short of confessing Him as Messiah. It reminds us of Jesus’ conversation with “the teacher of Israel,” Nicodemus, in John 3. Nicodemus begins that conversation, “We know that You are a teacher….”

In the Hebrew translations, this “rich young ruler” in Mark 10 called Jesus a good “rabbi.” This title is a step up from those who only considered Jesus to be on the level of a scribe (advanced student). The young man actually considered Jesus to be a rabbi…one who had authority.

When the young man added “good” to the rabbinic title, this intrigued Jesus and demanded clarification. Jesus was essentially saying, “If you are confessing that I am the ‘God Rabbi,’ you’ve got it!” This man was close to the truth, yet so far away.

Today, there are still many opinions as to who Jesus is/was. Sadly, not much has changed in 2000 years. Some say He had a demon; some say He was a liar; others a “good teacher” or perhaps a prophet.

The real question is: Who do YOU say Jesus is? Messiah? Then right you are! The GOOD NEWS of the Gospel is that He has fulfilled all the works of the Torah (Law) so that we may inherit eternal life by His Grace when we place our faith in Him. But apart from receiving salvation (which is paid for entirely with the blood of the Messiah), following Jesus isn’t easy. For many people, following Jesus requires more than they are willing to give up. Be strong and take courage so that you may faithfully follow Him wherever and however He leads…trusting in His goodness because of His “God-ness.”

“The next day when they came out from Bethany, He was hungry. After seeing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, He went to find out if there was any fruit on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. He said to it, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again!’ And His disciples heard it.” Mark 11:12-14 (HCSB)

“Early in the morning, as they were passing by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. Then Peter remembered and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed is withered.’” Mark 11:20-21 (HCSB)

One of the most enigmatic passages in the New Testament is this episode where Jesus curses a fig tree. What makes the story so bizarre, for some people, is that the fig tree wasn’t even in season for bearing figs. For many years, I felt sorry for the fig tree, as if one could have remorse for a tree!

My opinion of today’s passage changed when I read Micah’s prophecy of this account. In my Bible, this passage is titled: Israel’s Moral Decline.

“How sad for me! For I am like one who – when the summer fruit has been gathered after the gleaning of the grape harvest – finds no grape cluster to eat, NO EARLY FIG (emphasis mine), which I crave. Godly people have vanished from the land; there is no one upright among the people. All of them wait in ambush to shed blood; they hunt each other with a net. Both hands are good at accomplishing evil: the official and the judge demand a bribe; when the powerful man communicates his desire, they plot it together. The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is worse than a hedge of thorns. The day of your watchmen, the day of your punishment is coming; at this time, their panic is here. Do not rely on a friend, don’t trust in a close companion. Seal your mouth from the woman who lies in your arms. Surely a son considers his father a fool, a daughter opposes her mother, and a daughter-in-law is against her mother-in-law; a person’s enemies are the people in his own home. But, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.” Micah 7:1-7 (HCSB)

When Jesus cursed the fig tree, He was, in effect, cursing what Jerusalem had become. As the fig tree withered, so Judaism in Jerusalem would soon wither and cease to produce fruit. Within a short time, the Romans destroyed the temple in 70AD. To this day, Temple worship is dried up! Notice how Micah’s prophecy chronicles the “behind the scenes” activity of Messiah’s last days, beginning with the cursing of the fig tree and leading up to His being ambushed, beaten, betrayed by close friends, and crucified…and ultimately, His resurrection.

“Sitting across from the temple treasury, He watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. And a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. Summoning His disciples, He said to them, ‘I assure you: This poor widow has put in more than those giving to the temple treasury. For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she possessed – all she had to live on.’” Mark 12:41-44 (HCSB)

Throughout Mark 12 and the beginning of chapter 13 are a series of teachings, forming a continuous thought concerning money and the heart.

Perhaps, the most endearing teaching is the account of Jesus’ recognition & honoring of a poor widow as she presented her offering in the temple. It is worth noting that Jesus was WATCHING the crowd as they gave their money. He wasn’t just in the proximity of the offering box; He was watching intently. So much so that Jesus noticed even the smallest of offerings.

Messiah’s notice of the widow’s offering adds to the urgency of His warning against the Scribes. “They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show.” Mark 12:40a (HCSB)

Jesus’ observation of the widow is closely tied to His quoting of the “Shema” (Hebrew for “Listen/Hear”) earlier in Mark 12. “Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is ONE. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Mark 12:29-30 (HCSB)

This widow was living out the Shema while the Scribes only rendered lip service. For his glory, she believed in God with all that she had and was. The Scribes were exploiting all she had to bring glory to themselves.

Sadly, the religious leaders, those whose job it was to exemplify the Shema, had chosen to ignore Jesus’ exhortation. “Then Jesus told them, ‘Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.’” Mark 12:17 (HCSB)

In coveting the things of Caesar, they robbed God of His most cherished offering: themselves.

Given what the “shepherds of Israel” had become, is it any wonder Messiah will predict the temple’s destruction at the beginning of Mark 13?

Let us always remember that Jesus intently watches our “offerings,” whether they be offerings of money, time, or talent. As God is One, let us each worship Him “singularly,” that is, wholly & completely.

“Then, if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah! Look – there!’ do not believe it! For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and will perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect. And you must watch. I have told you everything in advance.” Mark 13:21-23 (HCSB)

On my first visit to Israel, I noticed the abundance of posters bearing the image of Rabbi Menachem Schneerson. Also known as “The Rebbe,” Schneerson is believed to be the Messiah by many Lubavitch Orthodox Jews.

At Jerusalem’s Western Wall, a fellow handed me a business card bearing Schneerson’s smiling photograph, sporting the caption, “Moshiach.” Although the “Rebbe” died in 1994, many of his followers await his resurrection, or at least his next transmission of truth. I carry that card in my wallet as a reminder of today’s passage.

The hope of the coming Messiah is one of the driving forces behind much of the Jewish community. It drives why and how they worship. Their expectations of who the Messiah will be, what He should look like, and what He will do are not unlike those of the average religious Jew of Jesus’ time. It is a sad reality that Messiah has already come & gone, yet He is not recognized by most of the Jewish community at large.

“He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” John 1:11 (KJV)

There have been more than 50 significant messianic pretenders in Judaism over the past 2000 years. Some of them have been very convincing. One eventually became a Moslem, and another converted to Roman Catholicism, but none have met the Messianic criteria laid out in the Tanakh (aka: Old Testament). Jesus, alone, met ALL of the requirements, which were applicable to His first coming, and He will fulfill all those pertaining to His 2nd coming, as well!

When the Temple was destroyed in 70AD, so were the Temple records. Today it would be impossible to provide a genealogy like Matthew’s, proving the Messianic line from David up to today. Messiah had to come before 70AD.

Just as ancient prophecies of Messiah’s arrival were met exactly by Jesus, so has His prophecy of pretenders come true...and the pretenders are still coming! The heart of man would rather believe in a lie than accept the truth of God’s Word. But that is what makes the gospel of Jesus of utmost importance and our call to be His witnesses so urgent! Messiah’s 2nd coming will not be to suffer and save but rather to redeem the remnant of believers (both Jewish & Gentile believers) and judge the sin of the World’s unbelief (both Jewish & Gentile unbelievers).

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6b (NKJV)

“While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the high priest’s servants came. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, ‘You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus!’ But he denied it: ‘I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about!’ Then he went out to the entryway, and a rooster crowed.” Mark 14:66-68 (HCSB)

In Hebrew, the word for rooster is “gever,” which is similar to “gevura,” meaning constriction or restraint. In Jewish tradition, the rooster is also a symbol of new beginnings. Early in the morning, it is the rooster’s call that serves as the alarm clock, arousing man from his peaceful sleep, bidding him to begin his day’s work.

When Peter denies Jesus, the first crow of the rooster can be taken to symbolize his turning away from the Lord but not necessarily his disbelief. It is a stark contrast to Peter’s earlier statements of faith! Peter’s betrayal was in response to Satan’s vicious attack against his flesh.

“And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” Luke 22:31-32 (NKJV)

Jesus knew that Peter would turn away, but He also knew the effectiveness of His prayers to the Father! Jesus was sure Peter would learn his lesson, and having done so, Peter would become the most effective Kingdom-builder among the original disciples.

Those who are reckless with their faith generally sin impetuously. Peter allowed himself to be constricted/restrained by the enemy’s pressure to the point where he acted against his personal beliefs. Self-preservation overrode faithful conviction. As a boa snake restrains its prey by constricting it, Satan squeezes Peter for the kill.

“Then he started to curse himself and swear with an oath, ‘I don’t know the man you’re talking about!’ Immediately a rooster crowed a second time, and Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, ‘Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.’ When he thought about it, he began to weep.” Mark 14:71-72 (HCSB)

The second crowing of the rooster denotes a New Beginning for Peter. It is where he became profoundly aware of the gravity of his sin. With the rooster’s second crow, Peter’s heart changes from a mode of self-preservation to deep remorse over his self-absorption. Sadly, with morning came the end of the Sanhedrin’s search for testimonial evidence. Peter had lost his opportunity to defend Jesus at His trial.

Let’s consider today’s passage as an exhortation: Never be afraid to share your faith, regardless of social, economic, or personal consequences. Every day is a new beginning and presents us with myriads of opportunities to debunk the World’s testimony against the Messiah! Also, remember we serve a Messiah who knows our shortcomings. He sees sin before it happens, intercedes for us, and is faithful and just to forgive us and use us again.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Mark 15. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Later, He appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw Him after He had been resurrected. Then He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is immersed will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.’” Mark 16:14-16 (HCSB)

A pastor friend of mine recounted this experience at the national convention of his church’s denomination. The convention was held in Las Vegas, and at the beginning of the week, the city’s mayor came to welcome the pastors. The president of the convention asked the mayor if the city had a need the pastors could lift up in prayer.

The pastor answered, “Well, as you know, Las Vegas is in the desert. We sure could use some rain.”

The pastors prayed for rain and thanked the mayor as he waved & left.

The next morning, when the keynote speaker was introduced, he laid an umbrella on the pulpit. All the pastors chuckled because there was not a cloud in the sky.

“Pastors,” he began, “You should be ashamed! Yesterday we prayed for rain, and not a single one of you brought an umbrella today.”

Similarly, the disciples had heard Jesus predict His suffering and rising from the grave; but none believed the reports of His resurrection.

When Jesus appeared to the remaining eleven disciples (Judas had hung himself), the first thing He did was rebuke their unbelief. Ask yourself, if Jesus was to visit you today, how well do you think He would rate your faith? It’s a little scary to think about, huh?

What I love about today’s passage is how Gracious Jesus was. He didn’t continue rebuking and shaming them once they had gotten His point. Instead, He encouraged them to face the same type of challenge they had each failed.

Take Peter, for instance. After denying Jesus three times, Peter repented and preached the Gospel boldly, even unto death. And Peter wasn’t alone in his martyrdom.

Are you heeding Jesus’ “Great Commission”? I hope so! But if you have fallen short of His challenge, take courage!! Let’s stand back up, repent, dust ourselves off, and get back to sharing the truth He reveals as we commit ourselves to read & live out His Word!

“Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us.  It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, so that you know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.”  Luke 1:1-4 (HCSB)

The person, Theophilos, addressed in verse 3 as “most honorable” (or in other translations, “Your Excellence” or “most excellent”) was, by most accounts, an upper-classed Greek man.  Luke also penned the book of Acts to the same, Theophilos.  Luke’s purpose for recording these accounts is revealed in verse 4, “so that you will know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.”

There is another opinion as to Theophilos’ identity: The generic disciple.  Some theologians hold that Luke was not writing specifically to anyone but rather to ALL believers.  The reason they give is in the Greek meaning of “Theophilos.”  “Theo” means “God.”  “Philo” means “Love.”

When you combine the two words, “Theophilos” means “Lover of God.”

Whether written to a specific person or all believers, Luke’s letter comes from a sincere desire to communicate the Gospel accurately and clearly.  

In Luke’s passion, we are challenged.  Is there a person you are convinced needs to know God but will never darken the doorway of a congregational service?  God wants YOU to share the Gospel with them from your first-hand perspective.  

You are an eyewitness to what Jesus has done in your life.  You are the expert on His involvement in your personal transformation.   No matter what the World says about God, Jesus, or the Bible, they cannot refute your personal experience.  That is why the personal testimony is the most powerful weapon in a new believer’s spiritual arsenal.  It refutes all arguments.

“But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.” Acts 4:14 (ESV)

Eventually, followers of Jesus should gain knowledge of the Scriptures as they pursue them daily.  But initially, the “testimony” is more than enough witness and has been proven to be a powerful tool of evangelism…even moments after one’s salvation.

How much time have you spent carefully working out how orderly you can articulate the Gospel to a friend?  You don’t have to be a scholar or even greatly intelligent.  You simply have to care, be passionate about seeing souls saved and share your testimony!

“In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock.  Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people: Today a savior who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.” Luke 2:8-11 (HCSB)

On the night Jesus was born, the Lord chose shepherds to be His first visitors.  And what a celebration it was, complete with an angel chorus!  The shepherds found Jesus in the city of David.  If you think about it, the city of “David” was the perfect place for a first viewing of the One who would “shepherd” Israel; perhaps, the safest place for the Lamb of God to be delivered.

Have you ever wondered why the angels first appeared to the lowly shepherds?  If Messiah would atone for sin, shouldn’t the religious leaders have been alerted first?  If the government was to be placed upon His shoulders, shouldn’t the politicians have been invited?

It is safe to say there were two kinds of shepherds in Israel at that time: Good and Bad.

Those who held the “Office of Shepherd” had become compromised by either worldliness or legalism.  That is, the religious leaders were so Heavenly minded that they were no earthly good.  At the same time, the politicians were so Worldly-minded that they were no Heavenly good.  Either way, the sheep (people) were being led astray.

The only honest shepherds left in Israel were the actual ones.  They were in the field, faithfully minding the flocks just as David was when his father called for him and Samuel anointed him king.

“‘Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!’ This is the Lord’s declaration.  ‘Therefore, this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who shepherd my people: You have scattered My flock, banished them, and have not attended to them.  I will attend to you because of your evil acts’ – this is the Lord’s declaration.  ‘I will gather the remnant of My flock from the lands where I have banished them, and I will return them to their grazing land.  They will become fruitful and numerous.  I will raise up shepherds over them.  They will no longer be afraid or dismayed, nor will any be missing.’ This is the Lord’s declaration.  ‘The days are coming’ – this is the Lord’s declaration –‘when I will raise up a righteous Branch of David.’” Jeremiah 23:1-5 (HCSB)

No one is worthy of holding the “Office of Shepherd” unless they are willing to do a shepherd’s work: to honestly protect the sheep owner’s assets and personally care for the well-being of each individual sheep.

“[John] went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, preaching an immersion of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:  ‘A voice of one crying out.  In the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight!  Every valley will be filled and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth, and everyone will see the salvation of God.’ Then he said to the crowds who came out to be immersed by him, ‘Brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?’”  Luke 3:3-7 (HCSB)

The content of today’s passage could be the source of many books.  I would like to focus on just a few observations and parallel scriptures from the Psalms and the Prophets.

First off, John was not preaching “salvation by Baptism.”  He was simply stating the obvious: If you humbly turn from your sin, the Lord will forgive you.  John chose immersion as a way for people to demonstrate the internal externally and publically.  In Jewish culture, immersion has two purposes: 1) when Gentiles convert to Judaism and 2) to make oneself ritually clean for worship.  John’s immersion was an entirely new concept, although, in a sense, an amalgamation of the two.

While John is fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy directly, the concept of repentance coming before Messiah is also mentioned in the Psalms.

“Righteousness will go before Him to prepare the way for His steps.” Psalm 85:13 (HCSB)

It makes the Shepherd’s job so much easier when the sheep are willing to follow!  I recommend you read Psalm 85 in its entirety.  Its Messianic message is so profound.

The whole idea of the “Brood of vipers!” has always intrigued me.  When I read through Jeremiah, I recalled a section of Chapter 8 titled “God’s People Unrepentant.”   It immediately made me think of John the “Baptist’s” message of repentance.  At the end of the passage was this statement:

“Indeed, I am about to send snakes among you, poisonous vipers that cannot be charmed.  They will bite you.  This is the Lord’s declaration.”  Jeremiah 8:17 (HCSB)

In the short term, Jeremiah was speaking of a conquering enemy.  But in the greater prophetic reach, the combination of repentance and vipers is uncanny.

What strikes me (no pun intended) is how well-documented are the Lord’s fulfillment of His prophecies, but so few people heed His prophecies yet to be fulfilled.

“He also said, ‘I assure you: No prophet is accepted in his hometown.  But I say to you, there were certainly many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months while a great famine came over all the land.  Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them – but to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon.  And in the prophet Elijah’s time, there were many in Israel who had serious skin diseases, yet not one of them was healed – only Naaman the Syrian.’  When they heard this, everyone in the synagogue was enraged.”  Luke 4:24-28 (HCSB)

Many Christians believe it was Jesus’ Messianic claim that enraged the members of His hometown synagogue.  Although the people of Nazareth did reject Jesus as Messiah, their rage mainly was in response to Jesus’ reminder that, in days past, God blessed faithful Gentiles over unfaithful Israelites.

Jesus cites two familiar instances from Israel’s prophetic heroes.  The first was the story of the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17.  In response to Israel’s king Ahab and his queen Jezebel’s idolatry, Elijah pronounced a 3 & 1/2 year drought.  Since the drought brought famine to the entire nation of Israel and surrounding regions, it signified that the vast majority of Israel’s citizens had followed Ahab & Jezebel into idolatry.

With famine comes death, and with death, widows & orphans.  Instead of hearing Israel’s pleas for mercy, God sent Elijah to a Gentile widow and her son.  The Lord provided miraculously for them because their faith surpassed that of Israel.  Meanwhile, Israel suffered in unbelief.

The story of “Naaman the Syrian” is found in 2 Kings, chapter 5.  Naaman was the Syrian army commander.  At the time, Syria was Israel’s most-dreaded enemy.  Naaman was a powerful man of war, but he had leprosy.  To an Israelite, the only thing worse than a Syrian would have been a Syrian with leprosy!  

Naaman’s Jewish slave girl told him that the Lord could heal him.  This led Naaman to Elisha’s front door.  Because of the Gentile’s faith, he was healed.  Meanwhile, Israel’s king had responded in fear, doubting that God would heal Naaman, symbolic of Israel’s unbelief.  While the Gentile was cured, no Israelite was healed.  

With His statement in His hometown synagogue, Jesus revealed the Jewish prejudice against the Gentiles.  By invoking these images from Israel’s history, He essentially said that Israel’s present Roman oppression was due to Israel’s sin.  Jesus was also exhorting that until the people repented from their sin, God would continue to overlook their unrepentant stance in favor of Gentiles who, by faith, would believe.  

Even today, by His grace, God has chosen to save Gentiles who put their faith in Messiah, Jesus, to provoke Israel to jealousy so that they would, by faith, believe in Him and receive salvation.  Romans 10:19.

“As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s Word, He was standing by Lake Gennesaret.  He saw two of the boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.  He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land.  Then He sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat.” Luke 5:1-4 (HCSB)*

Many believe that when Jesus called His disciples, He simply said, “Follow me,” and they left everything.  It’s like they were zombies or something.  In Luke 5, we are given insight into five types of “tests” Messiah gave His followers before calling them.

The first test is the “Bias For Action Test.” Jesus had a need, and Simon Peter was naturally inclined to solve problems.  Peter had a bias for action.

“When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’  ‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing!  But at Your word, I’ll let down the nets.’” Luke 5:4-5

The second test is the “Because You Say So, I Will Test.” Even though Peter was the so-called expert, he submitted to the Lord’s direction.

“When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear.  So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.  When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, because I am a sinful man, Lord!’” Luke 5:6-8

The third test was the “Who Deserves the Credit Test.” While Peter was a master fisherman, he knew only the Lord could have provided such a haul!

“‘Don’t be afraid,’ Jesus told Simon, ‘From now on, you’ll be catching people!’” Luke 5:10b

The fourth test was the “Grander Vision Test.” Jesus was replacing their Worldly goals with Kingdom ones.

“Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed Him.” Luke 5:11

The fifth test was the “Will you Leave It Test.” Based on all they had experienced with Jesus, they believed in the grander vision and left everything to follow Him.

So, how do you rate regarding Jesus’ job interview?

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*All verses are HCSB

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Luke 6. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“The dead man sat up and began to speak and Jesus gave him to his mother.  Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has risen among us,’ and ‘God has visited His people.’  This report about Him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.  Then John’s (the “Baptist”) disciples told him about all these things.  So John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord, asking, ‘Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for someone else?”  Luke 7:15-19

Jesus was immersed in the Jordan River by John (the “Baptist”).  The apostle John’s gospel informs us that the next day, John (the “Baptist”) told two of his disciples, “Look!  The Lamb of God!” John 1:32-42 One of those disciples was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

After Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days, He heard John (the “Baptist”) had been arrested.  At this time, Jesus went to the Galilee region and began His public ministry.  Mark 1:14, Matthew 4:12  

In prison, John (the “Baptist”) began second-guessing his message…the primary reason for his chains.  Faith is easy, in theory.  In reality, faith requires whole-self devotion.  No doubt, John (the “Baptist”) was coming to grips with the reality that he would die in prison because of his faith.  News that Jesus had raised someone from the dead must have given John hope.

The concept that a prophet could raise people from the dead was very familiar.  Both Elijah and Elisha had done this.  The people, whom a prophet raises to life, will eventually die of some other circumstance.  When Messiah raises the dead, it has eternal implications.  In essence, John (the “Baptist”) wanted to know: “If my life is required of me, will Jesus raise me up?”  More importantly, “Will He raise me up into eternity?”  

John (the “Baptist”) was created to herald Messiah.  But now, it seems he questioned whether he truly believed his own testimony concerning Jesus.  Perhaps he doubted the Holy Spirit’s testimony in exchange for human reasoning.  That was sin of the worst kind.  Nobody knows if John ever repented and fully believed in Jesus.  Jesus’ opinion on John’s faith, at that moment, was clear: “The least in the kingdom is greater than he.”  Luke 7:28.

This scenario is important to us in light of Jesus’ “Beatitudes” message.  If we seek to follow Jesus to the extent that He calls us, we must take on a prophet’s mission.  If a prophet’s mission we are called to, then a prophet’s wages we will most likely receive: Poverty, Hunger, Weeping, Insults & Slanders because of the Son of Man.  John 6:20-23

But if you lay down your life in order to follow Jesus, even unto death at the hands of men, will you not receive much more than you gave up on earth, in Heaven?  John 6:38

Is serving God becoming uncomfortable?  Rejoice!  Sow a mortal life on earth; reap eternal life in Heaven.

“No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see the light.  For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and come into light.  Therefore take care how you listen.  For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away.”  Luke 8:16-18 (HCSB)

When I was five years old, my brother and I decided to play with fire, passing our hands quickly through a candle flame.  I don’t remember how many candles we went through that day, but eventually, we got bored and started challenging one another to go slower with each pass.  As the saying goes: Play with fire, and you’ll get burned.

Today’s passage reminded me of the impracticality of putting a candle in a basket or under a bed.  Not only will these practices keep light from shining (which is the purpose of lighting a lamp), but they will also burn down your house!

Jesus told His disciples that one of the signs of a believer is their desire to share the gospel with others.  

Desire and boldness are two different ideas.  We can have the desire to share our faith, but we may not act upon that desire if we are seized with fear.  Jesus is saying, “Go for it!  Be bold!”  

Believers should resist the flesh’s natural bent towards self-preservation with respect to evangelism.  Furthermore, Jesus conveys that it is IMPOSSIBLE for real followers to hide their relationship with Him long-term.  Just as a lit candle in a basket (or under a bed) will eventually ignite its container and spread its fire, a true believer’s relationship with Jesus cannot be hidden for long.

If you are successful in hiding your “lamp,” perhaps you should check and see if there is any flame on the wick!

I have attended several “memorial” events where everyone was given a candle.  Somewhere in the service, one candle is lit.  Then, its flame is shared with the next person, and so on, until everyone’s candle is illuminated.  This concept is the idea Jesus is communicating when He talks about how those “who have” are given more.

Suppose someone tries to recreate the candle lighting ceremony at another congregation across the street, but they never light their “starter” candle.  Instead of a room full of lit candles, there is only darkness.  Eventually, everyone would go across the street, where true illumination would replace the image of it.  “Even what he thinks he has will be taken away.”

Share your light if you’ve got it.   If you don’t have it, please allow me to share my light with you: Jesus is the ONLY Way, and if you turn to Him, you WILL be saved!

“When the days were coming to a close for Him to be taken up, He determined to journey to Jerusalem.  He sent messengers ahead of Him, and on the way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for Him.  But they did not welcome Him, because He determined to journey to Jerusalem.  When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, ‘Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?  But He turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village.” Luke 9:51-56 (HCSB)

A Samaritan, in Jesus’ day, was a person of mixed (Jewish/Gentile) descent.  In ancient history, Israel was divided nationally and spiritually.  Ten tribes formed what was known as “Israel” (aka The Northern Kingdom), while the remaining two tribes, Judah & Benjamin, formed what was known as “Judea” or the “Southern Kingdom.” Judea worshipped in Jerusalem, and Israel worshipped in Samaria.

In Samaria, Israel’s great evil was idolatry.  Their rejection of worship in Jerusalem and their acceptance of pagan deities grew to where they were intermarrying with Gentiles.  The presence of these “half-breeds” in Israel (in Jesus’ day) was a reminder of its historic national sin.  It was also the focus of prejudice for the average-to-religious Jew.  Note James & John’s attitude.  They wanted the judgment of Sodom & Gomorrah to fall on the Samaritans.  

So, why wouldn’t Samaria want Jesus to go to Jerusalem?  The answer may be found in John 4 in the story of  “The Woman at the Well.”.  Before the events of today’s passage, Jesus had engaged in a conversation with a Samaritan woman of ill reputation.  The setting was “Jacob’s Well,” located in Samaria.  The symbolism is that Jacob was the father of Israel’s 12 tribal patriarchs.  Jesus is speaking with a woman who symbolizes the spiritual character of a “kind-of” Jewish person and those who are dark reminders of Israel’s not-so-faithful history.  

By the way, modern Judaism considers Jewish believers in Jesus in the same light as their forefathers did the Samaritans of Jesus’ day: Partly Jewish + partly Gentile = Apostate.

Jesus’ offering of “living water” (different from Jacob’s well water) to this Samaritan woman was culturally and spiritually revolutionary.  Remembering that He came to “the Jew first,” we must deduct that Jesus was officially recognizing the Samaritans’ “Jewishness” while still holding to the Biblical standard for true belief and salvation.

In response, the woman ran and told the Samaritan men, who came to hear Jesus.  They, too, believed and told the woman, “… ‘we no longer believe because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world.’” John 4:42 (HCSB)

So, why did the Samaritans in Luke 9 not welcome Jesus on His way to Jerusalem?  I believe it’s because they loved Him and knew what the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem would do to Him.  Yet, they were wrong because they were actually hindering His mission while trying to protect Jesus.  

Let’s not commit the same offense!  We don’t need to protect Jesus or His “image.” We must simply believe in Him, pray, and seek His Word.  And we must trust His Word when we share the gospel, not adding to or withholding from it.  We must share the whole gospel, letting Jesus complete the work He intends to accomplish in the lives of those with whom we share the gospel.

“When you enter any town, and they welcome you, eat the things set before you.  Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God has come near you.’  When you enter any town, and they don’t welcome you, go out into the streets and say, ‘We are wiping off as a witness against you even the dust of your town that clings to our feet.  Know this for certain: The Kingdom of God has come near.’  I tell you, on that day, it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.”  Luke 10:8-12 (HCSB)

Today’s passage is a message tailor-fit for today.  

First, it never ceases to amaze me how unaccommodating some “believers” are regarding personal evangelism.  When Jesus sent out “the 70”, He directed them not only to heal and preach but also to be socially gracious.  In an age when the rules of kosher dominated the behavior of the average Jew, Jesus instructed His “missionaries” to eat whatever was set before them.

The point?  It is possible to be so Heavenly-minded that you are no earthly good!  Jesus is not commanding His followers to break God’s law.  He is righting a particular traditional rabbinical interpretation of God’s law.  Winning souls is of utmost importance to God, and people are more important than man-made rules.  True, most of the rabbinic rules were developed to keep others from breaking God’s Law.  But whenever men make rules, those rules are either more CONSERVATIVE than God demands or more LIBERAL that He allows.  Jesus corrected the traditional misunderstanding of God’s Word.

Second, it also amazes me how timid some churches are.  It is as if they are afraid to simply share the Gospel for fear of offending people.  Here is a rule: If no one ever rejects your Gospel, you’re probably not sharing it as God intended it to be articulated.  If you’re not sharing it, you might want to check whether you ever received it!

In short: We can be so Worldly-minded that we are no Heavenly good.  Do not allow people’s opinions to override God’s command.  It is God whom we should be in fear of offending, not men.

Jesus was telling the “70” that the message of the truth is to be proclaimed, whether it is welcomed or not.  Why should people who are presently uninterested or unreceptive to the Gospel be evangelized?  Because the message itself is powerful!  Since it comes from God and is empowered by His Spirit, it may lead unbelievers to change their minds.  Note that Jesus’ disciples were not merely commanded to cease communing with those who rejected the Gospel, but they also condemned that rejection in a dramatic way.

Part of our effective witness includes our going the “extra distance” to clarify the Gospel with all to whom He sends us.  We are commanded to make sure that people fully understand what they will (hopefully) accept or (sadly) reject.  Take courage and share!

“He was praying in a certain place and when He was finished, one of his disciples said to Him ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘Whenever you pray, say:  Father, Your name be honored as holy.  Your Kingdom come.  Give us each day our daily bread.  And forgive us our sin, for we ourselves also forgive everyone in debt to us.  And do not lead us into temptation.’” Luke 11:1-4 (HCSB - See also Matthew 6:9-13)

It is a natural human compulsion to pray because God created us to communicate with Him.

Prayer is an interesting phenomenon in our culture.  Preachers, rock stars, athletes, politicians, professionals, and blue-collar workers…everyone prays, sometimes.  I have been on airline trips with people who claimed to be atheists, yet when we hit severe turbulence, they always cry out, “Oh God!”

An essential component of evangelism is life’s “turbulence,” shaking the unbeliever’s perceived security.  Difficulty makes people cry out for answers and meaning in life.  The evangelist should always be prepared to give reason and hope in the midst of life’s turbulence.

MC Hammer once sang, “We’ve got to pray just to make it today.” I agree with that sentiment, but it is not enough to shout vain prayers into the air.  If you want your prayers to be heard and be effective, there is 1) a proper way to pray, 2) a specific God to pray to, and 3) a Spirit-leading, which is essential in determining when and for what to pray.

Often, people feel unable to pray, and they assume the ability to pray is natural to some folks yet lacking in others.  The disciples were on the right track when they believed 1) Jesus could teach them to pray and 2) He would be willing to do so.

Throughout Scripture, Jesus taught us to pray in five parts:

1) Who to pray to

2) What to pray for

3) The importance of persistence

4) The certainty that He will answer rightly because of God’s love & goodness

5) The Holy Spirit (given to ALL believers) is the source of power & wisdom for all proper prayer

While all prayer may be sincere, to some extent, much of the prayer in this World is misdirected and improperly motivated.  Hence, it is possible to be sincere yet sincerely wrong.  Let’s continue seeking God’s Word so that we may love the things He loves and hate the things He hates.  Ask that His Spirit will guide you to pray according to God’s will, as He requires of us.

“When He left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose Him fiercely and to cross-examine Him about many things; they were lying in wait for Him to trap Him in something He said.  In these circumstances, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling on one another.  He began to say to His disciples first: ‘Be on guard against the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.  There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered, nothing hidden that won’t be made known.  Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and whatever you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.’”  Luke 11:53-54, 12:1-3 (HCSB)

Many of you know I have four children.  It is hard to keep kids in line these days.  Growing up, I thought my parents had eyes in the back of our heads, cameras everywhere, and spies all over town.  I was always in trouble!  Eventually, I gave up my sneaky ways.  I don’t know how they did it, but I began to believe the myth that my parents had ESP!

God doesn’t need ESP…He has Omniscience, Omnipresence, Omnipotence, and an unchanging character.  If you are willfully sinning against the Lord, don’t take His silence as a signal that He doesn’t know, care or have the power to rebuke you.

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”  2 Peter 3:9 (NASB)

Things were starting to heat up in the days prior to Jesus’ crucifixion.  In the Galilean countryside, it was more difficult for Jesus’ disciples to be taken aside and personally tempted by the politically savvy Pharisees.  In the close quarters of jam-packed Jerusalem, during the days leading up to Passover, Jesus knew his crew was about to be bombarded.

While all 12 disciples were undoubtedly tempted, we know at least two of Jesus’ close followers caved into the pressure: Peter and Judas Iscariot.  Jesus’ predictions were spot-on.  At least, these are the two offenders whom the Lord immortalized in Scripture.

In the moments before sunrise, Peter denied he knew Jesus three times.  Then, the rooster crowed a second time, signaling the dawn of a new day.  What was hidden was uncovered, and what was said in darkness was heard in the light.

In Luke 22, we learn how Judas was taken aside by the chief priests and paid a sum of money to betray Jesus.  What was whispered in private rooms was declared on the housetops.

There is no secret sin.  The Lord knows everything, and we will have to stand before Him, giving account for our lives.  If you are consciously sinning against the Lord, repent!  Seek forgiveness, denying Satan the pleasure of compounding temptation with overwhelming (possibly life-threatening) guilt.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Luke 13. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Now great crowds were traveling with Him.  So He turned and said to them: ‘If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, and even his own life – he cannot be My disciple.  Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.’”  Luke 14:25-26 (HCSB)

I have been in the music business for almost two decades.  In that time, I have traveled worldwide and performed over 1000 concerts in all 50 of the United States.  From this unique vantage point, I have observed many different types of “Christian” congregations and their perceived requirements for salvation.  Some feel that a person must simply believe, while others require believers to be baptized.  Still, others demand a follower speak in strange tongues.  And the list goes on.

I have never seen a congregation that required its members to take up a literal cross as a sign of authentic faith.  But this is precisely what Jesus is saying is a non-negotiable, pertaining to true salvation.  He says, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”  If most “mega-churches” emphasized this teaching, they would be destined to become “micro churches” overnight!

So, what was Jesus getting at?

He wasn’t telling people to become suicidal, sadistic, unloving, ungrateful, or ungracious.  He was teaching those following Him around the cost of discipleship.  Nothing, not even love for a father, mother, or even one’s own life, is to take precedence over loyalty to God.  We must reprioritize all that we have, acknowledging that if God is to be foremost in our lives, then possessions and even social relationships must be secondary to Him.

Jesus’ challenge would not be foreign to the average religious Jew.  Remember what happened on the day the law was given by Moses.  In response to Israel’s worship of the golden calf, Moses saw that the people were out of control.

“And Moses stood at the camp’s entrance and said, ‘Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.’  And all the Levites gathered around him.  He told them, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘Every Man fasten his sword to his side; go back and forth through the camp from entrance to entrance, and each of you kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’”  Exodus 32:26-27 (HCSB)

The Levites obeyed the command, and 3000 men fell dead that day.  Because of their selfless faith, the Lord chose the Levites to be His priests throughout the generations.  He chose them because they chose Him.  Jesus is not commanding His followers to kill people!!  Rather, He emphasizes how important it is that they follow Him above all other relationships.  Are you willing to choose to follow Him completely?  Because that is the type of person, He is looking for to labor in His Kingdom.

“All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to Him.  And the Pharisees and Scribes were complaining, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!’” Luke 15:1-2 (HCSB)

The idea that sinners can be restored to the Lord as if their sin had never happened is not an entirely New Testament concept.  In 1178, a rabbi named Maimonides published a compilation of Judaism’s ancient requirements.  He wrote:

“Let not the Jew who repents and returns to Judaism suppose that because of the iniquities and sins he has committed, he is kept at a distance from the level attained by righteous men.  It isn’t so.  He is loved as tenderly by the Creator as if he never sinned.”

To clarify: I am NOT suggesting that people can be saved by returning to rabbinic Judaism and following its requirements.  The Bible is clear that we are saved by God’s grace when we repent from our sin and place our faith in Messiah, Jesus, alone.  Ephesians 2: 8-9.  I am merely saying that in the days of Jesus, the Jewish understanding of the “concept” of God’s great love towards repentant sinners was consistent with Jesus’ message.  

The rabbis’ rejection of Jesus’ approach to the “lost sheep of Israel” proved they were not practicing what they were preaching.  Jesus’ response to their criticism was to tell three parables.  The symbols He uses become more valuable with each consecutive parable.  One parable concerned a sheep; the other dealt with a lost coin.

Finally, Jesus describes a father with two sons.  One brother left home and squandered his inheritance, while the other stayed.  But the greater lesson for the Pharisees did not concern the prodigal.  It involved the response of the brother who stayed at home.   Filled with self-righteousness, he refused to rejoice over his brother’s return.

Levites were the tribe of priests whose inheritance/birthright was not in possession of land.  Their inheritance was to serve the Lord and minister to Him on behalf of others.  When your inheritance is “The Lord” (and you choose to receive it), nobody’s actions or any circumstance can diminish the value of your inheritance.  Yet, these Pharisees & Scribes (in Jesus’ day) were working so hard for God’s approval that they became envious of anyone who might receive God’s love by His grace.  They looked down upon others who “squandered” their lives…even when they turned back to the Lord!  For these Pharisees, the title of “prodigal” would never be removed and replaced with “son” or “daughter,” or just plain “justified.”  

Jesus has called us ALL to a holy priesthood.  So let’s put all envy and strife aside and rejoice with one another when our lost “prodigal” brothers & sisters come home…just as the angels in Heaven rejoiced when we came home!

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV)

“So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly.  For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.  And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home” Luke 16:8-9 (NKJV)

One of the most enigmatic passages in the New Testament is the parable of the dishonest manager.  Was Jesus teaching His followers to be dishonest?  He was not!  People cannot earn favor in Heaven by being dishonest on earth.  While verse one of chapter 16 indicates that Jesus is teaching His “followers,” it is obvious He also had a lesson intended for the Pharisees listening in.

The parable speaks of a WORLDLY master/servant relationship, not a RIGHTEOUS one.  The World may praise shrewdness that compensates for losses, but the Lord praises faithfulness.  Jesus exposes the connection between the Pharisees’ love of money and their REAL master.  (John 8:44) While claiming to speak on behalf of God, the Pharisees’ love of money had shifted their focus to serving Worldly pursuits.

“The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and scoffing at Him.  And He told them, ‘You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts.  For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God’s sight.’” Luke 16:14-15 (CSB)

The greater message for Jesus’ critics is: Do not assume that your Worldly success, gained by dishonest & spiritually adulterous means, will be met with Godly approval.  

Jesus uses the same parable to exhort His followers.  He points out how Worldly people and institutions are more creative and relentless at working towards their aims than believers often are.  That’s not to say that believers should become more Worldly to reach the World with the Gospel.  We cannot compete against the World by its rules.  The Church will never do “the World” as well as the World does “the World.” Our music, art, film & television are seldom as popular or have competitive appeal.  We simply cannot appeal to the flesh to such a worldly extent.  

The World cannot do “Church,” as well as God designed the Church to operate.  The World promises community based on “freedom without accountability.” However, if you hang out in a casino bar after midnight, you’ll learn the “Worldly community” falls apart when the money, drugs, and liquor run out.  This is not so with Christians.  Our community is based on joy, which comes from Jesus’ grace & mercy, and never runs dry!

When Jesus speaks of using “worldly wealth to make friends,” He says we should wisely invest our money in His Kingdom.  This is accomplished when you give your tithes and offerings.  It’s an excellent investment because when that money is wisely invested, we will have many new believers in God’s Kingdom to welcome us!  

With this command, we are compelled to move beyond being mere recipients of the Gospel.  We are also “Stewards of the Gospel.”  And if we are, then we are also accountable for wise management of it.  If God called for an accounting of your management of His Gospel today, would you show a profit or a loss?

“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’  ‘If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,’ the Lord said, ‘you can say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea.” and it will obey you.’”  Luke 17:5-6 (HCSB)

Depending on your Bible translation, the tree that was thrown into the sea (in today’s passage) is either a mulberry, sycamore, or fig tree.  It may be confusing to some why the translators would choose different trees.  Sycamore & mulberry trees are types of fig trees.  The scholars obviously didn’t consider that most of us in the 21st century wouldn’t know much about trees!

All that being said, Jesus is once again using the mustard seed image as a metaphor for His Kingdom.  The mustard seed generally only grows into a bushy shrub.  But in Matthew 13:32, Jesus described a miracle of prophetic nature, wherein a mustard seed grows into a large tree where the birds of the air nest.  In that chapter, the mustard seed was set in contrast to the cursed fig tree, which represented Israel’s spiritual decline, leading to its unproductivity.  

In today’s passage, Jesus is reminding His disciples of the previous “mustard seed” image, which, again, is in contrast to the fig tree, which represented the decline of Temple worship.  In essence, He said that, although Temple worship seemed like it would last forever, unless its leaders embraced Jesus as Messiah, it would be uprooted, treated as apostasy by the Lord, and replaced with the greater Messianic community (the Church).  His words proved true.  Although the community of believers (at that time) was as small as a “mustard seed” and not expected to grow much bigger than a small sect, it flourished and expanded worldwide.  In contrast, the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70AD and still has not been rebuilt.

In Matthew 24, Jesus predicted the destruction of the Temple.  He also cursed the fig tree in Mark 11, which was a direct fulfillment of prophecy.  

“Woe is me!  For I am like the fruit pickers, like the grape gatherers.  There is not a cluster of grapes to eat, or an early fig, which I crave.  Micah 7:1 (NASB)

In the Bible, whenever someone or something is thrown into the sea, it denotes judgment, the direct result of sin.  

“Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; and the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.”  Exodus 15:4 (NASB)

“Then they picked up Jonah and they threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging.”  Jonah 1:15 (CSB)

So, what is our takeaway?  Jesus tells His disciples that the only way to break bad tradition is by changing their ways and beliefs and putting their faith into action.  When God’s people live according to His Word, a distinction between right and wrong is clearly seen.  Based on the testimony of surrendered lives-in-action, bad tradition is identified as sin and discarded.  Is the Lord telling you to break with bad “tradition” and to draw nearer to Jesus, Messiah, and Lord of your life?  By all means, do it now!

“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else: ‘Two men went up to the temple complex to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee took his stand and was praying like this: “God, I thank you that I’m not like other people - greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.”  But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, “God turn your wrath from me – a sinner!” I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’”  Luke 18:9-14 (HCSB)

Today’s passage teaches a sobering message: Our righteousness is not based on how well we fare against other men.  Rather, how well we measure up to God’s standard.

I understand why the self-righteous prefer to justify themselves against the righteous efforts of other men because when we gaze into the mirror of God’s standard, we despise our reflections!  When we come closer to the holiness of God, our egos shrink and shiver.

But there is good news in the midst of this dilemma.  Jesus has fulfilled the Torah’s (the Law) requirements on our behalf!  

“What the law could not do because it was limited by the flesh, God did.  He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin’s domain, and as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be accomplished in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”  Romans 8:3-4 (HCSB)

Righteousness is only obtained by meeting the Law’s requirements which is impossible for us by our effort.  THAT is the great human dilemma.  We need the impossible.  Enter Messiah.  Jesus accomplished for us that which is impossible for men.  He fulfilled the Torah requirements on our behalf.  By His grace, He offers that atonement, free of charge, if we would, by faith, turn from our sin and receive Him.

“For by grace that we are saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; but it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)

The great mystery of the Old Testament is that salvation has ALWAYS been by grace, through faith.  Never through works.  Why was the tax collector justified in the Lord’s sight and the Pharisee shown as an object of rebuke?  Because the tax collector humbled himself, confessed his sin, and believed that God, by His grace, would forgive him.

A humble attitude of worship is what the Lord requires of us.  Salvation is a function of God’s grace so that when the object of our faith is Messiah Jesus and His righteous atoning work, God considers our faith in Jesus’ righteousness as if we were righteous.

“He went into the temple complex and began to throw out those who were selling, and He said, ‘It is written, My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves!’” Luke 19:45 (HCSB)

The day Jesus cleared the Temple was a day that was announced hundreds of years earlier.  Even in the days of prophets like Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Zephaniah, the nation of Israel took the “patience” of the Lord to mean He was either disengaged or impotent to judge their sin.  Even though the prophets would announce God’s judgment, the people kept on sinning.

“On that day, I will punish all who skip over the threshold, who fill their master’s house with violence and deceit.  On that day – this is the Lord’s declaration – there will be an outcry from the Fish Gate, a wailing from the Second District, and a loud crashing from the hills.  Wail, you residents of the Hollow, for all the merchants will be silenced; all those loaded with silver will be cut off.  And at that time, I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men who settle down comfortably, who say to themselves: The Lord will not do good or evil.” Zephaniah 1:19-12 (HCSB)

As is the case with many in the Church today, the people of Israel had abandoned God’s Word to the point that they felt more at home in the world than with the Lord.

“Do you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known?  Then, do you come and stand before Me in this house that bears my name and say, ‘We are rescued, so we can continue doing all these detestable acts’?  Has this house, which bears my name, become a den of robbers in your view?  Yes, I too have seen it.” Jeremiah 7:9-11 (CSB)

Some people wrongly believe that Israel’s rejection of Jesus triggered God’s rejection of Israel and signaled His favor of the Gentiles.  This is not so.  Read Romans 11.  

Contrary to popular Christian understanding, it has always been God’s desire for men of all nations to worship Him.  The death and resurrection of Jesus brought understanding to the apostles, namely Paul, of what God’s intent and desire for the nations had always been.  

“Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants— Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant— Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer.  Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.  The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, ‘Yet I will gather to him Others besides those who are gathered to him.’” Isaiah 56:6-8 (NKJV)

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Luke 20. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“He looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury.  He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins.  ‘I tell you the truth,’ He said.  ‘This poor widow has put in more than all of them.  For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she has to live on.’” Luke 21:1-4 (HCSB)

On my first visit to Israel, I bought my wife a silver ring.  At the center of the ring is a small copper coin called a “widow’s mite.” The coin is about the size of a child’s pinky fingernail.  It is ludicrous to believe it carried any value.  It is made of the least valuable metal and is so tiny.  Still, Jesus considered this widow’s offering of most significant value.

Times have not changed much since Jesus’ day.  We still live in a culture that values quantity.  The more expensive stuff we have, the wealthier we are considered to be.  

But God values quality over quantity.  In other words, the one who gives the “most” is the one who sacrifices the most.  If you have a million dollars to spare, yet you only give $1,000, then, by Heavenly accounting, the person who only had ten dollars to spare, yet they gave it all, gave the most.  

Sometimes, it is easier to write a check than to roll up your sleeves and join in the work, especially if everyone applauds your donation’s size and envies your lifestyle.

It is not for us to judge another person’s level of sacrifice.  That is the Lord’s role.  God weighs the hearts of men.  Judging the intent of a rich person’s offering is as bad as judging the value of a poor person’s gift.  Giving is a matter of the heart more than a matter of the wallet.  Only the Lord can judge the innermost parts of the heart.

We give to the extent that we trust Him.

What if God required everything from us?  That’s precisely what we owe Jesus.  Everything.  That’s exactly what the widow faithfully gave.  

To quote the old hymn, “Jesus paid it all.  All to Him I owe.”