The Least of These

April 30, 2019

The Least of These

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”

Matthew 25:40

The religious leaders opposing Jesus believed that the nations of the world would be judged, at the Final Judgment, on the basis of how they treated the nation state of Israel. In this parable, (Parable of the Final Judgment, Matthew 25: 31-46) Jesus the Messiah of God confronted their understanding of the Final Judgment. In this story Jesus tells, he redefines Israel, the people of God, as his followers. Jesus says that at the Final Judgment all people will be judged on the basis of how they have treated his followers.

This parable is often twisted out of shape to have Jesus saying Christians will be judged on the basis of how they have been kind to "the least of these," meaning the prisoners, poor and dispossessed people of the world. However, there is sufficient support elsewhere in Scripture for prison and hospitality ministries. Let's try and hear what Jesus is saying to us today through this parable.

The context of the first hearers of this parable is helpful to us in this quest. Matthew was writing his Gospel for the church in Jerusalem at a time when the persecution of Christians was severe and not long before the Romans ended the revolt in Jerusalem by destroying the entire city. I believe this parable was very comforting to the followers of Christ in Jerusalem. Through this parable, they knew Jesus took notice of their suffering, and they knew that in the end they would be vindicated. This parable would also have been encouragement for the followers of Jesus to extend a helping hand to their brothers and sisters in the faith.

As I think about this parable, I remember several years ago when Rick Warren, the pastor of Saddleback Church, was returning to his pulpit four months after his son's tragic death. He and his wife, Kay, had experienced both sides of this parable. The popular culture vilified them because of their faith in Christ, many suggesting it was their faith that caused their son to commit suicide. However, countless thousands lifted them up in prayer. Pastors from across the country filled his pulpit while he took the time to grieve. Thousands reached out to Rick and Kay through cards, email, Facebook and Twitter. This latter group reached out to "the least of these." Those who vilified will be judged for the abuse they heaped on Rick and Kay.

Often the persecution of Christians is inflicted by other followers of Christ. I can't imagine that those who overtly inflict abuse on others will be surprised at the Final Judgment, but I do believe there will be countless Christians who are shocked when the Good Shepherd separates the sheep from the goats and they are judged for their failure to extend kindness to "the least of these."

My Takeaway: It is not enough that we do not abuse our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus is calling us to extend our hearts and hands to our fellow believers. He is also telling us if we do nothing, if we remain silent when others are being abused, he will put us in line with the goats.

Sē’lah

Alex

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

I Must

April 29, 2019

I Must

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Matthew 16:21 (NIV)

I hear Jesus’ words this morning from two perspectives.

First, why did Jesus believe he must go to Jerusalem to suffer and die? Discussion of the suffering and death of Jesus is not unusual in the Gospels. Someone has calculated that within the four Gospels, more than 35% of the narrative is devoted to the death and suffering of Jesus. In Matthew’s Gospel, today’s passage is the first of four times Jesus proclaims what awaits him in Jerusalem. Why must he go? Because some may be tempted to think Jesus’ death was as a victim of whim and fate. However, his death was not the result of random violence; rather his death was purposeful and redemptive. A continuing theme throughout Matthew’s Gospel is that underneath the seemingly arbitrariness of life there is a firm purpose. Behind the apparent haphazardness of life there is an orderliness molded by the hand of God who rules the ages. (Thomas G. Long, Matthew)  Thus Jesus understood he must go to Jerusalem because that was his father’s will.

Secondly, as I have sought to immerse myself in the awesome grace of God, I have worked diligently to remove from my life words such as must, should, ought to, and have to, and replace them with get to. Today’s passage arrests me. If Jesus was compelled by his father’s will to go to Jerusalem and Calvary, is there something I must do in response to God’s will for me?

My Takeaway: As I look through our Christian heritage, the pages are full of examples of men and women who believed they must be about their father’s business: the brothers Wesley, the Apostles Paul and Peter, Teresa of Avila and Mother Teresa, just to name a very few. As a Methodist clergy, my calling is clear: I have no other business than to save souls and spread scriptural holiness across the land. I must!

What is your calling?

Sē’lah

Alex

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Your Own Divine Revelation

April 26, 2019

Your Own Divine Revelation

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Matthew 16:15

Today’s text is the answer to the question I have raised in the last few weeks: Have my personal experiences with Jesus been sufficient to earn my unconditional, unqualified obedience? I cannot answer out of my mortal human experience, but I am not without help. What is impossible for me is possible for God!

When Jesus was in Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” The town had a Roman name because it had a temple built to the Roman god, the Emperor. Jesus asked that question as he was surrounded by idols to the Roman gods. Jesus’ question and Peter’s answer are meaningful to the followers of Jesus today from two perspectives.

First, our relationship with God is inherently personal. Each of us has the responsibility of responding to the message of Christ and committing our lives to him fully and without reservation. No other person can make this decision for us. In making our decision, we ultimately are responsible for responding to Jesus’ question, “But who do you say I am?” I have been blessed to have studied under great teachers and pastors. I’ve had good friends to encourage me along my journey. Even so, Jesus doesn’t ask me who Brennan Manning or Fred Craddock says that he is; he asks me, “Who do you say I am?”

Secondly, Jesus’ question is almost a Catch-22, since the question is beyond any human’s capacity to correctly answer. As soon as “Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” Jesus made it clear that Peter’s response was one of divine revelation: “Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am” (Matthew 16: 17 MSG).

My Takeaway: As you journey through life, seeking to make the life in Christ your way of life, you can rest in the sure knowledge that God will take all the bits and pieces of information you have received about Jesus, and transform them into a divine revelation for you. Just as God authored Peter’s confession, so also will God reveal to you the rock of our salvation: Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

Sē’lah

Alex

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Peter’s Adventure

April 25, 2019

Peter’s Adventure

But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

Matthew 14:30

The story of Peter’s adventure on the water (Matthew 14:22-33) has always intrigued me. First, I have a pet peeve with the way the story is sometimes used. I cringe when people use the story as an example of putting faith into action and say something cutesy like, “If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat.”

I think Jesus was walking on water because it was the most expedient way for him to catch up to the disciples. When Jesus got to the boat he challenged his disciples: “You have so little faith. Why did you doubt me?” (Matthew 14:31) Jesus was not challenging them to show their faith by walking on water; Jesus was challenging the disciples because of their lack of faith. Jesus had just finished feeding thousands of people with a few loaves of bread and two fish. (Matthew 14:13ff) What else did the disciples need to believe? Why were they terrified to see Jesus coming to them? They responded from fear and missed being comforted by Jesus through faith.

My Takeaway: This episode is another reminder for me of the point I made a few weeks ago (April 12). Have my personal experiences with Jesus been sufficient to earn my unconditional, unqualified obedience? If not, what else must Jesus do to earn my loyalty? In today’s story of Peter’s adventure in the wind and waves, I am encouraged to live with a made-up mind: Jesus will take care of me; all things are possible with Jesus; I can rest in the assurance that Jesus knows where I am and is and will be all I need.

Sē’lah

Alex

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.