Drop the legalism and start forgiving one another…!

Luke 17: 1-5 says, “He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble. “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. “And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

Observation: One of the most famous passages in the Bible for Christians because we are so fearful that we could cause another “little one” (child in the faith) to sin. It says that if we, Christ’s disciples, were to do such a thing, it would be better for us to die prior to causing a child in the faith to sin than actually causing them to “stumble.” But look at the passage immediately following: If someone sins against us we are too essentially forgive them every time they ask. I’m not going into a long observation about the first part of this passage (causing someone to stumble) because that is not the point of my SOAP. It is the second part I want to apply to my life.

Application: I have been a Christian for 25 years. I have heard time and time again that if I cause someone to stumble, I will be in a heap of trouble. I have heard it in sermons, books, and other Christians. reminding me. As a matter of fact, we get so stinking legalistic that we as Christians monitor each other as to make sure we don’t cause someone else to stumble. If I stub my toe and say the “S” word, and another child in the faith hears me, maybe I cause them to sin?! Point is we get consumed with this passage. BUT LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING 2 VERSES!!!! Vs. 3-4 says that if someone sins, rebuke them (correct them) and if they repent, FORGIVE them. And if they do it again…forgive them again. But why don’t we talk about this passage as much as the 2 verses prior? I think because it is easier for me to make sure I don’t cause someone to stumble than it is to be like Christ as forgive them over and over if necessary. We (I) am good at holding a grudge and not forgiving if I feel that I am sinned against. But Jesus tells me to forgive them, again, and again, and again. Legalism is always easier because it is a set of standards that we try to hold against one another. But forgiveness can only be done by the one who invented it…Jesus!

Prayer: God, take away my legalistic tendencies and let me be like Jesus…full or forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Because I received it from him, so I should give it!

How to hear God’s voice!

Luke 16: 27-31 says, “And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house—for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “But Abraham *said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ “But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ “But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

Observation: Jesus is telling parables to his disciple and lays out something that almost seems to say, “You want miracles, but you don’t need them because you have the Word.” At the end of CH 16 he’s talking about Lazarus and the rich man. They both die. Rich man goes to hell, Lazarus (poor man) goes to heaven. Rich man asks that Lazarus return to earth to warn his family that if they too don’t believe in God they will end up in hell (he figures that if a dead man returns to earth, everyone would have to believe that!). God (as Abraham) tells Rich man that his family have the writings of Moses and the prophets (The Bible) and that should be enough to believe. Have you ever heard a friend say they are waiting to hear from God by “putting a fleece before God.” Judges 6:14-16 Gideon wanted a “sign” from God. Today, we too want signs from God. Why? Because our faith is not enough. We are the same as the rich man, we want a miracle to prove what God is saying is true. There is nothing wrong with a good ol’ fashion miracle, but Jesus himself was teaching his disciples that the Word (testimony) of God should be enough to believe.

Application: So how are we to know what God is asking of us just from his Word? Faith. God will speak to your heart, then you can use his Word to test what God is saying. If it aligns up, you’re probably good to go. If you are still not sure, ask another person you know who is hearing from God. They can give you wisdom. I think God speaks in 3 ways today: The Spirit in your heart, The Word, and other Godly people who are digging into God’s word and hear from him. So do you need to make a big decision and you are waiting for a “sign from above” but it’s not coming? Maybe God is wanting you to kick in your faith life. Trust in him, spend time with him, listen to him, and it’s hard to go wrong.

Prayer: God, let me live a life of FAITH that doesn’t always need the signs. Let me be in your word and trust you to lead me in every decision.

Salted or Unsalted Chips?

Luke 14:34 says, ““Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned?”

OBSERVATION: Jesus is walking down the road and a large crowd begins to gather along with his disciples. he’s giving them instruction on how to be his disciple. He lays out the big picture when he tells them that if they don’t hate their families they can’t follow him (he didn’t literally mean this because that would have violated the law, and Jesus taught to fulfill the law) so he was trying to make a point. He also talks here about the price of carrying the cross. He shoots off a few more of these powerful illustrations. But, I love what he ends with because he starts talking a language that all of us 21 century fast-food fans can understand…salt.

Salt was used for two important things in the days of Jesus…to make things taste better and for preserving foods (and human bodies…mummies).  So salt makes things taste good and it preserves. This is not the first time he has taught about salt. (Matthew 5:13 ““You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.”) So the whole point of using salt as the illustration had a two part meaning.

APPLICATION: Jesus wanted his disciples to know that there are certain characteristics when it comes to being a disciple. Just as salt has specific uses, like making chips and french fries taste better, we are to bring about a good taste to the message of Cross to those around us. How? In the way that we represent the gospel. When I say “represent” think of it as “re-present.” We are presenting the gospel to those around us, but if we do not have the characteristics of a disciple, we will be useless and thrown out. What are the characteristics? It starts with submission, love, trust, and obedience. A disciple is a follower. What did Jesus say about being a follower? We see that he teaches many things about what it means, but the whole point is to be sold out in life for him. Salt makes chips taste good, so disciples bring life and preservation to those around us.

PRAYER: God, do I make the gospel tasty to my friends, neighbors, co-workers? Don’t let me loose my usefulness.