In just 8 days, all eyes
will (for an instant) be on Jesus. But what will they see? A baby in a manger?
Will they see Jesus on the Mount teaching with authority? Or walking on the water, calming a storm, and healing the sick? Will they see Him in the Garden praying with loud crying and tears? Will they see Him
impaled on a cross, abandoned and alone. Will they see Him standing at an
empty tomb in His resurrected body? Will they see Him seated on high at God's right hand. Will they see Him as the Alpha and Omega, the I AM, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?
In consideration of these rhetorical questions, there are two much more personal questions we must ask. First, what will we see? And second, when a world of people who are blind to, and ignorant of, the real Jesus look at us, what will they see? Will they see Jesus?
Jesus said “if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away” (Mat. 5:30). Jesus speaks metaphorically, not literally, to illustrate an essential truth—arguably one of the most important of His teachings.
These words form part of the “Sermon on the Mount” where Jesus calls His followers to a higher order of obedience. While the Mosaic Law certainly required compliance, Jesus required obedience from heart. He was warning us of the cost of such obedience—always accompanied by sacrifice. “Cutting off your right hand” means giving up who we think we are, how we define ourselves, in exchange for what Christ teaches us we can be in relationship to him. We must be willing to throw away our old ways that keep us from doing so—and there is no compromise. Speaking as a counselor, I know that this kind of obedience is as psychologically painful as losing an arm or a leg, or “your right hand.”
Some years ago, William Backus wrote a book “Misbelief Therapy: Telling Yourself the Truth.” I didn’t care much for the book, but I loved the title! In Isaiah 44, the prophet describes how idols are made from a block of wood you can hold in your hand, and he asks the rhetorical question: “is there not a lie in your right hand?” We must ask ourselves ‘what are we holding on to?’
As awful as they are, the floods in Tennessee are not as terrifying as the rising tide of tolerance that is diluting Biblical truth and threatens to submerge the 21st century church. I’m not afraid for the survival of the Body of Christ, but I fear for young adults who are being drowned by this flow of false teaching.
A recent USA Today article, “Young Adults less devoted to faith,” asserts that this generation is increasingly dissatisfied with narrow interpretations of the Bible and more inclined to “live and let live.” In today’s editorial section, one sympathetic writer says “I seem to remember Jesus saying something along the lines of “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you (Mat. 7:12),” i.e., “live and let live.”
Ironically, in the very next verse (7:13) after that quoted by the writer, Jesus makes what is arguably the most intolerant statement of the Sermon on the Mount: “You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way.”
Let us watch and pray for the millennial generation who have been unknowingly inundated by the philosophy of tolerance—the ‘wide open door’ policy. Beware friends: the tide is rising.
Usually on Monday, I have to reduce my calorie intake because I’ve eaten too much over the weekend. It's not because I’m hungrier on the weekends than I am during the week; I just tend to indulge a bit more--that 'natural' feeling of deserving a little treat after a time of hard work. Sound familiar?
The Bible uses “food” metaphors to teach us about our need for God. Jesus said He was the "Bread of Life" and "Living Water." But unlike the natural realm, there is no limit on how much we can eat of this "food!"
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, ‘blessed are those that hunger…after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.' The word “hunger” means to be “starving.” The word “satisfied” means to be "gorged!" I wonder how much less we would be tempted with this world’s bread if we were more satisfied with the “Bread of Life.”
Bible commentator J. N. Darby says: “To be hungry for righteousness is not enough. We must be starving… when the Prodigal son was hungry, he ate husks, but when he was starving he turned to His Father!”
I have been reading Martin Lloyd Jones' commentary on the "Sermon on the Mount." I thought this was just too relevant not to share with you all.
People in this world (non-Christians) are trying to live happy and successful lives. But to His followers, Jesus says, Blessed [happy] are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. Jesus does not say we are to hunger and thirst after happiness. But that is what most people, and unfortunately, many Christians are hungry for...hmmm...the pursuit of happiness! Sounds like a basic human right!! But pursuing happiness will never satisfy. It will always elude you.
According to Jesus, happiness is not sought directly; but happiness results from pursuing Him, His righteousness, that is, a 'right relationship with God!'
How's your appetite?
Will they see Jesus on the Mount teaching with authority? Or walking on the water, calming a storm, and healing the sick? Will they see Him in the Garden praying with loud crying and tears? Will they see Him
impaled on a cross, abandoned and alone. Will they see Him standing at an
empty tomb in His resurrected body? Will they see Him seated on high at God's right hand. Will they see Him as the Alpha and Omega, the I AM, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? 
