Hung up on the small stuff

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst....And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. - John 6:35, 40-41 (KJV)

Jesus' hearers got all bent out of shape about Jesus saying he was the Bread of Heaven (like the Mana in the Old Testament) and one should "eat his flesh" and "drink his blood", never noticing or addressing the fact that Jesus said on the last day, he would be the one to raise the dead!

Which is most important to notice - a metaphor about bread and water, or realizing who's voice you will hear on that last day?

Asking the Wrong Questions

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:" (Colossians 1:13 KJV)

We don't understand the gospel because we don't understand the real problem.

God offers forgiveness and redemption from sin and we say, "I don't need that, I need God to make my marriage work, or to keep the bank from repossessing my car or house, or to keep my kids out of trouble."

We say, "I don't need deliverance from selfishness, I need more friends, God, give me more friends!"

We say, "I don't need to be diligent and study more, I need better grades, God, give me better grades!"

We say, "Sin is not my problem, I need God to work in my life, where is all that benelovance God promises; why is he not answering my prayers?!"

Hidden Treasure

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." (Mat 13:44 - KJV)

Jesus' parable describing the Kingdom of Heaven says some important things about this new journey I am on - setting my "affection" on things above (Colossians 3:3).

What would motivate someone to buy a metal detector? They, probably, believe something of value can be found below the surface in special locations, and they are willing to invest their money and time to look.

The man in Jesus' parable had somehow found a buried treasure in a field which he did not, yet, own and thought it of such great value he did two (2) things:

• The first thing he did was hide it. Since it was originally hidden, I guess he re-hid it.


• The second thing he did was sell all he had and bought the entire field. I guess he was unsure how much treasure was there and he wanted it all.

There are several things to learn here:
1. The Kingdom of God is the treasure and is very valuable, so much so that the man (who probably represents us) was calculating that all he had was worth the purchase. God's Kingdom is of such value that when recognized would lead any sane man to do what ever it would take to obtain that treasure.

2. The man could not get the treasure without purchasing the field; there was no sneaking around in the middle of the night to pull out the treasure. He wasn't trying to steal someone else's treasure he wanted to own it legitimately.

3. He joyfully sold all he had. Imagine the neighbors and his friends watching him cash out all he had and purchase a "worthless" plot of earth. "What a waste" they would have thought; that is until they started noticing his change in lifestyle.

4. The first thing he did was hide it. This is initially disturbing, because isn't the kingdom of Heaven to be shared instead of concealed? I think the point of this is that he wanted to make sure he had all he could hold before sharing. He wanted to take his time and enjoy it at his own pace without someone interfering or spoiling it first. I believe God wants us to share out of the overflow of what we experience of Him. We can't honestly recommend something for others we have not experienced for ourselves; God does not expect us to.

5. Where one looks is very important. Those who purchase metal detectors don't just use them anywhere, they pick a place where they think the things they want are located. The Bible tells us in Colossians 2:3 that it is in Christ where all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

-fal

What we DO changes how we THINK.

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled..." (Colossians 1:21)

We tend to think we are rational beings; acting according to our thoughts, ideals, and goals. Instead, I have come to believe that, except in rare instances, we think according to what we do.

What we think is, actually, changed by what we do.

I have had friends, and pastors (not always the same thing), who were philosophically opposed certain activities and actions until they started doing them, and then those activities were OK and to be viewed in a new light.

This can work negatively and positively:

Negatively, if we start doing what we know is wrong we will eventually come to see it as not so bad, and then to be fully embraced. It is like a wedge which opens a small gap at first and, once started, continues until it is fully implanted in ways we never thought we would allow.

Also negatively, if someone wrongs another, the perpetrator will, eventually, start thinking of the other as deserving those actions. The blame balances out the initial guilt felt by the perpetrator and serves to justify their actions.

The good news of the Gospel is that those who are alienated from God (and others) in their minds (thoughts) by wicked works (deeds), can receive forgiveness, through being joined to Christ Jesus, and have their minds renewed, their works forgiven, and their relationships restored.

We can, then, put this same principle to work positively:

• To feel love toward someone difficult to love, do loving deeds to them - it will affect your thoughts and actually make them easier to love;


• To feel closer to God in a "dry" season, do Christ-like things - it will affect your mind and your thoughts will improve.

-fal

Enoch, a prototype for the believer

And Enoch walked with God ... And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. - Genesis 5:22a, 23, and 24 (KVJ)

Enoch was a prototype of the believer. Enoch walked with God, and God took him to heaven, just like that; no death, no suffering, just straight to heaven.

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. - Hebrews 11:5 (KJV)

We, too, walk with God. Being in Christ we know, and have the inward testimony, God is pleased with us and He takes us, just like that into Christ's Kingdom; no waiting until we die, straight into the Heavenlies to be seated with Jesus

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: - Colossians 1:12-13 (KJV)