Gospel Journey: Part 11
I'm nearing the end of my month-long journey through the gospels and enjoying every chapter along the way.
Matthew 7 really rocked my world. I think one of the most important universal laws is the law of measures. We tend to think of it in financial terms--"give and it will be given unto you, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together will be poured into your lap." But I think the law of measures is attitudinal as well. Whatever attitude we exhibit is what we'll get in return. If you don't believe me, do a "smile experiment" and see how many people smile back at you.
Matthew 7:2 says, "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." Translation: how we treat others dictates how we will be treated. That is such a powerful principle.
Then Jesus tells us to focus on the plank in our own eye instead of worrying about the speck of dust in someone else's eye. In other words, you worry about you. By the way, the best way to identify your own faults is to look at what bugs you about others!
Matthew 8:26 says, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid." I don't think this is a great revelation but simply a reminder that faith and fear are inversely proportional. The more faith we have the less afraid we are. Faith = no fear.
I think open-mindedness is at the heart of humility. If I had to choose between two types of people--someone who is super smart but not very teachable or someone who doesn't know much but is super teachable--I'd take the super teachable person every time! There is a powerful phrase in Matthew 13:15. It says, "They have closed their eyes." I never want to close my eyes or ears or mind to the things of God.
Matthew 13:34 is the heart of my philosophy of communication. It says Jesus "did not say anything without using a parable." He spoke in narratives. He used stories and illustrations. I never cease to be amazed at pastors who think "expositional teaching" is the only "biblical form" of teaching. There is one problem with that: Jesus wasn't an expositional teacher. He didn't do a verse by verse exposition of the Old Testament. He told stories. I'm not suggesting that we don't do our exegesis. I'm just pushing back a little. I think narrative preaching is more Christlike.
Matthew 16:15 is the Litmus Test. So often I'll circle around to that question when I'm talking with people about Jesus. The real is this: was Jesus who he said he was? I love the way C.S. Lewis talked about it. He said that Jesus was either a lunatic, a liar, or Lord. If Jesus wasn't the Son of God but he thought he was the Son of God then he was certifiably insane (a lunatic). If he knew he wasn't the Son of God but claimed to the be the Son of God then he intentionally misled billions of people (a liar). But if Jesus is who he said he was then he is Lord.
There is a phrase I've seen several places in the gospels--"break with tradition." Jesus and his disciples were absolutely revolutionary. I never want to be part of the "religious establishment." I want to follow Jesus and in the gospels that meant butting heads with the religious types. I don't want to be different for difference sake. I think "breaking with tradition" can be a form of rebellion or pride. But there is a "breaking with tradition" that comes from keeping in step with the spirit and not being afraid of what people think. That's what I'm after.
Matthew 7 really rocked my world. I think one of the most important universal laws is the law of measures. We tend to think of it in financial terms--"give and it will be given unto you, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together will be poured into your lap." But I think the law of measures is attitudinal as well. Whatever attitude we exhibit is what we'll get in return. If you don't believe me, do a "smile experiment" and see how many people smile back at you.
Matthew 7:2 says, "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." Translation: how we treat others dictates how we will be treated. That is such a powerful principle.
Then Jesus tells us to focus on the plank in our own eye instead of worrying about the speck of dust in someone else's eye. In other words, you worry about you. By the way, the best way to identify your own faults is to look at what bugs you about others!
Matthew 8:26 says, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid." I don't think this is a great revelation but simply a reminder that faith and fear are inversely proportional. The more faith we have the less afraid we are. Faith = no fear.
I think open-mindedness is at the heart of humility. If I had to choose between two types of people--someone who is super smart but not very teachable or someone who doesn't know much but is super teachable--I'd take the super teachable person every time! There is a powerful phrase in Matthew 13:15. It says, "They have closed their eyes." I never want to close my eyes or ears or mind to the things of God.
Matthew 13:34 is the heart of my philosophy of communication. It says Jesus "did not say anything without using a parable." He spoke in narratives. He used stories and illustrations. I never cease to be amazed at pastors who think "expositional teaching" is the only "biblical form" of teaching. There is one problem with that: Jesus wasn't an expositional teacher. He didn't do a verse by verse exposition of the Old Testament. He told stories. I'm not suggesting that we don't do our exegesis. I'm just pushing back a little. I think narrative preaching is more Christlike.
Matthew 16:15 is the Litmus Test. So often I'll circle around to that question when I'm talking with people about Jesus. The real is this: was Jesus who he said he was? I love the way C.S. Lewis talked about it. He said that Jesus was either a lunatic, a liar, or Lord. If Jesus wasn't the Son of God but he thought he was the Son of God then he was certifiably insane (a lunatic). If he knew he wasn't the Son of God but claimed to the be the Son of God then he intentionally misled billions of people (a liar). But if Jesus is who he said he was then he is Lord.
There is a phrase I've seen several places in the gospels--"break with tradition." Jesus and his disciples were absolutely revolutionary. I never want to be part of the "religious establishment." I want to follow Jesus and in the gospels that meant butting heads with the religious types. I don't want to be different for difference sake. I think "breaking with tradition" can be a form of rebellion or pride. But there is a "breaking with tradition" that comes from keeping in step with the spirit and not being afraid of what people think. That's what I'm after.
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