Skip to main content

are you a Pharisee?

Often I find myself hearing a word from God that is for me to share with others, yet there are times that God wants me to sit still, be quiet and think through some stuff just for me.  In fact, I have to do that with everything that I preach and share.  

 

A question came through my mind last week and this week about Pharisees.  This may be hard to explain.  Jesus has much to say, as did others, to these religious leaders.  I am sure they were not all bad or warped, but that is how we know them.  When these leaders heard Jesus, they had to respond.  That was not and was never easy.

 

Sometimes I need to hear things not so easy to hear.  I need to respond and hear from God.  One case was the passage below where John the Baptist slams religious leaders.  Read on …

 

Matthew 3:7-11 (The Message) --- When John realized that a lot of Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It's your life that must change, not your skin! And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire. "I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama—compared to him I'm a mere stagehand—will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out.

 

"Brood of snakes" … that is not very nice.  But he addressed a huge issue about looking right on the outside and on the inside being nothing.  Then John said that Jesus would come to change people "from the inside out."  I like that.  Says much about what Jesus does in our day.

 

So my question from God to me and now from me to you, have we exchanged what is superior for what is inferior?  Have we made was is great into something that is just ok?  Are we living to please people or to please God?  Are we trying to make our skin right but not our hearts?  Tough questions.

 

This morning I came across this verse that I have read many times.  It pierced my heart.

 

Proverbs 16:16 (NIV) --- How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!

 

Would we rather get rich or be wise?  Would we rather be impressive to people or to know God?

 

It is the Christmas season.  It is time that we make sure what we are celebrating is Jesus and nothing else.  Don't make this season about what you are getting or about how your life has been busy.  Make this season much about who Jesus is and what Jesus is doing in and through your life.

 

Do you act like a Pharisee some times?  If I am honest, I have to answer yes.  That hurts.  I see it.  I want to change it and become more and more like Jesus.  How about you?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.  One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns.  When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.  Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns.  Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.  Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"  Beverly said, "Why yes I do."  Edith said, "Well, what do you
Post a Comment
Read more

why is it Good Friday?

  Holy Week is the time we focus on God and His gift of salvation.  We come to Friday.  The day we remember the cross, Jesus’ death and all God has done for you and me   Why do they call this day “Good Friday” because it doesn’t seems good?   Jesus was treated as a criminal.  He was beaten so much that He could not recognize Him.  His pain would have been too much for you or me to endure.  That is especially from Scripture I’ve read or as in the movie the  Passion of the Christ .   Yet it is a good day.  It is Good Friday because God had our good in His heart.  What Jesus did that day changed our forever direction. Here are some thoughts that come to me:   He is Redemption and Redeemer   He too our Pain and Punishment   He is our Righteousness and Reality   He is the Savior and Life   All of those happened from the cross.  It was meant for the worst lawbreakers.  It was not meant for a Savior who never broke a law.  It was lifted high so that onlookers could see the price Jesus.   Look
Post a Comment
Read more

Day 8 in Cuba

We have just come off and incredible weekend, and it is day 8 of the mission trip in Cuba.  Thank you to all who have been praying for this trip, the mission team and the impact it will have on those we serve.   Please don’t stop praying. Last week Alex and I served with a mission team in the mountains of southern Cuba.  There were several challenges, but God gave us safety, provision and opportunity to serve some of the sweetest people I have ever met.  No running water… sporadic electricity generated by a small, logo dammed up river, no transportation other than animals, limited food sources and more.  These people love the Lord and sharing their faith with others. Over the weekend we made our way back to Havana.  On Friday our vehicle broke down leaving us on the side of the road for several hours.  We then boarded a bus and rode 14 hours.  We arrived safely and even got some rest. Sunday was so, so good.  We visited two partner churches.  In the morning we were with one church that
Post a Comment
Read more