Beware of Wolves in Sheep's Clothing!

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
                                                                          (Matt 7 15-16, 21-23 NIV)

Every congregation seems to have at least one or two antagonists. It just goes along with being Christians. If Jesus was persecuted so shall the true sheep be persecuted. Those antagonists, those sheep in wolves' clothing will often be seen in the congregation as one of the most caring, loving people one could know. That's what wolves do. 

In the fairy tale the "Little Red Riding Hood, the wolf stalked Little Red Riding Hood. Skulking behind the trees in the forest, he watched her as he concocted his plan to overpower her. His plan was good. He befriended her on the path to her grandmother's house giving her directions and stalling her. The Big Bad Wolf got to the grandmother's house in time to either tie up the girl's grandmother and shove her in the closet or eat here depending on whose version of the story you are reading. Either way the wolf is not as friendly as he appeared to be on the path to grandma's house. He then jumped into grandma's bed pretending to be here when Little Red Riding Hood got there. The sad end to the story is that the Big Bad Wolf gobbled Little Red Riding Hood all up. 

And, the moral of the story is... Way too often congregations are deceived by wolves in sheep clothing. They skulk behind the closed doors planning to deceive so that they might overpower others and have their own ways. They want control. They have no clue or desire to know what God's will is for the congregation. They want what they want and they do not care who they destroy: pastor, council members, the entire congregation. Maybe, they aren't even aware how damaging their words and actions might be. Maybe they do. Either way they are dangerous to the life and the health and the growth of the congregation. Congregations must be aware that not everyone is a true sheep or a shepherd. Not everyone is a friend of Jesus. Yes, we are to pray for them and to love them. But, we are not to allow them to damage anyone in the sheepfold. The good shepherd protects the sheep. (John 10:1-18)

How do you deal with them? A congregation that I previously served wrote into their constitutions the scriptural response to that. 

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

                                                                                  (Matthew 18:15-18)

May God help us to protect his sheepfold that none should be lost.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Climb Down From Your Tree

Climb down from your tree

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

                                                                                     (Luke 19:16 NIV)

"Zacchaeus was a wee little man." I cannot even begin to count the number of children I have taught the words of this song to. 

Personally, I prefer the translation from the KJV over the NIV, "And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature." (19:6) They King James describes Zacchaeus more fully than the NIV does. Zacchaeus was of little stature not only in physical height; but, in social stature as well. He was a tax collector and had made himself wealthy by cheating his own people. He was not a popular fellow. No one in the crowd that day was going to move out of his way so that a man like him could see Jesus. In order to get a glimpse of Jesus he climbed a tree to get a look at him from a distance. Jesus knew of Zacchaeus' desire to see him and so he arranged to make it up front and personal for him. He told Zacchaeus: "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 

Today, (and every day) Jesus wants to be welcomed into your home. He does not care what the world thinks about you. He does not care what you may or may not have done. He wants to be welcomed into your home. 

If you want to see Jesus; if you truly want to get to know him more personally, just climb down from whatever tree that you've chosen to watch Jesus from afar from and welcome Him into your life.

May God help you to see Jesus.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Forgiven Much; Love Much

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
                                             (Luke 7:44-47 NIV)

There was a time when people that I knew accused me of using Jesus as a crutch. I was offended at the time. But, you know what? Call it a crutch as if that's a bad thing if you want. But, the reality is that Christians are supposed to lean on him. We are to trust and depend on him for all things. Why wouldn't we? We who have sinned much; have been forgiven much; and, consequently love and trust him much.

Trusting in ourselves, in our own righteousness will get us nowhere. The bottom line is that we are all sinners and Jesus came to forgive and to save us sinners. If you think that you do not sin; that you are righteous without the grace of God in Chris Jesus, you will not be able to experience the peace that comes with knowing that your sins are forgiven; that you have been made right with God; that you have been healed and made whole.

Jesus said that those who have been forgiven little love little. When we acknowledge the abundance of our sins; we also acknowledge that we have been forgiven greatly. St. Paul, the missionary to the gentiles, had no problem confessing his sins. He served the Lord and the people he was sent to with an unwavering love. It seems that at times he actually reveled in publicly confessing them. But, he also reveled in the fact that all of his sins were forgiven by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. Your many sins have also been forgiven. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.

May the abundance of our sins be forgiven that we might love and serve the Lord with all our hearts and with all our souls and with all our strength.

God's Peace - Pr. J

In The Storm With Jesus

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

                                                                       (Matt 8:23-27 NIV)

It would be very nice if we encountered no storms in life. Or would it? If there were no storms how would we recognize peace? How would we know quiet? Quite often people have the mistaken idea that once a person accepts Jesus as their Lord all will be well with their lives. There will be no more storms. Everything will go smooth from here on out. That is just not so.

The story of Jesus calming the storm reminds us that the storm did not even begin until Jesus got into the boat. Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:34 that he did not come to bring peace; but a sword. Troubles will come in this world. They came to Jesus. They will come to his followers. But, we can also be assured that in the midst of those troubles we can know the peace of heart and mind that comes with trusting Jesus. St. Paul wrote to the Philippians:  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-8)

Yes, the storm began after Jesus got into the boat with the disciples. But, do not fear the storm. God hears your pleas and Christ is with you in the midst of every storm so that as you trust in him, you will know the peace that comes from being in the presence of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Let The Children Come

People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Luke 18:15-16 NIV

I vaguely remember a Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign whose ads include something to the effect of "No one stands taller than one who stoops to give a child a present." It pictured a Marine in his dress blues kneeling to give a little child a gift.

I work a lot. Sometimes, I forget to take time out to have fun. But, a few minutes with a child is usually fun. Hours with them can be more fun even if by the end of the hours I may feel exhausted. Very few things are better than being around a smiling, bubbly, bouncing, child. There is no way (unless they are totally undisciplined) that I can keep from smiling, myself, when I am around children. One never knows what they might do or say. They keep life interesting for us older folks.

The disciples tried to keep the children from being close to Jesus. But, Jesus warned them not to put anything in their way that might keep them from him. "Let the little children come," he said.

Let the little children come to you and share the stories of Jesus so that they will have a greater knowledge and an even closer relationship with Jesus.

Let the little children come into your life and may the light of Christ shine upon you through them.

God's Peace - Pr. J