Serve to the Sinner

My role is to:

“¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” — Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

It is not to do all that brings glory to me. And this morning, I can see how I have to keep all of God’s Word in my heart, and not just what I am reading. In the last chapter of the book of James, I found myself thinking of this very thing as I read the final two verses.

“¹⁹My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, ²⁰let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” –James 5:19-20 (ESV)

I can see how when you are looking at this short passage, it would drive one to go out and save as many sinners as possible thinking that the more you bring back to God, the more you are looked upon favorably. It looks at first take that the one who brings back the sinner is the one saving their soul and for that, one can certainly get the big head.

It is not until you take on the totality of God’s Word that I am able to get grounded in doing the work of Christ, not for me but for Him. I have to be the servant for the sake of serving others and that goes for bringing sinners back as they have fallen away from Christ.

“²⁶It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, ²⁷and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, ²⁸even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” — Matthew 20:28 (ESV)

See above the words of Jesus that we are to be servants in order to gain greatness. Yet, it is still about the service, not the greatness. I have to remember to put aside my own desires and follow Christ and His direction. I am to “Go” and be a “Servant” to all including, and everyone, the sinners.

All sinners are precious in the eyes of God. All sinners have the chance to receive salvation. All sinners are to be served. I have to remember the precious sinners and bring the gospel to them by serving them in the name of Christ.

How do you look upon your work with sinners? Are you looking as though it is your responsibility to save them for your glory? What if you served them by bringing them closer to God, not for you, but for them and the work of the LORD?

Own It as a Sinner

I am a sinner and not deserving of any of the glory that is provided by God.

“¹³But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” — Luke 18:13 (ESV)

This tax collector is a sinner just like me. He owns it in his words and in his actions. He repents for his sin with God and only with God. Notice where he is repentant. He is “far off” and not within the immediate eyes or ears of others. He is secluded to have a relational conversation with God. He is about that relationship and not about the optics and not in comparison to others and their relationship. Here is the one that is the better example for me to use in my own relational conversations with God. They are to be on my own and in seclusion. They are to be personal and out of the immediate eyes or ears of others. They are to be only about and concerning me and my relationship with God.

I like that this tax collector is not concerned with what the world thinks of him. He is concerned with what God thinks of him. He also does not claim to be better than anyone. Being a tax collector was not a job that was highly regarded among the people although it was in the government and political society. His role brought the people to think poorly of him. But the job is not what defines you. It is your heart. The job was to collect that which the law indicated was for paying taxes and to bring additional provision to his family. It was possible to be a God fearing tax collector that stayed within the law in all of the collections. I am not saying that this man was, but it is possible he may have been.

The thing about the man and Jesus was speaking was that this man owned his sin and presented it to God for forgiveness. He knew he was a sinner and did not try to be something he was not. He also knew that the relationship with God was his own and not for everyone to be a part. His prayers were to God and not for the world to see. He did not concern himself with whether he compared to others adequately. He was concerned with his relationship with God alone.

“¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” — Luke 18:14 (ESV)

I see this man as a private, not proud man. He was repentant and humble in his relationship with God. He is an example of how I should act within my relationship with God. I should be repentant and humble. I should be private. I should be personal. I should own being a sinner and work with God alone to repent those sins and do so in private with Him in personal conversation and make it about me and my failures alone.

I have to own my being a sinner and know that my heartfelt personal repentance is that which brings joy to God.

How are you out there repenting from sin? Are you doing it out in the open for all to see and are you comparing your sin to others who are “worse” than you? What if you just kept your relationship with God personal and made all the conversation private so that you could truly own the sinner in you?

Rejoice Over One Sinner

I am working on my learning more about being a sinner. I am a sinner for sure and want to know more about just what that means. This morning I am reading in the book of Luke and the parable of the lost coin. A simple one for sure, but a good one none the less. When has limited things and loses one, there is an all out search for that one and then there is the rejoicing that comes when that one is found.

“⁸Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? ⁹And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’” — Luke 15:8-9 (ESV)

The precious coin is of lots of value to the woman who had few of them. Aren’t we all about the same when it comes to those things that are precious to us. I know that I am for sure. God is no different in those things that are precious to Him. And I am one of those precious things. Not because I am a Christian, but because I am His creation. And not because there are limited numbers of my kind, but because I am limited, there is only but one of me.

“¹⁰Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” — Luke 15:10 (ESV)

It is my repenting that give God joy. It is the finding of me, the one unique person that brings joy to Him. My coming to Him and repenting of the sins I have committed and those that I will commit that brightens His face. Me, the ONE sinner. I bring the LORD joy with my repentance.

I have to remember that we are all precious to the LORD. Not just those who have more. Not just those who impact larger groups of people. Not just those who are known more to the masses. It is the one sinner that repents of sin that brings joy to the LORD. God does not look at who the sinner is. God does not consider one over the other. God looks to the repentance of the sin by the sinner and that is the joy.

I need only focus on my own sin and repenting of that sin. I have to remember that it is that which brings joy to the LORD. I have to be right with God and getting there requires my repentance. I have to acknowledge my sin and ask the LORD to forgive me. I have to remember that He is always listening to hear my voice of repentance, and when He hears, he will smile with joy for His precious.

What are your beliefs of that which gives the LORD joy? Are you looking to make a splash with God by doing grand things and expecting Him to leap at you for the massive amount of work done? What if you just looked to Him and repented knowing that the LORD looks at each sinner’s repentance as precious?

One Sinner

I am a sinner and this morning I began to study the word to gain more knowledge of just what that means. I know that I act against the LORD and that is sinning by this sinner, but I know that there is more to it than just the acts. I feel, like I do with all things, it is important to know and not just hear about things.

As I began my study, I was brought to the passage in Ecclesiastes that discusses the value of wisdom. This was a surprise to me being that I was looking into the sinner. Where does wisdom come into the picture in this regard.

“¹⁸Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.” — Ecclesiastes 9:18 (ESV)

I am brought to the saying of “one bad apple spoils the whole bunch” or similar. What is referred to is that just having one rotten piece of fruit will speed the rottenness taking over the larger group of fruit. In the above verse, I see that exact idea being brought to light. There is good in the world and that good is to be looked at and celebrated. But, I have to be careful to celebrate the good as good and be weary of that which may look good only to be rotten. The one rotten side of the fruit can make things rotten for the entire basket.

Sinners will masquerade. We can be good on one side and then turn the other way and allow evil to abound. On one side, I am loving and caring and want others to see that which brings good. On the other side, I am self-serving and looking to bring good to me. I have to remember each of these sides of me as a sinner. I masquerade each and every day. I am two in one. I am a sinner just as all others.

But, I do have God on my side to help me. I know that I am a sinner and that I am masquerading as not being one, but I am. But, I am a sinner who has been forgiven. I have been forgiving for those sins I have committed and those I will commit. I have to remember that I will still commit sins and that those sins can and will destroy. I have to be conscious of my life of sin and do all I can to remove the mask and be the forgiven sinner that does all to bring love and comfort at all times. I do not want to be the one sinner that will destroy. I have to be the Christian that brings love.

One sinner can tear it all down. I have to work to not be that sinner.

What are your thoughts on being the one that could destroy it all? Are you avoiding the idea that one can do so much damage to the larger good? What if you recognize that you are a sinner and that you have been forgiven and that you need to remove the mask and bring love?

Don’t Be Like the Sow

I continue to be amazed at where God leads me when I am open to being led. This morning I continue my study of the word “sow”. Up until now, I have been reading and studying to understand the sowing of seeds and my role in that action. This morning I am reading and learning of the sow or pig. I will say that originally I was taken aback at what I was reading as there where I was getting the directions for my reading and study was no different than any other day.

“²²What the true proverb says has happened to them: ‘The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.’” — 2 Peter 2:22 (ESV)

I was reminded in this passage that I have turned to Christ and away from that which is not Christ. I have accepted the salvation Christ has given freely. I have moved into the relationship with Him and I am so much better off for it. But, it is hard. It is unfamiliar. It is not always comfortable. This relationship takes work and that is something that makes things challenging.

Anything good is worth working for. This relationship with Christ is good, really it is GREAT, and therefor I have to be willing to work for it. Things are going to be challenging. I am going to find myself tired of putting forth the effort. I am going to grow weary. Yet, I have to press on. I have to stay forward with my eyes fixed on Christ to make it to the end, heaven. I have to stay focused on Him.

“²⁸And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ ²⁹He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. ³⁰But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ ³¹Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” — Matthew 14:28-31 (ESV)

Peter knows a little about this whole keeping your eyes on Christ as I see above. As long as Peter was focused on Jesus, he was safe from harm. But he was afraid and began to doubt and lost his focus to which he began to slip. Jesus never left him and reached out to again comfort and protect him.

Jesus never left Peter and He will never leave me. Even when I may lose my focus on Him, He will always be there for me. I have to remember that things will be hard and that I will have to put in the work to achieve that which is great. I have to trust Christ to get me to and though all. I know that He will, I just have to demonstrate that trust each and every day. I have to avoid turning back to that which is comfortable and familiar. I have to embrace Christ and the work He has for me, knowing that He will always be there as the familiar Father and comfort me and guide me and protect me in all.

What is it that is keeping you from a fulfilling relationship with Christ? Are you finding yourself turning back to the familiar? What if you understood it to be hard and unfamiliar and uncomfortable and chose to press on with Christ, knowing that He is there and full of love, comfort, guidance, and protection?

Sow in the Good Soil?

It makes sense to sow seeds where the ground is fertile and will produce, but am I always doing so. This morning I am reading in Matthew and the parable of the sower that Jesus tells to the people. In it, Jesus gives the picture of a sower having seeds fall on the path, the rocky ground, the thorns, and the good soil. The results were different in each instance with only the good soil yielding the harvest.

“³And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A sower went out to sow. ⁴And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, ⁶but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. ⁷Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.’” — Matthew 13:3-8 (ESV)

There is a lot going on here in this parable from Jesus. I am looking at the whole of it this morning. As I am reading there are a couple of things that I see that make me think. One, the sower is seemingly “careless” with what he is sowing. Two, it is not until the seeds are on with the good soil that they produce lasting and fruitful results.

With number one, the sower is on the task of sowing seeds. That is what is the purpose of going out, and yet there are seeds falling in areas where they are not specifically set to be sewn. The seeds are falling on the path, the rocky ground, within the thorns, and then on the good soil. The sower is just allowing for the seeds to fall where they may. As I look at it, and you will see in the previous paragraph, this seems “careless”. Why would the sower not just guard the seeds to be specifically sewn in the good soil only. I think that it would be a much better result and more fruitful to get the seeds to where they are going to do the most good. But, I have to also think that the most good as I see it may not be the most good that God sees.

Number two shows that it is indeed the seeds falling on the good soil where the most abundant reaping is taking place. The seeds are accepted and produce fruitful lasting results. This is the place where I believe all sowers would want there seeds to be sewn. I know that I believe that we should focus on getting things right and not just getting them done. Getting it right in this instance is the ensuring that the seeds are placed in the location where they are able to do the most good, in the good soil. But again, what I believe to be the most good, may not be the most good that God sees.

These two points lead me to this. God has seeds for us to sow. Where, yes, He wants the most fruitful and bountiful harvest from the seeds we sow, He will get just that wherever our seeds fall. If the seeds seemingly carelessly fall on the path, the harvest is food for the birds that He has created and remember;

“²⁶Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” — Matthew 6:26 (ESV)

As the seeds fall on the rocky ground, the grow quickly where the glory of God is seen that He is over all and even in such a difficult situation, good can come. And then we have the thorns where the seeds fall. Here there is no life as the good of the seeds are choked out, yet even Jesus had dinner with tax collectors sowing the seed of the gospel, because we never know who might hear and take forward with them. And then there is the seed that “falls” on the good soil. These seeds are able to take root and produce a bountiful harvest to be reaped. Yet, they may not have been meant for that good soil as they happened to just find it in the falling. These seeds produced for someone who was in need in the moment and provides for the children of God.

I know that God has a plan for all that we are. I know that He will win in all. It is my duty to simply sow and not be concerned with just getting the seeds to the good soil. I have to sow and sow and sow, regardless of where. By doing so, God is allowed to do His work with and for those who need it. These opportunities may the chance for them to receive the gospel provision supplied by Him.

Where are you sowing? Are you focused on getting your seeds to the good soil? What if you just sowed and allowed God to do His work with the seeds He has given to you to sow?

No Need to Sow for Provision

“²⁵Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” — Matthew 6:25-26 (ESV)

God provides for my needs. What I eat, drink, and wear. No need for me to worry about those items which are a provision to my survival.

I know what some may be thinking. How am I going to get what I need if I don’t have other things. Well, lets look at the life of Jesus as the example. Even at the beginning of His life, He had nowhere to go, as He was born in a stable and placed in a manger (no luxury hotel for the King of kings). Jesus grew up the son of a carpenter in a modest home with a working family (no fancy duds for the Lord). Jesus really had no formal home as He traveled the countryside preaching and teaching (no 10,000 sq ft house on a mountainside). And He walked or took a fishing boat everywhere (no private jet or yacht to get around in). Jesus was dependent on His father and others all the way to His death and beyond.

I know of those who have clothes and food and water, yet they are concerned that they do not have designer brands, caviar, or fine wine. These same folks are also concerned that they do not have enough and work constantly, and sometimes unethically and wrongfully, to earn more to have more. They are not satisfied or content with that which they have been provided.

God will and has provided for all of the NEEDS we have in life. He may not provide the designer shoes, but I have foot coverings. He may not provide caviar to have for dinner, but ground meat for spaghetti is abundant. He may not provide fine wine to drink, but we have running water in the home we live.

God provides for our NEEDS and will bless us as well. I have clothes without holes in them. I have chicken to eat, I have tea to drink. These are all blessings as what I need is just clothes, food, and water. God knows our needs and provides for them we do not have to work overtime sowing for them.

In verse 26 above, Jesus reminds us that we are more than the birds of the air and God provides for them in the moment. He will provide for us just the same. He was provided for each day and we will be as well. I do not have to store things up in order to have more in the future. I have to concern myself with the day and the day only. And that concern should be with doing the work of the LORD as opposed to the gathering of possessions for myself in this world.

Would it be nice to have more, yes. Having a new pair of shoes, a fine steak, and a good bottle of wine are great to enjoy from time to time. I have to remember that those are things that God will provide as a blessing and they are not something that I should be working to provide for myself. I have to sow the work of God to reap the reward for others thanks to the love and provision of God.

“³¹Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” — Matthew 6:31-33 (ESV)

What are the things that you are concerned with receiving or having? Are you looking for those things that may place you in the good company of others? What if you sowed to reap the provision of God for others and accepted the simple PROVISION of God in your own life?

Sowing Requires Patience

There are expectations of reaping immediately from that which we sow. The reality is that we will receive when the harvest is ready.

My wife is an amateur gardener. Really more of an experimenter. We only have a small yard in a housing subdivision and therefore do not have the room to have a real garden. We only have room for a couple things that will feed the two of us for a meal or two. She will plant in the right time, tomatoes, peppers, and other items that will really just accent our meals. The one thing she is very well aware of is that these things take time. One of the items she relishes to see develop is her lemons. If you don’t know, lemons take months, not days or weeks to develop. It can take 6 months from the flowering to the ripening of the lemon. And Lori waits patiently, checking in on the lemons daily, even as there will be little to no change noticeable each day. The same can be said with everything else we sow.

I have to remember to just sow that which is good in the eyes of the LORD and know that He will cultivate and ripen those things to the point of harvest time. I am not able to rush them along and in the process I may be saddened and working through some hardships of my own only to realize the glory of the LORD at the point of harvest.

“⁵Those who sow in tears

shall reap with shouts of joy!

⁶He who goes out weeping,

bearing the seed for sowing,

shall come home with shouts of joy,

bringing his sheaves with him.”

— Psalm 126:5-6 (ESV)

When it is time for the harvest, I will shout and be completely joyous as the reaping can now begin. I will have realized the glory of God, in His time and not my own. I will have gone through the times of waiting and caring and cultivating.

Notice in the verses above the sweetness that is realized in the reaping. That sweetness is due to the ripening that could only have been realized thanks to the time it took. Lori’s lemons are so much sweeter thanks to the time waiting and caring and cultivating them. The anticipation of the harvest created even more flavor than would have been found with the simple grocery store purchase of lemons.

I have to remember that the sowing of seeds for the LORD is just the beginning. There is the time of waiting and caring and cultivating that will bring the seeds to the time of harvest and then I will be able to full enjoy the sweet glory that comes with the realization of God’s Work being completed for His glory and not my own.

What are you out there sowing? Are you looking for the immediate growth and the ability to reap as you sow? What if you were to sow and things wait and care and cultivate the seeds that are the work of God and experience the sweet glory at the time of harvest?

Do You Expect Different Than You Sow

I have shifted gears a bit in my study to look into the word “sow”. I am wanting to learn more about what I am giving and receiving and the first passage I am reading in is found in Job.

“⁸As I have seen, those who plow iniquity

and sow trouble reap the same.”

— Job 4:8 (ESV)

I see here that when I give or sow I will get back or receive more of the same. Expecting for to be different is just that, expecting. Reality will be certainly different than my expectation. I will not ultimately receive that which is the opposite of what I am giving.

That last sentence above is something that I have to dive into a bit more as it may be a bit confusing in the beginning of what we reap based on what we sow. I see too often where the immediate return on the sowing of something is deceptive. I think of those who commit crimes who find themselves with a sudden windfall of great things like wealth and power, only to have it all come crashing down some time later when they are found out to have sowed in the realm of evil. The same can be said for those who are doing the will of the LORD where they sow great service and love for others only to not see any return immediately after, who are cared for later in their lives by someone giving that love back to them.

I have to be careful when looking into the reaping of what I am sowing and know that the immediate return may not be the return that is from the reaping at all. I have to remember that it is not about the return or the reaping that the sowing is done. I should not expect really any return other than the thanks from God for doing the work. I have to remember that it is not about me and that God will provide the return based on His plan and not my expectation.

My work here of sharing my thoughts on my Bible Study are an example of the expectation not meeting reality. I originally was hesitant in sharing my thoughts as I believed they were for me and not for others. Someone convinced me to share out of accountability to a small group and as time went on, I was more and more comfortable with my sharing. Yet, I was not getting any real acknowledgment of goodness that I was reaching people, and I gave thought to not sharing any longer and just keeping my thoughts between God and me. And then a friend caught me in the grocery store and one of the first things said was how he was continually impacted by my sharing and I was reinvigorated to continue. And now I am working on additional ways to share.

My expectation was one of immediate recognizable return and I believe maybe to be puffed up with how much I was doing. God in His infinite wisdom said no and that I was doing what was asked of me and I would be rewarded in the time and way that He saw fit. I was simply to sow and allow God to do His part and I would reap in due time.

I will reap what I sow. Sometimes that return on my giving will not be immediate and yet I must continue with the sowing as the LORD has instructed. I will reap that which is right and due based on my fulfillment of the work assigned me by God. I simply sow that which I have been entrusted and allow the LORD to do His work and provide the harvest He has for me in His time.

What is it that you are sowing and expecting something different than what you receive? Are you seeing a return on your giving that does not seem right, in the moment? What if you were to just do the work and allow God to provide the return in His time as opposed to expecting things to go the way you want them?

Singing, Demonstrating the New Self

This morning I was brought back to Colossians and the passage of putting on the new self. That self that is steeped in Christ and His example of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and love. I have to remember that as a follower of Christ, that I have been given this new self freely and have accepted, and therefore I am to demonstrate this new self.

“¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” — Colossians 3:16-17 (ESV)

And there it is, the ways in which I demonstrate this new self, teaching, admonishing, singing, and doing everything in the name of Jesus. These are outward signs of the new self and everyone should be seeing those. I have to let people see the LORD in me. I have to demonstrate His love and that I am indeed a new self and not falling into that old self that is steeped in the world.

I have studied and written about avoiding temptations as opposed to trying to overcome them. In that it was revealed to me that in order to avoid, I have to be active in something else. What a better way to avoid the old self than pouring myself into the new self that I have accepted as a gift from God. When I am doing all that is in the name of the LORD, it will be very difficult to find myself in the old self doing the things of the world. Napoleon Hill, writer of the book “Think & Grow Rich” said;

“Positive and negative emotions cannot occupy the mind at the same time. One or the other must dominate. It is your responsibility to make sure that positive emotions constitute the dominating influence of your mind.”

And he is right. I have to take note and focus on the new self and demonstrating Christ and in the process, will avoid the old self all together.

Singing gets the attention of others. Singing is bringing praise to the LORD. Singing gets us started. What a better way to demonstrate to all that we have a new self than to sing praise and thanksgiving to kick things off and then that praise and thanksgiving will lead into the continued demonstration of the new self which is filled with the Spirit and overflows with the fruit of the Spirit.

“²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” — Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

What are you demonstrating to the world? Are you allowing your old self to come through? What if you put on your new self and demonstrated that new self at all times to avoid the old self altogether?