Jesus, Put Forward

Jesus took away our sins by dying on the cross. He willfully came forward to atone for our sin, all of us. He accepted the punishment for our sin so that we would be spared the wrath of God. Our only part in the process is to have faith in Him and the actions that he took on our behalf.

“²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.” – Romans 3:23-25 (ESV)

“⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 (ESV)

But wait, there is more to the scene. I tend to forget this part, even with likely the most quoted verse from Jesus, John 3:16. I tend to forget that Jesus was sent. God purposefully made the decision for Jesus to come to this world and die for me. Jesus was put forward to pacify the wrath of God on us. God intentionally sent His son for me and you. God gave the way out through Jesus.

We are filled with sin and deserve to die, yet God made a way for us to avoid that death, Jesus. All we have to do is believe, trust and have faith in Him and what He did for us, and we avoid the consequence of our sin, death. But we cannot forget that Jesus was sent by the Father, His Father, to pay the price for our sin. Yes, Jesus willingly came and obeyed, but we must also remember that He was put forward on our behalf.

There is so much for me to be thankful for in this world. I have a wonderful mother, a beautiful wife, and two great sons. Yet even with all of those things, the most important and valuable is my faith in Jesus and the thanks to Him and my Father in Heaven. Jesus came willingly after being put forward to atone for my sin. Thank you Jesus, LORD!

What do your remember of Jesus coming to save you? Do you only remember Jesus dying for our sins? What do you remember about how Jesus came, that He was put forward intentionally to pay for your sins?

Believe and Receive

It is no coincidence that things of today are mimicking things of old. We are using metal reusable containers and have taken a step back from disposable. There is a push to renovate old homes as opposed to building new ones. We are being encouraged to have more children as was the case in the 40s and 50s. And ways to go about things in life are recycled as new when they really come from days of old. This is where I find myself this morning.

Napoleon Hill wrote a book that was published in 1937, “Think and Grow Rich”. The idea behind the book is that before you take any action, you should think things through fully and believe them to come true and ultimately they will. This may seem like a novel concept from 1937 that can and should be brought into the now as we continue to evolve in this world. But 1937 is not the old becoming new again. This is something that comes from much further back than 1937.

“²⁴Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” – Mark 11:24 (ESV)

You see, Jesus gave us this when He walked on this earth. We are to believe in something and it will be made true. We are to trust in the LORD fully, knowing that He will provide for us, and He will do so.

Here is where things get muddy for us as humans. We ask for things and expect them to be provided for just as we ask them. We ask for transportation and miss that God provided a bus route near our home as opposed to providing a car. We ask for a meal for the family and yet we threw out that food bank advertisement that came in the mail. We expect God to provide for us just as we want Him to provide. He does not work that way, at least most of the time.

I have been struggling with a few things and have asked God to provide for my struggles. My idea of God providing is to have the other involved be convicted to the point of change. Well, in His ultimate wisdom, that may or may not be the case. God has provided me with more guidance to help me to change to help remedy the struggle. Now the other may still change as well, but that is not for me to pine over. I have to let God do the work that He is going to do. I have to believe that He will guide me through this and I know that it starts with His work in me.

The idea of receiving when we believe it is not a new concept in life. Napoleon Hill published the idea in 1937. But, it was even before then, Jesus gave it to us about 2000 years before that. We will be rich with what God provides when we believe He can and will. What we receive may not be in the exact manner or timing we were looking for, but He will provide. Our role in the process is to believe and know that we will receive.

What are you looking for in life? Are you out there expecting to work for it and get it? What if you believed you were going to receive and know that the LORD will provide?

Give without Receiving

How is it that we are to go about in this world? Well, we are to give to the betterment of others and for the glory of God. We are to go out into the day and think solely in how can I make the life of others better and bring glory to the LORD in the process.

“⁸Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. ⁹Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, ¹⁰no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.” – Matthew 10:8-10 (ESV)

In the above verses Jesus is giving instruction to the 12 apostles as He has sent them out to deliver the gospel just as they had received it, for free. He points out to them that they are not to expect or require anything for the journey. The 12 are to go and focus on giving the word of God to the people just as it was given to them.

You see, the apostles received without paying anything. Yes, Jesus came to them and asked them to give up their lives and follow Him, so you might think that they paid with their lives. But here’s the thing, they did not have to go with Jesus and what did they really get in this world. The received ridicule, hardship, hunger, thirst, and a whole host of other calamities in their choice. They may have been better off staying with where they were, at least in this world. What they received was not of this world. Remember that we/they are just passing through this world on way to heaven. We receive our reward there and maybe not in this world.

Jesus did not give to the apostles because they paid a sum to gain access. He gave to the apostles out of love and sacrifice. We are to do the same. We are to give to others without expectation of anything in return. We are to give freely and see the joy on the faces of others and know that we have done a thing that the LORD is proud. We are to provide for the needs of the people and not be concerned with our own reward, for we have already received it in our salvation.

I know what you are thinking, as I think it myself, and am really struggling with it. What keeps us from being taken advantage of by others realizing that we just keep giving without asking for anything in return? Well, Jesus addresses that as well in the below verses.

“¹¹And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. ¹²As you enter the house, greet it. ¹³And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.” – Matthew 10:11-14 (ESV)

We are to leave it behind and not think of it any longer as we move on to the next. If there is no appreciation or receipt, then it is not in our interest to keep giving and waste our time and energy. It is a challenging thing to give and then end up leaving, but we are not here to pour good into perpetual bad. Once we realize that continuing to give does not change the outcome, then we move on. This saying rings true in this situation, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result”. We have to move on to the next when we realize there is no change.

Now, I want to be cautious here and say that walking away from those who do not do things your way is the order of business. With those we love and who are part of us personally there is deeper understanding and tolerance. I give freely to my family without expectation of receiving in return. I don’t expect them to pay me for being dad or husband. I will not leave them for not giving back, but I will let them know when I am hurt. I will let them know when my tank is empty. I will let them know when I will not be able to give because I feel taken advantage. I will let them know that I have wants and needs as well and they do go beyond just seeing them joyful.

I have to give without receiving to get my reward. What I receive may not be in this world as my forever home is not here, but that should not stop me from giving to and for the betterment of others and the glory of God. I have been tasked with giving by God. I received the gospel and grace and mercy without paying for it and I should be giving the gospel and grace and mercy without seeking payment.

What is your view of giving without receiving? Are you reluctant to do things for others without getting paid, whether monetarily or socially? What if you were to give as Jesus gave and instructed the apostles, without receiving, but just to give?

Reward Received

When is it that we receive reward for our work? I am sure that you would agree that receiving reward is shortly after the work. Whether that is in payment or benefit or even in award, as man we take action to see return of some kind. We are quite proud of the work we do, in fact, we like to call attention to ourselves as we work to ensure that everyone can recognize us for it. And we should be. Although who is the work for, us or for those who are in need.

When it comes to helping out with the needs of others, we should be a bit more quiet. I am not saying that we should hide our work and ensure that we are always in the shadows. That really does not work either, as we will miss opportunities to do good in the interest of anonymity. We should feel good about doing work and bringing some assistance to others. Yet we have to be careful of our motives in the process of giving to the needy.

“¹Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.” – Matthew 6:1-2 (ESV)

Here we see that Jesus is warning against the open display of and attention bringing to our work in the helping of others. He shows us that those who actively make it a point to draw attention to themselves are receiving their reward at that time. People seeing them doing the work is the reward. They have made it a point for everyone to know the work they have done and in so doing have been rewarded. They may receive some acknowledgment or award in the public square in the moment. They have received their reward.

“³But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” – Matthew 6:3-4 (ESV)

Now look to what Jesus says about how we should do our work for the needy. We should just do the work and not make a spectacle. We should be those who just do the work. When volunteering at the food bank, just go and do. When the neighbor needs some assistance with the yard work, just bring your mower and trimmer and help out. When someone is struggling with replacing the battery in their vehicle, offer up your tools for them to use and bring your hands to assist. There is no need to call things out on social media. There is no reason to call the papers. We don’t point out the work done in the company of others. We are to just do the work to help those in need.

I look at my giving and see that I just do the work without fanfare. Our church is a plant and we currently meet on Sundays in a school. This means that we have to set up and tear down the space each Sunday. We have been doing so for six years and in that time, I have been a part of the group that tears down for all six years. In fact, beyond our pastor, I believe that I may be the only one who has given to the church this way for the entire time. I don’t ask for anything or draw attention to myself at all, I just do the work that I am asked to take on as part of my duty. I know that God sees the work I am doing and He will reward me in due time.

Jesus points that out our reward in verse four above. God will reward us for the work, as He has seen us. We may not get a public announcement. We may not receive a plaque from the community. Others may not even see us, but God does. He knows how we are bringing relief to others. He knows the work we take on. He knows our value and He will reward that in due time. Our reward is from the LORD and not from man. Our reward is received in the work performed and from the LORD.

Again, as a man I have this innate desire to be recognized for what I have done. I don’t think that there is anything wrong with that, otherwise why do the work. The thing is, who am I seeking recognition from. I have to remember that I am only passing through this world on my way to heaven when the LORD calls me home. I am to look to Him for my reward and not be concerned with the recognition from man. My reward is received from the LORD.

Where are you receiving your reward? Are you seeking recognition in the now for the work you do from the public space? What if you were to just do the work the LORD has for you knowing that your reward is received from Him?

Christ’s Rewards are Shared with Disciples

“⁴⁰Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. ⁴¹The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴²And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” – Matthew 10:40-42 (ESV)

I am continuing my study of the word “disciple” and this morning I am still in Matthew 10 as Jesus is directly speaking to, instructing, and guiding His disciples. A disciple can only be like his teacher as Jesus indicates when speaking to them (Matthew 10:24-25a). And that carries forward in the rewards that are received as a result of being a disciple and doing the work of Christ.

In the above verses, we see that as we do the work of Christ, we are working on His behalf and we are received as Christ is received. We are treated as Christ is treated. And we are rewarded as Christ is rewarded.

The reward that we receive is as Christ would receive for the work. That reward could be persecution or consolation. Either way, we can expect a “shared” reward with Christ. The reward is shared as remember, we are like Jesus and as such we receive as He receives. We do not share our reward with Christ in the sense that we are allowing Him a portion of our reward, we receive a share of His reward for being disciples of Jesus.

I am embarking on a discipleship journey this week to be more like Christ every day. I had not really thought of being rewarded as a share of Christ’s reward until reading and studying this morning. I am proud to be a follower of Christ and have a better understanding of my reward as a result. My reward is not my own, but a share of the reward of Christ.

What is your thought on the reward you receive? Are you looking at things from the selfish side and the reward is all yours? What if you approached the work you do for Christ as being his disciple and knowing that the reward you receive is a share of the reward He receives?