Define Wicked

Posted on May 24, 2019 by jesustrek

When you hear the word “wicked”, what do you think of? We might think of terrorism, sexual immorality, murder, stealing, lying, child abuse, etc. There are many actions that most Christians have no problem calling “wicked”.

However, Jesus seems to have a much broader definition of the word “wicked” than many of us do. In the parable of the three servants in Matthew 25, the master says to the third man, “You wicked, lazy servant!” (Matthew 25:26). Why was he wicked? Simply because he had neglected to fulfill his duty. Jesus says that wickedness includes not using what we have been given. Wickedness in this case is just plain old laziness. According to Jesus’ definition of wickedness, there must be a lot of wicked people in a lot of churches, because there are a lot of people who profess to follow Jesus, but aren’t doing anything to prove their faith!

May we always allow Jesus to have the last word! In this case, let us allow Jesus to define “wicked” for us. And let us never fall into a wicked, lazy lifestyle!

 

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Gifted Differently

Posted on May 22, 2019 by jesustrek

We like to say that we are all created equal, but we aren’t. Not really. Some people are so naturally beautiful that they could be actors or models. Others of us look like we fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down!

Some people could look at a huge project and in just a few minutes have it organized in their mind. Other people couldn’t organize a two-car parade!

The Bible says that we all have different gifts and abilities. Just like the human body is made up of many parts with various functions, the body of Christ (the Church) is made up of different parts. Each part has its own function.

Let’s understand that we are gifted differently, and let’s appreciate each other’s contribution to the body of Christ while fulfilling our own function.

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us…”—Romans 12:6

 

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Held Accountable

Posted on May 20, 2019 by jesustrek

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells a parable about three servants who were entrusted with a sum of money to be invested for him. After a period of time, the master held the servants accountable for their actions. The first two showed a return for their investment, and they were praised and rewarded by the master. The third servant, however, failed to gain anything for the master. He hid the money that was entrusted to him and gave it back to him without any gain whatsoever. This servant was harshly criticized and severely punished.

John MacArthur says, “The third servant…put aside what God had given him and went about his own selfish business. He called himself a servant of God but demonstrated conclusively he was not…The failure of the third servant to use that with which he had been entrusted by his master represents the emptiness, uselessness, and worthlessness of a life in which profession of faith in Christ is proved false and meaningless by the careless waste of privilege and opportunity.”

Like the three servants in the parable, we all will be held accountable for our decisions about being faithful in our service to Jesus. Let’s make sure that he finds us faithful!

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”—Matthew 25:21

 

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Jesus Our Lord

Posted on May 17, 2019 by jesustrek

“You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”—1 Corinthians 6:20.

Stephen Olford says, “Jesus died to purchase us completely…there is no part of us that has not been bought outright. Christ alone owns our eyes to view His world. He alone owns our hands to serve His will. He alone owns our feet to walk His way. He alone owns our mind to think His thoughts. He alone owns our hearts to love Him fervently. He alone owns our personalities to radiate His charm and glory. Failure to recognize this is a refusal to recognize His sovereignty.”

Is Jesus your Lord? Any area of your life that isn’t covered by the lordship of Jesus is in danger. You are Satan’s target. Some of us need to reaffirm the lordship of Jesus. Others, perhaps for the first time, need to bow before Jesus and settle the issue—is Jesus your Lord?

“Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord” and do not do what I say?”—Luke 6:46

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Joy of Serving

Posted on May 15, 2019 by jesustrek

Warren Wiersbe

“…the joy of the Lord is your strength.”—Nehemiah 8:10

“No matter what kind of Christian service God has called you to, it’s a privilege to be in ministry and to serve Jesus Christ. In some ways, it’s the hardest work in the world; but in many ways, it’s the happiest work in the world. Yes, it has its tears and trials, but it also has its joys and triumphs; and the best is yet to come!—Warren Wiersbe

Let us be reminded that we followers of Jesus are all in the ministry—whether we are paid or not. 1 Peter 2:5 says, “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

May our service to God be acceptable, and may we do it joyfully!

 

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Ticket to Ride

Posted on May 13, 2019 by jesustrek

I am told that there were different types of tickets you could buy to ride on a stagecoach back in the frontier days.

If you bought a first-class ticket you could remain seated, no matter what. If the stagecoach got stuck in the mud or a wheel came off or the axle broke, first-class ticket holders remained seated at all times.

Second-class ticket holders could sit down until there was a problem. Then they had to get off, but they could stand in the shade and watch while others fixed the problem. When the problem was fixed they got back on the stagecoach.

Those with third-class tickets could sit until there was a problem. When they got off, they had to help fix the problem. If the coach was stuck in the mud, third-class ticket holders had to help get it unstuck. If the stagecoach had to be pushed up a hill, third-class ticket holders had to push. If the wheel broke, third-class ticket holders had to lift up the stagecoach so the wheel could be replaced.

Which type of ticket-holder best represents the way you serve the Lord?

“…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”—Matthew 20:26-28

 

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Mama’s Boy

Posted on May 10, 2019 by jesustrek

A mother was concerned about her only son going off to college. She wrote the following letter to the college president:

“Dear Sir: My son has been accepted for admission to your college and soon he will be leaving me. I am writing to ask that you give your personal attention to the selection of his roommate. I want to be sure that his roommate is not the kind of person who uses foul language, or tells off-color jokes, smokes, drinks, or chases after girls. I hope you will understand why I am appealing to you directly. You see, this is the first time my son will be away from home, except for his three years in the Marine Corps.”

Some mothers tend to be over-protective, but we have to be thankful for moms who want the best for their children.

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”—2 Timothy 1:5

 

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Food Available

Posted on May 9, 2019 by jesustrek

Last fall my wife and I put a bird feeder outside our living room window. We hoped to attract some birds that would entertain us and to offer some food to our little feathered friends to help them make it through the winter.

To our dismay, the birds completely ignored the feeder. All winter long, we did not see a single bird come to the feeder. Only recently, the first week of May, have the birds discovered the food that was available to them all along.

God has made spiritual food available to us, but so many people have yet to figure out that this much-needed sustenance is there for them. Let us do everything we can to help people discover that God has given them the Bible as spiritual food, and that his Son Jesus is the bread of life.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”—Psalm 34:8

 

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The Reason for Our Courage

Posted on May 8, 2019 by jesustrek

“But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’”—Matthew 14:27

The disciples of Jesus were terrified when they saw him walking on water. But he spoke to their fears, telling them to be courageous, not fearful. Notice the short phrase in the middle of the above verse—“It is I.”

Earlier, Jesus had amazed his disciples with his ability to calm the raging winds and waves on the lake by merely speaking to them (Matthew 8:23-27). Now, he further exhibits his control over nature by actually walking on water! His powerful presence was all that was needed to drive away their fears.

It is the presence of Jesus that allows us to be courageous and fearless. We who follow him have witnessed his power and control. We trust him to see us through even the fiercest of life’s storms. When life gets scary, look to Jesus. He is the source of our courage.

 

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Stay in Your Lane

Posted on May 7, 2019 by jesustrek

2019 Kentucky Derby

Maximum Security crossed the finish line first in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. However, the horse was disqualified when race stewards determined that it had interfered with several horses. Maximum Security’s jockey, Luis Saez, thinks that the horse drifted out of his lane after becoming spooked by the crowd noise. In any case, Country House, a 65-1 longshot that had been the second horse to cross the finish line, was declared the winner of the race.

Those of us who follow Jesus need to be sure that we stay in our lane. We must not be frightened or confused by the “crowd”. We must stay on the right path, all the way to the finish line.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”—Matthew 7:13-14

 

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