Cherry Picking Time

It's not quite cherry-picking time here in mid-Wisconsin, yet many Christians practise this with their Bible verses throughout the year. Today's verse is an example of that - a verse that I myself have been guilty of cherry-picking.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” - Matthew 18:20

Have you ever said that before praying with someone, before a prayer meeting, or at a Bible study? As Inigo Montoya once said, "I do not think that means what you think it means." And it doesn't. That verse is actually the last verse in a passage of scripture dealing with church discipline - the disciplining of our brothers and sisters in Christ, caught in sin. Let's read the whole thing - in context.

“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.

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” - Matthew 18:15-20

These words from Jesus are an extension of the commands that God gave Moses in Deuteronomy. Another verse about what to do if someone sins.

"One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." - Deuteronomy 19:15

What Jesus was sayingin Matthew is that whenever two or more Christians gather in His name His spirit is there with them. His Word is there with us in our hearts. The Holy Spirit will be present, and we can THEN rebuke a brother or sister who is unrepentant in their sin.

It's basically like this: Would Jesus rebuke a believer and call them to repentance if He indeed found them unrepentant in their sin? Yes, I believe He would do that. And so should we.

We as believers should not be sinning. Period. And we should pray that God's Holy Spirit would reveal any sin in us, to us. God forgives us our sins, if we repent of them. If we don't repent, we will be kicked out of God's church and the doors will be shut on us. That's just the way it is in God's Kingdom.

Cherry-picking verses for our own comfort and convenience is not a good practise. 

I Will Refine Them

"You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,” declares the Lord. 7Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says: “See, I will refine and test them, for what else can I do because of the sin of my people?" - Jeremiah 9:6-7

Have you ever felt like you were being tested by God? He does that you know. God tests us and refines us. Why? To strengthen us and to make us pure.

I have heard it said that 'justification' (through faith in Christ) is immediate, sanctification takes a lifetime. Sanctification = refinement.

As we read God's Word, we learn new things or are reminded of them. This is refining. God teaches us lessons too as we live our lives. Some of them come with price tags on them. Some can be very costly if we are unwilling to be refined.

Look at the world we are living in today. Do you think we need to be refined? Or do you think it's too late for refinement to take place and God is ready to take His children out of this place and create "a new heaven and a new earth" (Revelation 21:1)

Chapters two and three of The Revelation of Jesus Christ are letters of refinement to God's churches. Like a good Father, God praised His churches for a few things but then corrected them regaring other things. Consider the church in Ephesus:

“To the church in Ephesus . . . I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first." - Revelation 2 1-5

Many of the churches of today have forgotten their first love. The same can be said for many of us as well. Jesus gave us three things to do, given our fallen nature these days.

1. Consider how far we have fallen
2. Repent
3. Do the things we did at first.

As we read the Bible, what things stand out in our hearts that need refining? Is there a particular verse that hits us extra hard? We need to repent and fix our error. Let God refine us. The refinery won't be open that much longer.

Teach

We never know when it is our turn to become a teacher. Have you had any teachable moments recently?

The apostle Paul gave us all some wise words to his second letter to Timothy, his pupil.

"You have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance," - 2 Timothy 3:10

"You must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them," - 2 Timothy 3:14

I run a disc golf league in our town. Player ages range from 49 to 17. When I noticed one of the younger players doing something incorrectly I walked up to him and said, "Watch what Josh does and how he does it."

The inexperienced learn from the experienced. Those lacking in knowledge learn from the wise.

When we see someone doing something wrong or incorrect, what do we do? There are two options. Correct them or ignore them. Ignoring things doesn't help that person. Correcting does, if done in a loving manner.

"My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 12because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." - Proverbs 3:11-12

The key to learning depends on the quality of the teacher, yes. But it also depends upon the willingness of the student to learn. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. So it is with many things. You can own a Bible but if you don't read it, what good is it?

Consider the teachings you receive in life. Are they worthy? Are they true? If they are, then follow those teachings because, as you follow and learn, it won't be long before you become the teacher. And teachers are held to a higher standard because their importance to us all. Teach well my children.

"Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." - James 3:1

Teach Your Children - Crosby, Stills and Nash

When You Love Someone

My wife and I went to visit our grand daughter yesterday. It was totally worth the trip just to hold and cuddle that soft, warm little baby. So much love! However, on the return trip we experienced a different kind of "love".

It is very close to the end of the month and, although I have heard police departments say they don't have ticket quotas, they DO have budgets with a certain amount of anticipated income based on issuing tickets. Is it just coincidence that we tend to see more police cars on the road at the end of the month than at any other time? I think not. But I digress.

Back to our trip home yesterday. We were just about home when I noticed a car parked on the side of the road. I slowed . . . just in case it was a cop car. And it was. State patrol. He was mainly interested in cars heading in the opposite direction and that's where our Bible lesson for today begins.

We passed the cop car and sure enough, here came some cars towards us, heading in his direction. They were dead meat if they were speeding. The State Patrol usually lets you get away with a few miles and hour over but not many.

I flashed my lights and the on-coming traffic - a warning that there was a police car waiting for them just around the corner. I don't do that often but I felt like doing it yesterday for some reason - perhaps it was for this story. LOL!

I looked in my rear view mirror and saw the cars hit their brakes. They were probably breaking the law by speeding and I assume they were thankful for the warning.

As we continued on our way home I began thinking about how we are ALL speeders in God's eyes. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We are guilty of breaking God's law. So who is warning us about OUR transgressions?

God's Word and The Holy Spirit. SO what do we learn from the lesson of teh speed trap? Read The Bible daily. Seek God's rebuke in your own lives before confronting a sinful brother or sister. We are not to judge those outside the church. I speak only about correcting a wayward member of God's family. And when we do so, exhibit grace and love. They will thank you for it. At least they should. All these things do in love and you will be blessed.

"Better is open rebuke than hidden love. " - Proverbs 27:5

"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." - Galatians 6:1

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector." - Matthew 18:15-17

When Should You Confront Someone About Their Sin? - John Piper
When You Love Someone - Bryan Adams