Author: BJ Armstrong

Isaiah 30-32, 1 Corinthians 5

I get tired of waiting.  To be honest I don’t even know what I am waiting for.  I mean, God promises this big life, “to the full” as he says.  I am not feeling it.  Even worse, I see trouble ahead.  The economy is questionable, health issues arise, relationships are strained, and I can’t sleep anymore. What do I do?  I run ahead of God, just like the Israelites.

The Israelites struggled.  They were under constant threat of invasion.  As a small country, they were vulnerable.  They could easily be overpowered by neighboring armies.  Tired of living in fear, they found a new solution, Egypt.  Egypt was big.  They had a huge army and Pharaoh was powerful.  So what did Israel do?  They sought to create an alliance.

An alliance, they thought, would protect them.  Once they eliminate the threat of neighboring countries, they could live free.  Even better, they would grow and prosper.  Any good alliance, after all, provides new opportunity.  Unfortunately, it is not true.  The Israelites had forgotten what happened before.  The last time, it did not end in protection and provision.  No, their alliance resulted in oppression and slavery.  This is the warning from the prophet Isaiah.  If this alliance is carried out, he warns, the Israelites will face shame and humiliation (Isaiah 30:3).

Thankfully, Isaiah does not leave Israel wanting for a solution.  Instead, he reminds them of the grace awaiting them.  The grace that is freely given and generously provided by God.  This grace, he maintains, is greater than anything they can imagine.  God’s grace eliminates darkness, binds brokenness, and heals wounds (Isaiah 30:260).  Not only that, Isaiah continues, establishes gladness in our hearts and strikes terror in our enemies (Isaiah 30:29-31).

The words of Isaiah are relevant today.  We see all kinds of alliances and solutions that will quickly solve our problems.  Money and medicine come to mind.  There are certainly more, but none of them work.  It is only through the love and grace of Jesus Christ that we will find it if we will only remember these precious words of Isaiah:

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.  (Isaiah 30:18)

Isaiah 11-13, Psalm 118, Matt 27

when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind ~Matthew 27:3

Today, in Matthew 27, we read about Judas’ victory. Or, at least, what Judas thought was going to be his victory.  He finally achieved what he set out to do. There are two reasons, I surmise, for Judas’ choices.  One is money and the other is acceptance.

Consider first that Judas was the keeper of the purse for the apostles.  Not because he was specially gifted with finances, but because was concerned with the amount of money in the purse.  Not for the benefit of Jesus, or humanity, but for his own gain.  John 12:1-8 tells us that  Judas was greedy for monetary gain.  His relationship with Jesus was nothing more than a vehicle to gain wealth.  Is that why he gave up Jesus’ location for 30 pieces of silver?   Maybe, but 30 pieces of silver is only about $600, in todays dollars.  There must be another motivation for his choices.

Perhaps Judas was also looking for the respect of men.  Looking back to Matthew 26:14-16, Judas was hanging out with men opposed to Jesus.  Given his position, I imagine that they did not fully trust him.  Maybe they made fun of him for being with Jesus.  Maybe Judas wanted to be liked by them.  We all do stupid things when we are seeking the approval of men.  I imagine Judas puffing himself up with stories about Jesus and the Apostles.  To build creditability, he chooses to make a grand gesture.  In this case, it was about selling Jesus’ location. 

Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.  Matthew 26:14-16

Once Jesus was condemned, however, Judas rethought his choices.  Realizing his fault, Judas “changed his mind.” Matthew 27:3.  I can only guess why.  Honestly, its like most things of this world.  We make choices to satisfy our desires and build our own influence, often at the cost of God’s Kingdom.  Seriously, think about a time when you were tempted to compromise your values for something that you would gain.  Maybe its an oversight on your taxes, or taking credit for someone else’s work so that your boss will see you in a better light.  Maybe, like Judas, we are ok with your choices. Truth is, we are ok with our choices until there are consequences.  That’s what happened to Judas.

When Judas saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind.  Matthew 27:3

Perhaps we have all experienced what Judas felt in Matthew 27, realizing that our gain is actually a huge loss.  When that happens, don’t we do exactly what Judas did in verse 3?  We change our minds!  Sadly, for Judas, it was too late.  He could not see past his betrayal.  The only restitution he could think of was death.

We do have an option.  Today, and everyday, we can choose life.  Simply put our faith in Him and His goodness.  Nothing else.  Before, it’s too late.

Isaiah 4-6, Matthew 23

Sometimes, Jesus is inconvenient.  Lots of times, Jesus behaves differently than we want him to.  Maybe we got overlooked for that promotion, or our health is failing.  There is no end to the troubles in this world.  Would you like to make it easier?

Good, so would I.  Now, all we have to do is control God.  I bet that if we do certain things, everything will go our way.  We can start by going to church on Sunday.  Not just this Sunday but EVERY Sunday.  Then, we can give a little more.  In fact, we can celebrate how much we give.  Heck, they might even name the next building after me!  Don’t forget about sharing.  We must tell everyone we know how great Jesus is and how great he has made our lives.  If we do all of those things, and maybe a few others along the way, God will take good care of us, right?

Wrong.  It doesn’t work that way.  That is what Jesus is trying to tell us today in Matthew 23.  The Pharisees had been trying it for years.  Follow the rules, spread the word, and give lots of money.  Jesus wasn’t having it.  “Woe to you!” he warned.  None of these things return righteousness.  None of these bring life.  None of these make you worthy.

What, then, God?  What will make us worthy?  Albert Tate heard these words from the Holy Spirit when asking similar questions.  They are true for us too.

Albert, when you studied all week, you still weren’t worthy. When you prayed all night, you still weren’t worthy. Your worthiness to stand and declare the truths of My gospel isn’t based on your preparation. It’s not based on your prayer life or the work that you’ve put in. Yes, it’s important that you do that work, but don’t you associate that work with your worth. Your worth was never your work. Your worth was always, always based on my work. All the work I’ve done in your life, it was always about My grace. It was about My grace on your worst day, and on your most prepared day. Either day, you’re still unworthy. But what makes you worthy is My grace alone.

His grace and our willingness to embrace it is the difference between being religious and being saved.

Tate, Albert. Disobedient God (p. 95). FaithWords. Kindle Edition.

I once answered an interview question that asked, “How long would you fail at a task before you quit?”  Now remember, this was an interview.  My foolish answer was, “I’m not a quitter.”    I say that because I am, and you probably are too.

Don’t worry; we are in good company.  The disciples quit too.  Look at the story starting at Matthew 17:14.  A man brought to them a demon-possessed boy for healing.  They tried everything they knew, but it didn’t work.  So, what did they do?  They quit.

What does that mean?  It means that they gave up hope and bailed.  Can you imagine looking at the man and the boy in their desperate situation and saying, “Sorry, we can’t do it, see you later.  Have a nice life.”

The truth is that we do it all the time.  That’s right; we give up.  Most times, we don’t even try.  Remember that homeless man you passed on the street corner?  He was asking for help too.  But I didn’t stop.  Why not?  Because, like the disciples, I don’t believe I can make a difference.

Jesus’ response was appropriate.  “Faithless generation,” he calls them.  “how long do I have to put up with you?” He asks with disgust.  Thankfully, this is not the story’s end for the boy or the disciples.  The boy gets the healing he needs and the disciples learn some valuable lessons.

For instance, the disciples could have approached Jesus humbly and honestly, seeking his guidance rather than running.  They could have provoked God’s intercession through prayer and they could have simply trusted that God will do what he say’s he will do.  In short, they proved their lack of faith by accepting their human limitations and not turning to God.

At the time, the disciples didn’t think they were quitting. Instead, they accepted the task as impossible.  But Jesus said otherwise, “Nothing will be impossible for you.”  Now, they know better.  They know their failure is directly linked to their lack of faith.  Now, we know better too.

Amos 1-3, Matthew 13

In today’s reading of Matthew 13, we encounter Jesus talking in more parables.  What are parables, exactly?  Parables are short, simple stories that convey a moral or spiritual lesson.  There are several reasons that Jesus chose to communicate with parables.

Accessibility: Jesus used parables to make complex spiritual and moral lessons accessible to diverse audiences. By using familiar scenarios and everyday situations, he could connect with people from different backgrounds and walks of life.

Engagement: Parables are inherently engaging and thought-provoking. They capture the audience’s attention and encourage them to think deeply about the underlying message. Parables allowed Jesus to convey profound truths in a way that held people’s interest.

Memorability: The storytelling nature of parables made them easier to remember.  When people remember it, they will share it.

Protection: In some instances, Jesus used parables to convey sensitive or controversial teachings without attracting unnecessary opposition or persecution. The symbolic language of parables allowed him to deliver challenging messages while providing a degree of protection from immediate backlash.

Spiritual Revelation: Parables often contain hidden meanings and profound spiritual truths. Jesus explained the meanings of some parables to his disciples privately, giving them insights into the mysteries of the kingdom of God.

Self-Reflection: Parables required active participation from the audience. Listeners had to ponder the stories and discern the moral or spiritual implications, which encouraged self-reflection and personal growth.

These reasons are fine, but there is a catch to parables.   You must be willing to hear (Matthew 13:43).   Author John Macarthur puts it this way, “If a person rejects the propositional truth being illustrated by a parable, of course, it remains an open riddle.”

MacArthur, John F.. Parables: The Mysteries of God’s Kingdom Revealed Through the Stories Jesus Told (p. xviii). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

2 Kings 9-10, Psalm 49, Matthew 7

Matthew 7:14 (ESV) For the gate is narrow, and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

One story captures this idea of a narrow gate and a difficult path better than any.  It is Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan.  The story is about a journey of a man named, Christian.  Throughout the story, Christian faces various challenges and meets characters like Evangelist, Faithful, and Hopeful, who aid him in staying on the narrow path. He endures the Slough of Despond, the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and battles with Apollyon and the temptations of Vanity Fair. These trials test his commitment to righteousness and deepen his reliance on God’s grace.

All too often, however, we fail to stay on the path.  Perhaps it happens most when we encounter difficulty.  Bunyan describes it excellently.

As Christian proceeds on the narrow path, he comes to a foot of a hill called “difficulty.”  “There were also in the same place two other paths besides that which came straight from the gate; one turned to the left and the other to the right at the bottom of the hill, but the narrow path went right up the hill, and it was called Difficulty. Christian now went to the spring and drank to refresh himself and then began to go up the hill, saying:

The hill, though high, I covet to ascend,

The difficulty will not me offend;

For I perceive the way to life lies here.

Come, pluck up heart, let’s neither faint nor fear;

Better, though difficult, the right way to go,

Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe.”

 

Bunyan, John. The New Pilgrim’s Progress . Discovery House. Kindle Edition.

2 Chronicles 19-20, 2 Kings 1, Psalm 20, Matt 3

There used to be a man that would preach on the quad at ISU.  “Fornicators!” he would shout at the top of his lungs to draw attention, “Repent!” He would cry out.  Occasionally, a small crowd would gather to listen more carefully but quickly turned away, snickering and mocking the idiot standing on the box.

I don’t imagine this being much different from John the Baptist.  Here was a man dressed in camel hair and a leather belt.  This strange man was issuing a warning, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2 (ESV).  Still, people came to listen.  But, they did not just listen, “They were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.” Clearly, they were not concerned about his appearance or repulsed by his tough message.  They didn’t snicker, and they didn’t come up with ways to tear him down.  Instead, their hearts burned within them, and their burning hearts cried out for mercy.

At that moment, it was evident that the only path to mercy was repentance. This is the cry of John the Baptist’s heart. Not because he wanted followers but because he knew God. People followed him; people listened to him because he looked like Jesus. He looked like Jesus because that is who he spent time with.

Two other scriptures come to mind when I think about this.  The first is in Exodus 34:29-35. Moses had been with God on Mount Sinai.  When he came down, “Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.” (Exodus 34:30). The second is after Jesus’ crucifixion on the road to Emmaus.  Two men were walking along talking when a strange man joined their conversation.  Upon his departure, they knew something was different.  They remarked, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32)

I am sure that the preacher on ISU’s campus had great intentions.  So do I.  As I consider the effort I put into becoming a better leader, speaker, father, husband, and friend, it is clear that I am missing the mark.  The only way to become who I am created to be is to spend my time with my Creator.

Ecclesiastes 4-6, Psalm 125, 2 Tim 2

Solomon like to talk about toil.  Toil, according to Merrium-Webster, is more than work.  It is laborious, burdensome, and exhausting work.  Toil also implies a grind.  A lot of action with little or no forward progress.  Yet we persist.  To alleviate our pain, we shift our strategies.  We set new goals and seek new positions, thinking these will finally fill our hearts.  Surely, these will bring joy and put an end to our toil.

Not so, says Solomon.  He says, “I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”  Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 (ESV)

The truth is that we have gotten it backward.  The gift of joy does not come from our work, achievements, and possessions.  It comes only from the love of God in our hearts.  God “keeps him occupied with joy in his heart” through it.

Ravi Zacharias sums this up well, saying, “It is far easier for man to worship God in his toil than in his heart.”

1 Kings 7, 2 Chronicles 4, Psalms 44, 1 Timothy 2

Problems are part of life.  Much of our daily efforts are an attempt to solve our problems.  Take money, for example.  If you are struggling to make ends meet, you may work harder so that you make more money.  But, the additional money and time spent only creates new problems.  This is true for relationships too.  We think we would have more friends if we were funnier, skinnier, or drove a better car.  But, no matter how hard we try, they don’t work.  They never will.  How long will you try before turning to God?

The Psalmist in Psalms 44 takes a minute to remember.  As he does, something special comes to light.  He realizes that there is nothing special about the Israelites.  They were not taller, smarter, prettier, or richer than their neighbors.  In fact, they were not even stronger.  He recalls,

They did not conquer the land with their swords;

it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory.

So what was it?  What made them successful in battle and prosperous in everything they did?  It was the hand of God.  He says it this way,

It was your right hand and strong arm

and the blinding light from your face that helped them,

for you loved them.  Psalms 44:3 (NLT)

I don’t know what problem you are trying to solve or what hurt you are trying to heal, but I do know that there is only one path; Jesus.  I know that he is standing, patiently with his hand extended and asking, “Do you want to be healed?” (Matt 5:6)

Song of Solomon 4-6, 2 Thessalonians 1

The church of Thessalonica faced intense persecution.  We know they were frustrated and discouraged, but Paul does not describe how the Thesolonicans were persecuted. It probably looked like ridicule.  People would shout at them with insults and call them names. They were slandered and mocked.  Kind of like today.  I only have to name Planned Parenthood, or LGBTQ, for you to quickly remember that Christians are often targets. What about prayer in schools or the woke movement?  You and I both know that the world calls us not only to tolerate but to accept and even celebrate these divergent points of view.  Our failure to comply has consequences.  Those consequences, my friends, are called persecution.  It feels bad.  It’s easy to get discouraged.

As a leader, Paul knew that the general discouragement of the Thessalonians could be deadly.  He was not about to let that happen, so he wrote this simple letter of encouragement.  His words are as true today as they were then.

Good job! He reminds them.  Your suffering is evidence that God is with you v5.

Don’t worry, you will win, and God will be your relief. v6 – 10.

He will empower you.  This is not going to end soon, so have faith that God is near v11

He will be glorified, and you will be with him. You will prevail. v12