"I will; be Clean"

Matthew 8:1-4

“I will; be clean.”

Could it be that religion has kept many from experiencing the healing touch of our Lord?  Religion comes with dos and don’ts and as we examine this story of the leper, it seems very familiar to most of the encounters Jesus had in the Scripture with people who came to Him with an unfixable need. 

Let’s begin as Jesus is coming down from the mountain and a great crowd followed him.  We pick up the story in verse 2-4, “And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

For my readers who are rule keepers, you are not going to like this leper, for he is breaking all the rules of his society, in that he is not to come near a person who does not have leprosy.  The leper is unclean, and the following is what was required: “The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’  He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.” (Leviticus 13:45-46)  Does the leper not understand the rules, not a chance, for years he has lived outside the camp, but today he’s going for broke; he is an outcast, a person of little or no worth to society, but he has heard of Jesus who cares for such as him.  So he comes with all to gain and nothing to lose, he comes believing, his own words make that clear, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” Now something happened that day that had not happened in that man’s life for years; a person without leprosy touched him.  “And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

Religion would punish anyone who broke such a law, maybe put such a one to death, he was unclean, he was outside of the camp, and you may also find that religion and society has put you outside the camp, but if you will do as the leper, and kneel before Jesus and confess that “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” He will! 

You may want to read what the Lord told the leper to do that was in keeping with the Law given to Moses in Leviticus 14.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Wowed by a Speaker

Matthew 7:28-29

And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

When was the last time you were wowed by the words of a speaker?  Now, I’m not referring to how well they spoke, or their humor, not even being able to hold a group’s attention; when was the last time you experienced someone whose words were true and they spoke as one who had authority?  Maybe we should first define authority: “It is the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience, a person or organization having power or control in a particular, typically political or administrative, sphere, the power to influence others, esp. because of one's commanding manner or one's recognized knowledge about something.”  (Dictionary)

It has been stated that the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible, and with that said, let us explore what it has to say about Jesus as the authority.  In the gospel by John, we have these words from Jesus: “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58)  You might want to give thought to John 17:5, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”  Last, let me share this truth from our Savior; “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

You might wonder where did authority come from, and Jesus answered the question in Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” And to whom is he talking, the eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee who have come, after His resurrection, to worship him.  Some who read this may have reservations, if so, your not that odd, look at Matthew 28:17, “And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.”  Those doubters became world changers after Pentecost, and I am sure they remembered the words of Jesus found in the Acts of the Apostles, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:8-9)

Jesus has made it very clear, He does not need man’s approval, for He understands what is in the heart of mankind, but this is what the people said after listening to his message: “The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this?  A new teaching – and with authority!  He even gives orders to the evil spirits and they obey him.”

The Bible has warned us about a time when people will no longer bow to authority; it is this writer’s belief that we are in the time.  As I was often told a word to the wise is sufficient, let this be to the wise: “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done.”  (Revelation 22:12)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Applying the Truths the Holy Spirit Reveals

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

It was the year 1970 and our home was destroyed, as were many others when hurricane Celia visited Corpus Christi on August 3.  Why is this relevant, because it required laying a foundation and hiring a builder, and one of the guys that worked for the builder became our Bible teacher, and we used that house to invite the teenage class we were teaching to come hear and learn from Chris?  I learned during the building of the house that Chris was a Dallas Theological graduate, and an out of work pastor who was hungry to share and equip others to grow in their faith.  Chris would often tell the group that it would be wise to not come to the studies, unless we were planning on applying the truths  the Holy Spirit revealed from the Bible, for God would hold us accountable.

I was a young man in my late twenty’s at that point, full of zeal, but with little knowledge and a lot of rules, and only a small amount of truth applied to my life.  The writer is now 71, and the words of Chris are piercing, because of the many-bought lessons, the many long and costly detours that would not have happened, if only I had acted like Jesus tells the truth.

In spite of my lack of faith, the Father has been faithful to me; not because of anything but His great love, and yet I carry scars because of my unbelief.  How wise you and I would be today if we would confess when we hear the words Jesus has spoken to us in His handbook about life on planet earth. Yet many have bought into the foolishness of and the lust of this world.  Has not Scripture stated: “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1John 2:17)

I was also told as a young man that a word to the wise is sufficient, but there is a problem with the statement, not in it’s truth, but many a hearer has a false concept of being a wise man.  Jesus has said; “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”  In the gospel according to Luke, we have this statement from Jesus; “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46)  Jesus goes on to state what a hearer and a doer are like: “he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.  And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” (Luke 6:48)

Without any doubt we in the United States of America have been blessed with freedoms that few people have enjoyed, but it has come with a very high cost.  And yet have we used that gift to do as we please and what is the outcome of leaving the foundation this nation was founded on?  Never in my 71 years have we had more distrust of government, never have I seen more people living on the dole, (government unemployment payment) and many of them believe that they are entitled, the family and the Church are under attack, and it is a matter of time until inflation will destroy our dollar.  Does it not come back to our foundation not being founded on a rock, but on the best that the world has to offer?  Now the good news, it is never too late to repent, that means to turn around and go the other way, to confess your foolish ways to the Lord, and ask the Lord to bring you into applied Truth.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The USA is at a crossroad

Matthew 7:15-16

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?”

It could be said that the church in the USA is at a crossroad, a time where the people are use to being entertained, they want the bells and whistle sermons, but many never apply the teachings of the Scriptures; we live in one of the most dangerous times, and yet most Christians have no clue to that fact.  The foundation of the family and marriage is under assault, Christian values are being removed from the culture, and yet few give little thought to a deceiver and spend more time on things of no eternal importance.  Why did Jesus tell us to “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves?”  It is so important to ask these questions, is the message I’m being fed based on making me feel good, making me comfortable, or is it based on Scripture that often addresses my lack of faith and makes me uncomfortable at times.

This writer has come to this conclusion; my flesh cannot be trusted, it desires to be in charge, it likes to do what it wants to do, when it wants to do it, and that is a formula for rebellion and failure.  As I’ve studied Scripture, it has become apparent that I’m not the only one with this problem, in fact, it is problematic of mankind, flesh desires to be in charge, to rule, to be the authority.  So has God spoken in His handbook on life about such flesh and the answer is yes and often.

If we look back to the children of the promise coming out of Egypt after 400 years of being slaves, they would rebel every time things did not go their way.  And what did they want, Egypt, and it mattered not that Egypt meant being a slave.  They had become familiar with its ways and its culture, it was a pagan culture, a culture of false worship, and false gods, but it was what the flesh longed for.  This is the end game of a rebellious people found in Isaiah 30:8-11, “And now, go, write it before them on a tablet

and inscribe it in a book that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever.  For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord; who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.”

Many in the church have no understanding of Scripture, they have no understanding of the voice of the enemy who mask their voice, so they are easily deceived by the one Jesus calls the thief.  Jesus said; “I am the good shepherd.  I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:14-15)  A question I ask often is, whose voice am I hearing?  You will recognize them by their fruits.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

It goes against the culture

Matthew 7:12-14

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

It is so important for the Church to do as our Lord is instructing us in verse 12, it seems so easy; just treat others as you would want to be treated.  But it is not easy because many of us are so enamored with self, our wants, and our programs that we forget to do unto others, as we would have them do unto us.

Now with that backdrop shall we explore verses 13-14, “Enter by the narrow gate.  For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”  Jesus is using the metaphor gate; wide and narrow to explain who will end-up in heaven, and He goes on to explain that few will find it.  Billy Graham has said, for the record, that many who attend church each Sunday, who are on Church roles and do a lot of good things will not find it, because they try to enter the gate by their value system, and not by grace, not by brokenness, and humbling themselves and coming to the Lord to exchange the self life for a life of forgiveness and by grace and truth, by faith.

Billy Graham made a bold statement that over half of Church members are trying to get to God on their terms, and that puts them in the wide gate church that leads to destruction.  But from a truth standpoint whose words hold more value, Billy Graham’s or Jesus; who is Truth.  Now I am not saying Graham is wrong, but I hope that he is, then I read what Jesus said in John 10:1-10, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.  But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the gatekeeper opens.  The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.  A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”  The Pharisees and others who were listening did not understand what Jesus was saying to them, so Jesus said again: “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.  I am the door.  If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

My friend Bill often gave this example of the Christian life, as a small one lane road going down the middle of an 18 lane super highway in the opposite direction. And as I follow Christ, it seems a good analogy.  The thief is a master at deception, he has many who are willing to carry the water for him, and it is easy to find the Christ life hard, and that is because it goes against the culture, and it requires that we follow Jesus and act out what the handbook on life tells us to do.  And remember to ask the Helper to help you on that narrow road, he understands your weaknesses, He knows you by name, and He loves you beyond all understanding.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year

Jan and my prayer  is for you and your families a Merry Christmas, and blessings of the Father in the New Year.  Our prayer is for the peace and joy of Christ who is your life to fill and over flow in you, tomorrow and throughout 2014.  The prophet Isaiah proclaimed: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Your Will be Done

Matthew 7:7-8

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

It is amazing how easy it is to develop false doctrine, let us take the first eight words of the above sentence and from that decide what we believe about prayer.  All I’ve got to do is ask and God is required to perform at my request, now is that irrational?  If you answer anything but that’s crazy for me to believe such foolishness, would make me the master and God the puppet.  But there is another danger, that may even be a greater wrong and that is not to believe Jesus tells the truth, and that person will not ask, or if they do will ask not for the will of God, but the desires of their flesh. 

If we look back to Matthew 6:9-10, Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  Jesus has given the model prayer, and if we begin our prayer with Dear Father in heaven, You alone are good and perfect, You alone see down the main street of my life, dear Father, my view is so limited by all the big buildings, but you see all that is before me and behind, so I’m putting my hope and desires in You only, Father help my unbelief, change my heart to seek You and except the plans You have for me.

If that is our request, then we will seek and find; knock, and it will be opened to us.  As a new believer in Christ I had a desire to hear the gospel preached and I would often attend what was referred to as a revival meeting, though most of the time, revival was not the result in my heart.  But on one occasion in Odem, Texas, at a little Baptist church, Peter Lord was the speaker and this was his subject, “Do you want God’s hand, or do you desire His face?”  I’m not sure if Psalms 105:4 was where Peter got his text, but look at what is said: “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”  Or it may have been taken from 2 Chronicles 7:14, but what matters is that the Holy Spirit tapped my heart and it was clear that I was a seeker of God’s hand, and it is so easy to be such a person.  I would like to share that I no longer am a member of the seeker of His hand club, and my only prayer is to know Him, to sit and worship and love the fellowship of His being, but that would not be totally honest.   

But as we seek His will, and desire His face, He is more loving and more caring than any father on this earth.  Before you answer, look at what Truth has to say on the matter: “Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”  (Matthew 7:9-11)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Who were you Sent To

Matthew 7:6

“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”

Jesus is talking about not judging and out of what seems like no where comes Matthew 7:6.  Could it be that we might find some clarity from Jesus’ exchange with the Canaanite woman from the district of Tyre and Sidon?  Do you remember her, she came to Jesus and was crying out “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” (Matthew 15:22)  Now Jesus did not give her the time of day, and yet she kept following and crying out to Him, and the disciples ask Him to send her away.  His reply is found in verse 24, He answers, “I was only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”  I have such great admiration for this lady, for though the odds were against Jesus doing anything for her daughter, she was persistent.  This was her next move to win the favor of Jesus, “But she came and knelt before him saying, “Lord, help me.”  And he answered, “Is it not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”  She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”  Then Jesus answered her, “O women, great is your faith!  Be it done for you as you desire.”  And her daughter was healed instantly.” (Matthew 15:25-28)

It is very clear in Scripture that Jesus came to His own and that was the Jewish people and they were His focus and it is also clear the Jewish culture looked at all non-Jews as dogs.  As we examine Matthew 7:6, would we be correct to say it was not because the Canaanite women was of the Jewish faith, but this Gentile woman had great faith in a big God.  Proverbs 23:9 may give us clarity, “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.”  It is very important to understand whom Jesus calls a fool, and is it not the one who says in his heart there is no God?

It would also be helpful to examine Proverbs 9:7-8, we have the example of the scoffer, he also looks like a person who we would be throwing our pearls before swine.  “Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.  Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.”  So as followers of Christ, it is important to understand and be able to recognize a scoffer; a scoffer is defined as a person who will mock, deride, ridicule, sneer at, jeer at, jibe at, taunt, make fun of, poke fun at, laugh at, scorn, laugh to scorn, dismiss, make light of, and belittle.  Such a person is not teachable, and we have this example of Paul and Barnabas in Antioch at the synagogue on the Sabbath, teaching about Jesus being raised from the dead, and that by faith in Him they could have freedom from the control of sin.  Then they give them this warning:  “ Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:“‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’” (Acts 13:40-41)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Judge not, that you be not Judged

Matthew 7:1-4

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”

Judge not, but I do, and I wonder do you also?  Have you ever wondered why we put on the black robes of the judge in our heart and mind, could it be that we never stood in front of the mirror of self examination, or could it be that our time spent with the Father is so short that our prayer life and time in the Bible is so brief that we have a wrong impression of mankind.  The Bible tells us you are more important than a bird that does not sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them?  It is simple because God has so stated, and who are we to devalue what God has placed such great value?

It has come to my understanding that when I believe that Jesus tells the truth; He is Truth, then and only then will my value of others come into agreement with the Father.  Have you given consideration to what Jesus has said about the final judgment in Matthew 25:21-46, if not lets spend sometime there.  Picking up the story in verse 34-40, “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

I have often taught young men that it is impossible to pray God’s best for a young lady and at the same time lust in your heart for her.  Is not the same thing true if you are asking Jesus to allow you to see people as who they would be if the sins that kept them separated from His grace were removed?  Would you not then have a desire to pray that the Father would allow you to be part of His great plan for them?  If not, how big is the log in your eye, and has not the Truth judged correctly, when He calls us hypocrite?

We are free because of grace and our mirror should reflect the image of Christ living His life in us.  So what should we see in that mirror, what does a grace person look like?  Jesus gave us a profile of a person walking in grace in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”  As followers of Christ we understand that we have an exchanged life, Christ in us the hope of glory.  A religious person walks in a world of rules and tradition, and when told about Jesus they tell the Philips’ of this world the following: “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”  Nathanael asked.  “Come and see,” said Philip.” (John 1:46)  Philip was not a judge, but a light, and that light was all that Nathanael needed to find Jesus.  Jesus tells us we are light, unless we choose not to be.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

He will Provide

Matthew 6:25

“Therefore 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?”

Have you given thought to what Jesus is requiring of us who are His followers; is He not saying do not sweat the little or the big things?  As you look at the synonyms for anxious they are, nervous, worried, concerned, uneasy, apprehensive, restless, fretful, frightened, and whom do you know that has not displayed one of these.  Many a Christian lives anxiously, and it has come to my attention that often I fall into that trap, and how does that shape our world view, and the world view of those who are watching to see if we who go by the name of Christian are any different than others who claim no faith in our Lord?

When the Lord addresses an item in his handbook about living life on planet earth, we should take notice look at these words from Luke’s gospel, “For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?”  God is not saying He does not value birds, for He does, but you are of more value, and by worrying you cannot add one hour to your life span, so why be anxious about the rest?

One of the disciples I use most morning is to read from Psalm’s and Proverbs, and I use the (Life Essentials Study Bible) by Gene Getz and often will read his footnotes.  Yesterday, I was reading Psalm 126, and it is about Zion’s Restoration, and Gene shares this warning with us: “We must avoid giving the impression that following Jesus Christ is an experience that is free from problems and difficulties.” At the end of the note Gene ask a question; “What are the dangers faced by believers who live in a society relatively free from persecution?” All you have to do is look at the church in America and you will find the answer, we have no understanding of what the apostle Paul is telling the church in Philippians 1:21, “For me, living is Christ and dying is gain.” He is in prison and he is preaching the risen Christ and if he is free to leave prison, he is preaching Christ risen, and if they kill him, he is with the Lord.  But is that not the life we are all called to?

As a child I was trained like a birddog to worry and fear, but that is a trap of the one Jesus calls the Thief, and I am learning how to put my trust in the only source that is unshakeable, Jesus Christ.  And I hope you keep reading in Matthew 6, because the Lord gives us insights that can be life changing, if we will believe that Jesus tells the truth and we act on His word by faith.  “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
To the American Christian: we are not promised bigger boats and bigger houses, but a Father who understands our needs, and as we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, He will provide what is needed.  If only we understood how valuable we are to our Father in heaven!
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice

Your Treasure will steal Your Heart

Matthew 6:22-24

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

I carry a little card in my billfold that is not for the world to see, its purpose is to alert emergency providers that I have implants in both eyes.  Something began to happen to my sight at about 45 years of age, my arms got too short to read a paper, so I got the cheap readers and that worked for about five years, then glasses and that helped for a while.  At the age of 66 years, I was not seeing much out of one eye, and Dr. Tschoepe explained that my lens was clouded over by cataracts, and I needed more light, and that required removing the old lens that came with my earthsuit and putting in a model: SN6AD1 Power: 21.5 D.  I cannot share completely how amazing it is to have your sight restored and today both eyes are fixed and I can read and do everything without glasses, what a blessing!

That is not what Jesus is talking about, but it made me wonder if many of us have spiritual cataracts?  How would spiritual cataracts block our light, look around you follower of Christ, is anyone being drawn to the light coming out of you?  Jesus has said; “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

If you are interested in a spiritual eye exam look at verse 21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Now stop and give thought to what Jesus is telling you, what are your treasures?  For many a business man it’s the next big score, the next sell, the big bonus check, for the house wife a few hours away from the children, and for many a retiree it’s the next vacation, the new boat, or house, the golf game, or watching the grandchildren’s activities.  None of the above is wrong, in fact, most of them are good things, but not if that is your treasure, for if it is your treasure then you need spiritual surgery only God can do when you are willing.

Many are deceived into believing they can serve two masters.  I was in sales most of my business life, and I was good at selling the products of a great company.  Because I was successful, many times someone who wanted me to sell their products, as a second job, approached me and the offers were very inviting.  But in that I believe Jesus tells the truth, I had read verse 24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”  I’ve watched others try and guess what, someone is going to get the shorts; it does not work in business, or in marriage, and Jesus is very clear that it will not work in your relationship with Him.  “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

 From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice

Are Yours Eternal?

Matthew 6:19-21

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

I’m beginning to think of myself as a broken record that gets stuck and repeats the same thing over and over.  As I read the words of Jesus above, I must ask do you and I believe Jesus tells the truth?   Is it not apparent to each of us, to some degree, that are laying up treasures on this earth, treasures that if lost would bring us great stress and I’m not even talking about gold and silver, or house or riches, but what about health, children, grandchildren, businesses, and jobs. 

Most of us understand the treasures of this earth will decay, and yet we often will not confront the truth that our earth suits are decaying, and Jesus tells us to be on guard because the thief of your soul is always looking for an opening to steal your peace, your joy, and his goal is to kill and destroy you.  So how can a person lay up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal?

I’ve discovered two amazing investments that have eternal value, one is investing in people, for God has said in the book of Daniel chapter 12:2, “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”  Do you recall the story of the final judgment in Matthew 25, if not, take a moment to read the account and remember it is not man who is saying this but Jesus who always tells the truth: “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” 

Now Jesus has not promised this earthsuit will not decay, but He has promised that all who come to Him by faith will live forever.  Look at John 10:28, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”  Would you agree that people are a very wise investment, because this life is very short, but all will spend eternity in heaven or hell?

The second item to invest your life in is the Bible, God’s written word, your handbook on living life on planet earth.  For we find in Psalm 119:9, this council to a young man; “How can a young man keep his way pure?  By guarding it according to your word.”  Nor does the Psalmist stop but tells us, “Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.”  (Psalm 119:89, ESV)  Do you recall that Jesus cannot lie and this is what He said about His written word: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away,”  (John 24:35) we also have the apostle Peter sharing this insight: “but the word of the Lord stands forever.”  And this is the word that was preached to you.” (1 Peter1: 25)

A wise person revisits their investments on a regular basic!  Are yours eternal, or have they began to rot?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Defining the word "Fasting"

Matthew 6:16-18

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

For the average churchgoer in America, it would be entertaining to see them describe or define the word “Fast.”  But does it not sound as if Jesus expects us to fast, when He says; “And when you fast”?  So what is fasting is it the removing of food from ones diet or is it more than that?  King David allowing the Spirit of God to use his lips and pen stated; “For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.  When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.  When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.  I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.”  Not once is food the object of David’s thoughts, it is placing God as the object of your worship, it is taking no thought of yourself, and it will be misunderstood by others.

In the book of Daniel chapter 10, and verse 2-3, “In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.”  Out of Daniel’s fast he saw a vision that none who was with him saw, and it was so amazing that he retained no strength and fell on his face in a deep sleep on the ground.  And behold a hand touched him, and this is what was said to Daniel: “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” (Daniel 10:11a)  What would you do to be called a man who is greatly loved by the Lord, for that is what He said to Daniel, and that is what He has said to each of us who follow Him.

It sure sounds to this writer that a fast should be something you keep between God and yourself,
“And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice