Matthew 24:45-51
“What a person
says is much less important than what others hear.” (Economist George Stigler’s) I often wonder how so many people can read the
Scriptures and have different views on its teachings. Most speakers want the ones they are
addressing to understand the thoughts and message they are proclaiming with the
exception of maybe politicians. When it
comes to a dad with his children, he desires them to grasp the instruction so
that they stay safe and learn from his wisdom.
So
we must ask this question, is it God’s fault we do not understand the clear
message of His great love for us, or could the problem lie at the feet of the
one Jesus calls the thief, who has come to steal, kill, and destroy? I am assuming you by faith have placed your
eternal and daily hope in the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ, and Him
only. The apostle Paul makes clear in
his letter to the church at Corinth, that a natural person, one without the
Spirit of Christ living in them, has no understanding of the truths in the
Bible. “The natural person does not accept the
things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to
understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (1
Corinthians 2:14) But there is another
reason why many in the church do not hear what is said; it is called the flesh,
and the apostle Paul addressed that issue to the Romans. “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God,
for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the
flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:7-8)
Now
I must take this exception with the quote of George Stigler’s, for when God has
spoken on a subject, what one hears does not change the message, God will
always do according to what He says. And
to make sure you and I have ears that can hear, God has given us His Spirit to
make clear in our mind and heart what He has stated. These are Jesus’ words; “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give
you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the
Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor
knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:15-17)
Shall
we look into Jesus’ words about two servants, one was faithful and wise and the
other was wicked. The faithful and wise
servant obeyed the master and watched over those he was in charge of and was
found faithful when his master returned.
The wicked servant abused those over him, and this is what Jesus said
would happen to that servant; “But if that wicked
servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and
begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect
him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in
pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place their will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:48-51)
As
a parent, teacher, boss, or pastor, we should listen very carefully to these
words and ask the Holy Spirit to let us hear the message Jesus has shared with
you.
From
the Back Porch,
Bob
Rice
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