You can't and He never said you Could

Luke 6:41-42

I grew up without glasses, I never wore glasses until my late forties and then my arms got too short and I needed cheaters, (reading glasses from the drug store).  My sight to discern what was best for my future hopes and dreams was always a little clouded.  But when it came to others my sight was twenty-twenty, it seemed I had the gift of seeing the smallest flaw in their character, skill-set, and abilities, all based on my very misguided and messed up world view.

Then at the age of 27, one night in a motel room in Victoria, Texas, I read these verses in Romans 10:8-10, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”  That night I acted on those verses and by the faith God gave me, I ask God to forgive me of my stupidly, my sin of trying to live life by my desires and will and not His.  That night I became a new creation, that night God’s Spirit came to live in my life, and my vision problem was all gone, wrong!  I was a new creation, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live in me, but my flesh did not die, it had learned patterns for 27 years, it was very much alive and it battled with the Spirit living in me.

I began to learn that my world view needed changing, the way I looked at others needed changed, and this may not encourage you, but at 72 I am coming to understand these truths:

I am the easiest person in the world for me to deceive.

I am the easiest person in the world for me to get in trouble.

I have a sight problem, it’s the same one Jesus is talking about in verses 41-42, “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? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.”   You and I do not enjoy being called a hypocrite, but when we act like something we are not, when we act like the world, we are being hypocrites.

Yes, there is good news, you will not find it in your own abilities, but in the Helper the one Jesus promised to send into your life.  Jan and I were blessed to meet Major W. Ian Thomas, and these are a few of his many quotes: “The measure of a man's worth is the measure in which he no longer lives "to and for himself," but "to and for Jesus Christ." No more and no less!”  A mighty truth, “The One who calls you to a life of righteousness is the One who by our consent lives that life of righteousness through you!”  And this one, and I do not want to be this person, but for much of my life as a follower I was; “There are those who have a life they never live. They have come to Christ and thanked Him only for what He did, but do not live in the power of who He is.”  No one but Christ can live the Christian life through you, I can’t nor can you, and you will not find in the Scriptures where you are told you can apart from Christ doing it all for you, so ask for help with life, with your sight, with every aspect of life.

From the back Porch,

Bob Rice

Be very careful about whom you Follow

Luke 6:40

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”

Have you ever given thought to the teachers God has put into your life and how much or little you learned from them?  My first teachers would have been my mother then my dad, and I believe that is true with most of us.  Then there were numerous ladies at church who tried to teach me and make me aware of God and His love for me.  As I began school there are some who standout as teachers who cared and got through to a poor student, void of zeal to study and learn, but they were willing to make the investment.  I had family members, like my uncle Travis, who taught me to fish, and my father in law who taught me to hunt.  I had many men in business who taught me all kinds of skills, and I was a composite of those teachers, and though my pride often came into play in all cases, I knew I was not higher than those who taught me.

When it comes to the ways of God, once more the teachers are numerous, some are men who have the gift of writing books, some pastors, three of them were used by God to open my eyes to new truth and application of those truths.  One is with the Lord his name is Harlan Caton a wonderful teacher, Larry York at Crossroads in the Woodlands, Texas, whose life is centered around prayer and service, and my present pastor Ray Still who is a proclaimer of truth, a leader, whose heart is having the church intentionally engage others with the love of Christ.  These three have one thing in common, they are students of the Bible, and they are leaders, others want to follow and be of like mind.

I will not attempt to list the men God has sent to train me in His ways, they also are numerous, but let me share the names of a few who are now with the Father: Jack Archer who masqueraded as an oil man and rancher, but loved to disciple men; Ted Anderson who masqueraded as a lawyer, but was full of wisdom and grace; Carroll Ray Jr. who masqueraded as a CPA and a vice president of Tandy Corporation, but was my friend and mentor, he trained me by example about how to love others, and especially my wife, and he taught me how to give of self, and last is Ken Ryan who also masqueraded as an oil man, he was a dear friend, a teacher who never stopped training me.  My hearts desire is to be like these men, to apply the teaching, but of this I’m sure, they were always above me.

Most of those listed above were driven by the greatest of teachers, the one Jesus calls the Counselor or Helper in John 14:26, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” 

The Holy Spirit did not control some of my teachers, and their message was (WIIFM) what is in it for me.  I must confess, they also had an impact on my life and out of that teaching I’ve had many bought lessons that have left deep scars.  So as one who is following Christ be very careful about whom you follow, for someone who is blind to the truths of God will lead you into a pit.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

“Can a blind man lead a blind man?

Luke 6:39-42

As a follower of Christ do you listen intently to what He is saying to you, or has something else blurred your focus; something like the cares of this upside down world?  As we left Dr. Luke yesterday in chapter six on judging others, it is apparent I need to put to memory the last part of verse 38, “For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”  Be very careful how you measure in all your dealings, in all your relationships.

In the Bible we have chapter and verse but that was not always so, it was done to help us, but Dr. Luke tells us Jesus told them a parable, a story.  This is what Jesus said: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 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? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.  (Luke 6:39-42 ESV)

It requires vision to lead a nation, business, church, family, and we often call them visionary or sometimes dreamers.  In Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.”  “ While it is good for leaders to communicate vision, Proverbs 29:18 is not talking about a leader’s vision.  Rather, “vision” here refers to special revelation and the principle is that that apart from God’s Word, society quickly spins into moral chaos.” (Chris Brauns Pastor of The Red Brick Church)  What one should be looking for is a leader whose vision is not from the mind of man, but is based on the authority of God’s word.  This question comes to my mind; is the world not spinning into moral chaos?  A high school friend said to me not that long ago, Bobby, you do not have to be spiritual to understand that the world is morally bankrupt.  So be careful whom you are following, they may lead you into a pit.  Tomorrow we will explore more of this parable.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A disciplined life - “A Resilient Life”

Luke 6:37-38

If you are a follower of Christ and have come by conviction of the Holy Spirit to the reality that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit as instructed in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”  I have obeyed this verse by watching what I eat and drink, by exercising and daily feasting on the word of God, reading the Bible, and asking Christ who is my life to live it out in and through me.  It is called a learners life, maybe even a resilient life.

Gordon MacDonald has written a book called “A Resilient Life” and on page 150 he quotes Thomas Merton: “No one who simply eats or drinks when he feels like eating or drinking or smokes whenever he feels the urge to light a cigarette, or gratifies his curiosity and sensuality whenever they are stimulated, can consider himself a free person.  He has renounced his spiritual freedom and become the servant of bodily impulse.  Therefore his mind and his will are not fully his own.  They are under the power of his appetites, and through the medium of his appetites they are under the control of those who gratify his appetites.  Gordon goes on to state; Merton offers an idea that seems paradoxical: “We are most free when we are under discipline.”

My flesh and maybe yours enjoys looking good, it likes to feel good and be noticed and if not under the control of the Spirit it will do as all flesh, become proud and arrogant about its desire to submit to a disciplined life and not a slave to food or drink.  Without notice, as if spiritual darkness came in while we were minding our own business, the spirit of judgment pops-up and we become judges.  Judging others is common to us human critters, it’s the nature of the flesh to do so and being a follower of Christ does not exempt one.

Dr. Luke shares these words of Jesus in Luke 6:37-38, “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”   It is so important to believe and act as if Jesus tells the truth, and yet each day we find ourselves in the role of the Judge.  In Romans 7, some refer to it as the defeated Christian chapter of the Bible, we find Paul stating, like us, he does think in the flesh things that are not pleasing to God.  But the answer is in Romans 8 where Paul tells us to set our mind not on the flesh and its desires but on the Spirit and we will live out the victorious life.

Often, way too often, this writer forgets he a student, a learner, and that his role is not judge, not a condemner but a seeker of truth.  Truth leads us to love, mercy, grace and forgiveness, for that is what has set me free, from the fear of death, the fear of men.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Loving the Ungrateful and the Evil Person

Luke 6:35-36

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”  (Luke 6:35-36 ESV)

How easy is it to love someone who is evil and ungrateful?  Let’s take baby steps; have you ever tried to be kind to an evil and ungrateful person?  Many a parent has been kind to an ungrateful child, but this may not be your child, this is a person who adds evil to being ungrateful and that changes things for me how about you?  Jesus reminds us that to love someone who loves you back is not a big deal, and if you do good to those who do good to you what benefit is that to you?  Jesus tells us if we lend to only those who you know will return the money what credit is that to you, for even sinners will do such. Then Jesus tells us; “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:35-36)

First, we must grasp that before the fall man was in total agreement with God, but after the fall, God was very clear that His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways are higher than our ways.  Then Jesus came and redeemed us, paid the price of sin with His own blood and body, and was raised victor over death and the grave.  When Jesus went to the right-hand of the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth to live in all who by faith placed their hope in Him and His finished work on the cross.  And things changed, Jesus told us we were no longer servants but friends, that He would come and live in us, and that we could have the “Mind of Christ.”

With that said all who are by grace and faith in Christ are “sons of the Most High”.  God has no problem being kind to the ungrateful and the evil person, and Christ who lives in you has no problem doing so, but we do, and that comes not from the Spirit but from the flesh, the fallen flesh of Adam. 

So how can you and I love those who have no love for us, who are enemies of all that is good and holy, who are ungrateful and those who are evil?  Let me give you some insight, the flesh will never get there, and yet the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.  I’ve found the flesh, my flesh cannot be trusted, and I must put no confidence in the flesh.  This writer needs to examine his heart often by looking to what God has said in His Word, and to pray that I will be willing to be made willing so that God can be glorified.

It is not that we are not equipped with all that is needed to let Christ live His life in us; it is a matter of the will.  The apostle Peter makes it clear to all who have Christ as their life, that we are able to love our neighbor, our enemy, and even the ungrateful and the evil in 2 Peter 3-9.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A Wise Person Listens

Luke 6:27-36

Verse 27 should resonate with every mother, wife, teacher, preacher, and instructor of any kind when talking to children, husbands, and people of all ages.  Jesus begins with this statement; “But I say to you who hear” and I bet your mother or dad said these words to you, “Did you hear me” and husbands, when watching a ballgame or working on a project, has your wife asked the same question?  When it comes to preachers, many of us have a filter; my friend Carroll called it a preacher filter and it works this way, preachers are suppose to tell us those things, and the filter works, for many of us have forgotten the message before leaving the building.

I’ve always liked the commercial from E.F. Hutton, it goes like this, “When E.F. Hutton speaks people listen.”  So when God’s Son Jesus Christ speaks, you know our Creator the one who made all that has been or will be do you listen?  As you answer that question it tells a lot about you, for He has not stopped speaking, Hebrews 4:12 states; “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  With that fully settled in my mind and heart and I hope in yours, shall we look at what we are told to listen to?

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.  “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”  (Luke 6:27-36 ESV)

How foolish of me to go past verse 27, it may be the first time you are willing to hear, and even if you have been hearing for 45 years like this writer, verse 27 is asking a lot.  I’ve been a follower of Christ for 45 years and the only way I’ve had any success in the area of loving my enemies was to pray for me first and then for the ones who seem to hate me.  You cannot pray in earnest for anyone and not have your heart changed.  The Spirit of God will begin to allow you insight into your enemies that will change your mind and heart.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Riches Vs. True Wealth

Luke 6:24-26

Jan and I when we were much, much younger dreamed of being in the quarter horse business, we began with a mare named Trophy and her colt.  We knew nothing about horses and should have done a little more research before investing in them.  Did I tell you they are beautiful animals, but unlike a cow that gets in barbwire and waits till someone cuts them loose, a horse will tear its leg open or almost off before letting you help.  If it has not been trained and Trophy had not, it will not always go well when a city boy tells it to stop, and she did not answer to woe either.   

I came to understand that without training, Trophy was going to do just about what she wanted to do, and this thought came into my mind you and I are not that different from a untrained horse, without training we have a tendency to do as we please.

In these verses there are four “woes” but it is not so much the woes, but who is saying the “woes” that is of upmost importance.  Jesus has pronounced four blessings in the verses above and now these woes, “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.  “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.  “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.  “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.”  If you were paying attention, the contrast is between blessed versus woe; poor versus rich; hungry versus full; and people hate you versus when all people speak well of you.  It is clear in the earlier verses Jesus was talking about blessing for the poor and now woes to the rich, blessing for the one who is hungry and woe to those who are full, and blessing to the poorer who are hated for the name of Christ, and woe to those who everyone says good about.

The rich is anyone who has more dependence on self and maybe power and wealth than on God, where those who are poor in spirit and hungry for righteousness are the ones God blesses.  Folks, it has little to do with education or economies, it has to do with heart attitude.  Do you recall Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler, who rejected Jesus’ offer to follower Him, because he had many possessions.  These were the words to His disciples; found in Matthew 19:23, “And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.”   If we only believed Jesus tells the truth, all of us would grasp these words of Jesus; “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?  For what can a man give in return for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37)

Greg Hood who led CBMC (Christian Business Men’s Committee) in Corpus Christi visited a young man with me who had come to a luncheon and ask for more information about being a follower of Christ.  He had graduated from Harvard and yet was not doing well in the business world, and when ask if he by faith would receive Jesus into his life, Ben ask a question no one had ever ask before praying the prayer of faith.  Ben asked, “If I follow Jesus will I be rich,” and Greg said, yes, spiritually and Ben said, no I mean can I be a follower of Christ and be wealthy?  Greg asked if wealth was more important than a relationship with Jesus, and his answer was I’ve always wanted to be wealthy.  I always ask how Ben is doing and the answer is not good; he did not follow Jesus and he has not been successful in anything he has tried.  Now, that report brings sorrow to my heart.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice