Mmmm... cookies

Matt. 16:6

“'Be careful, Jesus said to them. 'Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

As I write this, I am on a food moderation plan.  (I hate the word diet!)  I am not doing it for the sake of how I look, but so that I can have more energy and speed when I run.  Therefore, I cannot hang up a bikini or something next to the refrigerator to motivate me to stick with it.  I cannot post a picture of energy on my cookie cabinet.  I have to resist temptation on my own.

But I like my sweets.  I eat them a lot.  (Boy, it is really hard to write this.)  And you know what is in cookies? and cakes?  and donuts? (I need to stop this.)

Yeast.  I read once that God's use of yeast as a metaphor for sin was appropriate because it is something that grows and spreads.  I am pretty sure God is not against cake (though in my mind, He prefers ice cream.  Heavenly Hash, anyone?), but he uses it as great example.  Once the yeast gets worked into the dough, it has become a part of the whole entity.  In the same way, sin covers the whole being of a person.

The yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees sounded good.  (So do soft pretzels.)  They spoke about abiding the Law.  That should be right, shouldn't it?  They were missing God's heart in the matter.  They were not following the Law for God's sake, but for their own glory.

Today, there are a lot of churches and individuals who claim to have God's favor. They want us to listen.  (Tip one, if you ever hear someone saying "Follow me"- and it isn't Jesus - run the other way!)  There are cults out there that might even sound good (like muffins).  They might even claim to follow Jesus.  But there is a hitch.  Maybe they are not following Jesus as God, but just as a man.  Or maybe they follow a Jesus who requires certain deeds in addition to faith to enter Heaven.  Or the opposite - a Jesus who lets all "good" people into Heaven regardless of their faith. This is the yeast of the Pharisees.  Don't let it work through your mind.  Don't let it spread through your family.

So how do you know?

     1.  You need to have accepted the saving Grace of God in Jesus.  This invites the Holy Spirit to dwell within you.

     2.  You must be in daily prayer so that you will recognize the voice of God.

     3.  You must study and be taught Word of God to know what His standards are.

Follow God and He will not let you down.  Follow man and you will ruin your diet with his cookies.  And you will not appreciate their taste when you see them worn around your middle.

Okay.  Back to my chicken.

The 5-Second Rule

Matt. 15:11

“What goes into man's mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him unclean.”

I vacuum every day.  Not every room in the house every day, but some rooms, such as the kitchen receive attention several times a week.  There are 6 reasons for this.  Three are kids, three are cats.  And because I have likely vacuumed for the day, when that middle child drops his (insert food here) on the floor, I usually feel safe telling him to go ahead and eat it.  The 5-second rule in my house extends much longer.  After 3 kids, I have learned that no matter how long the dirt and germs have been there, chances are what jumps onto that cookie isn't going to kill my kid.

Is there still the possibility that said dropped food gathered some dirt on the floor?  Oh yes, quite likely as a matter of fact.  But I have made myself feel better by vacuuming and/or mopping earlier in the day.  Because truly, it won't make much of a difference in his overall health.

The disease that is more troublesome lately has been the name calling in our house.  No one will call out, "Mo-om, he ate a cookie off the floor!"  But daily, hourly, sometimes even by the minute I can hear, "Mo-om, she called me _____" (again, go ahead and fill in the blank here.)

These are more heart issues than body issues.  (Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.)  It is a lot easier to fix the body than it is the heart.

In the passage for today, the Pharisees are once again trying to trip up Jesus.  They seem like tattle tales as they point out that the disciples did not wash their hands before they ate.  Really, Pharisees?  I can see Jesus's annoyance.  They weren't concerned about what they were eating.  They were just looking for a way to make Jesus look foolish.

And in typical Jesus fashion, he turned the tables and pointed out their heart condition to them.

To me, it seems these days that we overly concerned about our outside appearances.  We diet.  We exercise.  We try our best to look good.  

But how much do we work on our inside?  The country is concerned with the epidemic of overweight children.  Are we as worried about sarcastic and disrespectful children?  (If we were, The Simpsons would have been cancelled a long time ago). Even more than exercise programs (which do have some value), I would love to see classes that train children -- of all ages -- in kindness, especially kindness of the mouth.  

Because that's a fruit that will never go bad -- not even after 5 seconds on an unwashed floor.

Compassion

Matt. 14:14

“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”

When I think of Jesus coming to Earth, I often think of the pain it must have been for him to cram the Spirit being He is into a flesh-and-bone shell.  I think of how difficult it would be to deal with people who are finite in their knowledge and imagination, where He is infinite.  I think of the many who scorned and spat upon Him (and those who still do) when He did nothing to deserve it.

There was no reason to come here to us, in my mind, than to bring us to perfection.

But he loved and enjoyed us, even in our imperfect state.

Once again, I will draw on my experience as a mother.  Babies are imperfect.  They are completely reliant on their parents to feed them, clean them, and meet their every need.  And they whine about it.  There is no "thank you" uttered in the first year (and often well after that).  We don't take care of our children for the thanks we will get.  We do it because we love them.

Jesus is not waiting for a thank you.  He loves us unconditionally.  And He will always meet our needs.  He wants to do it because He loves us.  That, I think, is what compassion is.  Doing something with no motive but love.

In the story from which this verse is taken, Jesus had just been told about his cousin's beheading. Clearly, he was distraught (Matthew does not specifically say so, but I think so, since He needed time alone). When he came back, there were more than 5,000 people waiting for him.  He did not continue to dwell on what was bothering Him, but he drew himself into the needs of those at hand.  He did not see Himself, He saw the people. So, Jesus told the disciples not only could these people stay, but He was going to continue to care for them by feeding them (spiritually as well as nutritionally).  

It was just because of his love. He felt their pain.  And He was determined to love them through it.

I love his love.  Whenever I feel sad or alone, I usually don't want to talk about it.  How wonderful to serve a Savior who already knows.

Home Sweet Home

Matt 13:58

“And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.”

Jesus was teaching in His hometown. I can imagine his possible excitement at returning to the place where He had grown the first 30 years of His life. He would see friends and family. But He knew the reception He would get. It was a visibility deficiency – they knew Him only as a man and could not see beyond that. They would happily listen to their friend, but not revere their master.

Sound familiar? Isn't that what we want in America? We want our friend, the man Jesus. But we do not want One greater than ourselves. So, that is exactly what He gives us. Notice the verse says that He did not do MANY miracles. They are available for those who are willing to see them.

I don't know about you, but I want to see them.  I expect to see them.  I want to serve my Master because I realize I make a lousy one.  I want Jesus to fill the role He was meant to have.  He's going to tell me what to do, and I may not like it.  It may be painful or uncomfortable.  But I trust that He knows best.

Where is Jesus's home now?  To me, it is in my heart.  I want to welcome Him there.  There, the Holy Spirit will teach, and I surely hope I can be humble enough to listen and recognize His authority in His home.

(Sorry this was a short one.  Just to the point.)

Because I Said So (thus saith the Lord)

Matt. 12:8

“For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

I love this whole passage (v. 1-14). It is full of paradox. But this one verse sums it up.

Here, He is called Son of Man, not Son of God. As the Son of Man, He came to serve. He came as a servant. His service was to free us. Free us from the bondage of sin. Free us from the debt of sacrifice. 

But what He shows us we are to do - be a servant - does not look very freeing.  It is about balance.  We don't get the freeing result until we have gone through the toil of service first.  (Not as a result of it, but rather just the consequence of direction). In our linear world and line of thinking, before an after, there must be a before.  Doesn't that make sense?  Jesus's humility, as well as our own, is an example of the world we live in now.  The condition from which we need rescue.  (Yes, it is also an example of love, but that is a given.  Looking in from a different angle here).

I think back to the Hebrews in slavery in Egypt.  Moses was a tool God used to set them free from their bondage.  This was an example, a type, of Christ to come.  God showing the world that He would send Someone to free all people.  In Jesus's own life, He showed what was going to be done on Earth.  

Jesus lived in the beginning, not as royalty as He should have, but as a poor workman.  We, as God's children should be living as princes and princesses, but the condition of this world does not have such an existence anymore since the Fall of Man in the Garden.  Jesus came to His people not on a white stallion, but on the foal of a donkey.  He did not bring war and destroy the enemies of the Jews, but accepted the death of a criminal.

None of this makes any sense!  He could, but He doesn't.  He serves, when He could be served.  It doesn't make sense, and yet it is.  We can't understand it, so God gives us the only answer a parent can give to a child not mature enough to grasp.

"Because I said so."  

You've been there, haven't you?  Too tired to explain why this is the way.  God has too.  Jesus is there with the Pharisees.  They were stuck in the before, and quite comfortable to stay there.

"Why aren't you doing it right, Jesus?  Why?  Why?" 

We shake our heads at them, but you know what else doesn't make sense?  We chose our sin over God.

But.  Then.  The example of the end came. Everything changed.  He died, but He did not stay dead.  And for the first time ever, a sacrifice stuck.  It was finally acceptable to God. Jesus was taken to Heaven.  And it was an example of how now, we will have the chance to be taken there too.

In this passage, He is trying to explain who He is and what He is doing, but the Pharisees aren't getting it. They are seeing the here and now. They see the beginning, and never the end. To them, there will never be a change. It must always be as it has been.  But we must see the whole picture.

As the Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus explains that He IS the law. His law is love, and his law is goodness. He requires no sacrifice because He was the sacrifice. He is greater than any law the temple has ever held.  The Pharisees could not see that, could not get past their noses to see beyond, so all He could do was to tell them.  

"It is right, because I said so."

That is paraphrased, of course, but I can't wait to ask Him if He ever indeed spoke those words.

Rest

Matt. 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Ahhh, one of the all-time best verses ever written in my mind's eye. Just reading it gives me peace. If only it were as easy to do as one would think it could be! 

It is a two-step, give-and-take transition.

Step 1: Give

The cares of this world were not meant to make us weary.  It is God's world.  We are His people, the battle is between good and evil.  We take on burdens that never were meant for our shoulders.  We are sheep, not oxen.  But here we are, taking ownership of this world and all its problems.  This would be like the sheep looking out at the field and saying, "Okay, time for me to plow this field."  Not your job, Fluffy.  Not only will the job not be done properly, but it will waste energy that could be better put to use in other ways. Let the One who CAN be the one to do it.  

Step 2: Take 

What are we taking?  His yoke. Rest. Jesus did not come to earth to kick back.  How often is he standing in front of crowds, teaching?  Often, He is feeding them literal food with the Bread of Life or serving physical water with the Living Water.  He came to serve.  And often like Peter refusing his feet be washed, we will not accept His service.  But Jesus reminds Peter that unless he allows this service, he can have no part with Jesus.

It sounds easy. But, as always, we make it difficult. Why do we want so much to hold onto our burdens?  Once again, we think we know better.  I'm sure you have heard how dumb sheep can be.  I bet if you put a yoke on a sheep, it would think it actually could plow the field. And, like a child who refuses to take a nap, we might just be afraid of missing something. That child does not know what is best, and neither do we. We think to ourselves, 'What if ...God really does evaluate us on how much we can carry in His name?'  We just don't trust!  

Don't miss this next part -- learn from me.  How will we know what to do unless we listen?  And listen closely.  Not the multi-tasking listening that Martha was planning to do.  Clean up, serve & feed, listen on the fly. I think this is why He tells us to lay down our burdens first and pick up the easy yoke.  He gave us steps - Stop.  Put down the broom.  Listen. We should have nothing else in our minds between our ears and His words.  Then our minds are free to absorb them all.

Will life be easy?  No, but our burden will be.  Set down the yoke, Fluffy, and give it to Him.

What the Little Children Know

Matt. 11:25-26

“At that time, Jesus said, 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.”

Of course, this verse popped out to me because it mentions children. With my degrees in elementary education, I am always on the look out for ways to teach children.  But this verse is more about what we can learn from them instead.

It isn't really about children, but of those with a child-like heart. Still we must look at children to understand Jesus's words. Children at a very young age will believe whatever you tell them, because they know no better. They do not have worldly ideas built up in their hearts. All they have is trust.

I feel that that being child-like is different from childish, however.  A childish adult can be gullible (among other things, but let's just focus on this one).  The child-like heart of a grown person examines the choices available and chooses the one that makes the most sense.  Children like simplicity, and so does a child-like heart.

God has made His plan simple.  We sinned.  Jesus redeemed.  We believe. God accepts.


“He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

He says it, we believe it.  No questions asked.

But nothing is ever simple, is it?  At least, we make that so. As we grow, we question. Um, do you know any older children like that?  Maybe, like me, you have given birth to a few who apparently think they have taken the fast track to wisdom and understanding.  At a certain point, many truly believe they have surpassed the knowledge of their decrepit old parents whose minds are withering like a worm on the sidewalk. Why, Mom?  Why?  Why do I have to eat that/clean that/wash there?  Sometimes I wonder if they really want an answer or if their goal is to drive me crazy.


Childish adults are similar.  Why does God choose to love me?  Why do I have to obey?  Why would He die for me?

Why do people do this? (Why?  Why?) Why can't we just let it be simple? At some point, we begin to see that we are smarter than we once were. It seems that this knowledge apex is reached in adolescence.  It is like our life is in an enormous glass.  The liquid filling the glass is knowledge.  We are born at the bottom of the glass and begin filling it with the things we know.  And we begin swimming toward the top.  Somewhere as a teen or young adult, we have reached the top of the liquid.  We have conquered it all, and now, of course, being at the top of all our amassed knowledge, we know it all. Turn off the tap, looking below us, it is full. There isn't room for anything more. We begin to close off other ideas because we have evaluated the source as less than ourselves. There is no room for this thinking in the kingdom of heaven.

But something interesting happens, if we allow it.  From the crest of our pool of knowledge, we look up and see there is much more ROOM for more.  Our maturity must cause us to filter what comes in.  Only what is pure can fill our glass.  And no looking around at all the other glasses.  God knows what is best, and will fill us with the simple and the pure.  As His children, we just need to allow it to come and refresh us.

We can't go back to being a child again.  Now, we know too much.  But we can still choose what is best.  We can allow God to teach and fill us.  We can take what He gives us without question.  Simple as that.

The end of this verse is also very cool.  It is God's good pleasure to do this for us.  Let's accept it gratefully.