Luke 16:19-31 (Devotion)

THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS - "There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’"

It has been said, "What we do in life echoes in eternity," and no greater example is found in the Bible than the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. It is a sobering reminder of how dangerous selfishness can be in the heart of someone who is monetarily rich, yet spiritually bankrupt. In certain ways, it convicts our desire to acquire fortune because the consequences of selfish behavior are magnified by our wealth management. In other words, "Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required" (Luke 12:48b). God provides an allotment of resources spanning varying degrees of accumulation (or lack thereof) to test how responsible we are, how deep selfishness resides in our hearts, and whether we manipulate life in our favor at the expense of His glory. Make no mistake, the further we delve into the mind of the rich man, the more convicted we should become to heed the warning Jesus gives to help gauge our spiritual tempterature. For Scripture reminds us, "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds" (Jeremiah 17:10). Therefore, identifying with Lazarus should not consume our attention because very few of us have or will ever experience extreme poverty like he did. Rather, what we must discern is simply whether we love our neighbor enough to sacrifice ourselves and our resources for his/her betterment at the expense of our own. And that is why (for example) military, law enforcement, firemen, first responders, etc., deserve our utmost respect and admiration, because they risk their lives every day to preserve and protect the freedoms and privileges we claim as citizens. "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).

In contrast, the rich man had no desire to protect those less fortunate than himself because God provided countless opportunities for him to help Lazarus and he declined. Day after day, Lazarus laid at the gate of his mansion needing no more than the absolute minimum to survive, and remained there disheveled, stricken, malnourished, and assaulted by wild dogs until the day he died. In contrast, the rich man lived in lavish splendor with elaborate material possessions and countless resources. He feasted sumptuously, which conveys that the most luxurious and expansive smorgasbord of food and beverage awaited his consuming pleasure each day. He lacked nothing whatsoever except the desire to help those less fortunate than himself, and eventually God repaid him for his hardheartedness when his day of reckoning arrived. What we must ask ourselves as we consider the rich man's plight is this: "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?" (1 John 3:17). Let us first clarify that wisdom is vital to discern how to help someone in need. For example, it would not be wise to blindly give money to those who are begging for help without first taking time to understand exactly what they need. It is a matter of discernment, not avoidance, because accountability is required if for no reason but to protect others from further hurting themselves or others if they struggle with addiction. That is why providing specific resources according to genuine need always trumps monetary handouts to avoid being inconvenienced or convicted. In other words, see a need—meet a need! And if we're worried about giving money to those who are panhandling, let us instead attempt to discern and wisely meet their need without enabling potential destructive behavior. "Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother" (Romans 14:13).

Scripture exhorts, "If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday" (Isaiah 58:10). As self-proclaimed Christians, we are tasked by the authority of Almighty God to cast off fear and passivity, and embrace opportunities which stretch our comfort levels. The ultimate goal is expanding our capacity to love others by humbling ourselves. Jesus set the stage for us at the last supper when He washed His disciples' feet. "For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them" (John 13:15–17). The minute we think more highly of ourselves than we ought, the more we fall victim to the rich man's pride. Though "religious" enough to affiliate himself with father Abraham, the rich man felt no compulsion to share a fraction of his wealth, even as a sacrificial testimony to his faith. He was blinded by love of self and status, and could not fathom himself having any interaction with Lazarus whatsoever. However, what is most convicting is that he purposely ignored Lazarus' needs. This was not a case of not knowing Lazarus was in need because he beckoned Abraham for Lazarus to help quench his thirst while he anguished in hell. This is a powerful revelation we cannot miss! The rich man knew Lazarus by name. The problem is he assumed he knew who Lazarus was according to his appearance and labeled him a filthy beggar, undeserving of grace and mercy. He judged Lazarus according to his own personal bias and preconceived notion, and thus ruled in favor of enabling his starvation unto death by remaining idle and indifferent toward his needs without the slightest remorse.

In order to grasp the true magnitude of Jesus' parable, we must take inventory of all we have been given. Salvation alone should drive us to live each day with gratitude words cannot express, but faith is not measured by empty words. Faith must produce application, otherwise it is void and meaningless. That is why Scripture affirms, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22). Yet in many cases, we allow ourselves to be deceived. We assume others are more capable and/or equipped to help others, so we profess our innocence and justify passivity in an attempt to appease our conscience. The truth of the matter is that a man's deeds are on full display for the Lord's judgment. Any man naive enough to think he can exploit a loophole in God's Word, whereby he can avoid accountability, is foolish enough to assume he is guaranteed eternity regardless of his actions. Jesus taught, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). Keep in mind, God allots each one of us provisions which have the ability to either draw us closer to Him or provide opportunity for the flesh. That is the essence of free will. God does not force our hand but loves us enough to let us choose our own path. However, His Word warns, "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'" (Galatians 5:13–14). Therefore, yes we are free indeed, but our freedom comes at an immeasurable cost and an expectation that we live our faith out in application, not simply by the might of our words.

The Bible teaches, "Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways" (Proverbs 28:6). Righteousness in God's economy has absolutely nothing to do with economic fortune or status. If anything, favorable wealth presents greater temptation for failure than simply not having any to begin with. The rich man learned this lesson the hard way without the ability to repent for his actions or warn those he loved from committing the same mistakes. In desperation, he attempted to convince Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to warn his former household, but Abraham responded with the same rationale we are faced with today. We live in a day and age where we have immeasurable access to God's Word. Truthfully, many of us have multiple copies of the Bible at our disposal in our homes which far more resemble a paper weight or dust catcher than a worn and tattered treasure map. Think about it. If we believed there was a treasure to be discovered and we had THE map to lead us to its whereabouts, we would exhaust all time, energy and resources necessary studying it till we memorized every detail. Yet what many of us fail to realize is that God has freely given us the greatest treasure map known to man, which inevitably leads to eternal life. All we have to do is read it, study it, and apply its knowledge unto righteousness, and the treasure is ours! Therefore, how different would our outlook on life be if our attitude and perspective toward God's Word reflected the heart of the psalmist? "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward" (Psalm 19:7–11).

In the end, it makes no difference what we say we believe if our actions do not testify to heart change. Make no mistake, the rich man was presumably a "religious" man, but his heart did not bear witness to the faith he likely proclaimed. Rather, he allowed his heart and mind to be consumed with selfishness and suffered the ultimate price, eternity in Hades (Hell), because saving faith never took root in his heart to begin with. That is the danger with "religion" because it provides false security that eternity in heaven is guaranteed when specific man-made rules are followed. What religion lacks is a relationship by grace through faith with God the Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, who died for our salvation, and the Holy Spirit who illuminates the application of our faith unto righteousness. Therefore, what our response to this parable must entail begins with ensuring we are not misled by religion, but grounded in personal relationship and intimate communion by faith with God. Only then can we begin taking inventory of our attitudes toward those in need and assess how willing we are to get our hands dirty, meeting their needs as the Spirit prompts. For Scripture is clear that ignoring the needs we see all around us, knowing full well we have the ability to make a difference, is as powerful a litmus test we could ever find to gauge how "Christian" we truly are. "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:14–17). Therefore, how will we respond to the treasure we've been given? Will the sacrificial love Jesus has shown inspire us to love our neighbor unconditionally? Perhaps if we examine our heart just as the attached testimonial below does, conviction will produce not only a desire to meet the needs of those around us, but the courage to step out in faith and literally be the hands and feet of Jesus to a hurting world desperately in need of salvation.

"Apathy" by Trip Lee

Sometimes I'm hurtin' and I'm burdened when I'm gazin' inside—

Cause I ain't concerned with other persons, the foundation in pride—

Feel like a fake and a lie—

It's the comforts of my Lord cause I be raisin' Him high—

Until the day that I die, I surely struggle with this apathy invading—

I try to front, like I'm Mr. Compassionate and my ratings are high—

And meanwhile these folks is hurtin everyplace, I should cry—

But I lose sight like bullets grazin' my eyes, what should I do now?—

When I drive through my city, and I see these folks' hurtin'—

Yea, I'm certain that I care till' I'm home and close the curtain—

It's like they ain't even there, man my heart is so disturbin'—

I should be prayin for em, findin' ways that I can serve em—

The bottom line, Lord I'm praying that I'll be on the grind—

Pursuing service, never out of sight, out of mind—

Preaching truth and trying to model my Lord 

till He's back and them knees hit the floor—

I'm waitin!

"Apathy" - Audio Version

Luke 9:57-62 (Devotion)

THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS - "As they were going along the road, someone said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go.' And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.' To another he said, 'Follow me.' But he said, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' And Jesus said to him, 'Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.' Yet another said, 'I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.' Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'"

Excuses. We all have them—some good, some bad. They represent the choices we make by justifying the reasons behind our actions. More often than not, we view excuses in a negative light, but they can be positive as well. Here in Luke 9:57-62, we are faced with the dilemma of how reasonable excuses are challenged by Jesus for their superficial nature because they mask true heart desire. In each of the three examples provided, we see potential Christ-followers blinded by fear, insecurity, and lack of understanding. The Bible does not disclose their final outcome. It only focuses on their initial gut reaction because what comes to mind first typically exposes the heart. Scripture reminds us, "As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man" (Proverbs 27:19). Therefore, we are wise to quickly discern what our true heart reflects in order to discern whether we fall victim to rationalizing our lack of Biblical application, or whether we have learned to die to excuses and obey the teachings of our Lord and Savior. "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?'" (Matthew 16:24-26). Make no mistake, the path of righteousness is a hard and narrow road. But to the one who is willing to trust in God's sovereignty, heart-transformation is both possible and probable to ensure we answer, "Yes, Lord," by faith rather than default to excuses which bind our hearts and reveal our lack of trust in Jesus.

The challenge many have with Luke 9:57-62 is that it feels abrasive, cold and unloving. On the surface, all three excuses are relatively reasonable and provide just enough temptation to quickly brush past them without the slightest consideration. Yet when we dig deeper into Jesus' response to each potential follower, we realize we are similarly guilty of rationalizing our own behaviors in order to sidestep personal responsibility and sacrifice. In no way were the superficial desires of these followers' hearts disingenuous. It would appear they sincerely desired to follow Jesus. However, their superficiality became front and center when Jesus abruptly confronted them with not so much ultimatums, but accountability. Keep in mind, "The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out" (Proverbs 20:5). Jesus is that man of understanding in the lives of those who call upon His name for salvation. However, we must also recognize that "many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?" (Proverbs 20:6). Push comes to shove when our excuses are confronted with truth. The real question is to what extent are we willing to embrace truth enough to lay down our pride, selfishness, fears and insecurities, and subsequently deny our flesh, take up our cross, and follow Jesus no matter the cost? The true mark of a disciple is found in our willingness to die to self for the sake of the Gospel. Paul reminds us, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2). Our minds will never be renewed if they are cut off from hearing the truth of God's Word, because excuses flourish in an environment where accountability is absent.

Perhaps some of us have spoken the same words, "I will follow you wherever you go" (Luke 9:57), that the first potential Christ-follower did. It sounds like the right answer—proclaiming our ending love and willingness to fulfill Matthew 16:23-26. But is that completely true? The rebuke Jesus gives paints quite the picture of what true discipleship entails, which is a willingness to embrace poverty, hardship and persecution (just as He did) if that is what God wills. In other words, comfort is no guarantee—quite the contrary! Passages like this are certainly not popular in churches where prosperity doctrine is falsely taught, because Jesus is essentially challenging how we view health and wealth. That is not to say those of us who have wealth should feel guilty for the blessings God has given. But when push comes to shove, are we willing to relinquish control of our personal resources if the Lord asks us to? In other words, how tight a grip do we hold on our bank accounts? How comfortable is our standard of living? Do we seek opportunities each day to give and serve others, or do we discreetly funnel life circumstances for our benefit at the expense of others? "Thus says the LORD: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD'" (Jeremiah 17:5). It is sobering to realize how self-protecting we truly are when faced with adversity and/or held accountable to God's Word, but accountability is a blessing if we embrace it unto application. Jesus said, "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" (Matthew 7:13-14). Therefore, before we proclaim our willingness to follow Jesus wherever He would go, we are wise to count the cost of what it means to be a disciple of Christ and then compare that to the price Jesus paid on the cross for our sins. Perhaps then we will realize how priceless a gift we have been given for no other reason except love. "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

Concerning the second potential Christ-follower, we are faced with the dilemma of loyalty and allegiance. Again, the excuse provided is not unreasonable: "Lord, let me first go and bury my father" (Luke 9:59). In fact, many would argue this is indeed a Biblical responsibility reserved for the eldest son. How then could Jesus rebuke a man who prioritizes family obligations? Are we not called to love, protect, serve and provide for our families? Yes, of course, but we are challenged to sift through the reactionary layers of our hearts in order to uncover the true message Jesus is driving at. In no way is Jesus contradicting Biblical obligations regarding the family unit. But if our family becomes an idol in our hearts drawing us away from loving God first and foremost, we must address our priorities. God must always come before our spouses, and our spouses before our children (because they are the offspring of marriage). That is why when Jesus was confronted with the question of where heart allegiance must be prioritized, He said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-39). In no way is Jesus being insensitive to this potential follower's desire to bury his father, but there is also no timetable given regarding this man's reasoning either (not that it ultimately matters). Prolonging or putting off a decision to follow Christ assumes we will have life and breath in the future to make such a decision. In many ways it exposes our arrogance to presume we can predict the future, but also reveals who comes first in our hearts, eternally-speaking. Make no mistake, priorities become easily complicated because many of us assume our family comes first, but we must realize that placing anything or anyone BEFORE God will always become a divisive wedge in our faith walk if we allow it.

The final would-be follower presents a completely different angle regarding excuses, which is perhaps most pervasive within our hearts. This justification centers around whose voice takes precedence in our decision-making. Again, the superficial request seems more than reasonable: "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home" (Luke 9:61). This man's commitment seems firm that He would follow Jesus. He merely needed a few minutes to say goodbye to his family first. In some ways we could argue that Jesus is confronting this man's hesitation in prioritizing His command. What seems even more apparent is Jesus knows that the more time this man has to essentially "reconsider" his decision, the more likely he will abandon his decision altogether due to the influence of those around him who do not share his beliefs, understand his rationale, nor approve of his decision. If we think of it logically, the likelihood this man's wife, father, mother or children talk him out of leaving, or at least challenge his decision in order to force him to reconsider, are extremely high. That is why Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). It is virtually impossible to plow a straight row while looking backward because the plow must be aligned with a target in focus to remain on track. Therefore, the likelihood we are tempted to compromise our commitment to Jesus if those we love do not approve or support our decision is probable. Let us be clear though: Jesus is not condemning our family commitments. Rather, He is challenging our priorities IF we allow anyone or anything to come before our commitment to love and serve Him unconditionally. It is a matter of trust, and we must decide whose voice we prioritize most to fulfill our needs.

The people of Israel struggled similarly. After spies returned from scouting the promised land, only Joshua and Caleb felt the inhabitants of Canaan could be conquered just as Lord had promised. However, the remaining spies spread fear and unbelief throughout the camp to the point where people considered returning to enslavement in Egypt rather than trusting the Lord, despite the countless miracles God performed on their behalf for continued survival. "And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, 'Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?' And they said to one another, 'Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt'" (Numbers 14:2-4). In a time where faith was needed most, Israel shuddered under the weight of uncertainty and fear rather than embrace the present freedom God provides to those who trust in His name. The real question we must ask ourselves is how tight a grip do we hold to our past which blinds us from looking forward? Are we struggling to forgive ourselves of past sins we have already repented for and sought reconciliation with God and those we sinned against? Has the death of a loved one crippled our desire to move on with our lives? Have we experienced pain or abuse we've never truly forgiven or received counseling for? Whatever the case may be, if we do not embrace the true freedom in Christ we have been given by grace, we will never experience the power of the Holy Spirit inspiring positive change and/or healing in our lives by breaking the chains of our past which bind and enslave us. For Scripture promises, "The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you" (Psalm 9:9-10).

Collectively, all three examples we are given in Luke 9:57-62 relate to the personal comforts of our homes and/or the responsibilities we have to our families. What we cannot miss in this passage is that Jesus is not condemning either. In other words, Jesus is not commanding us as men to walk out and abandon our families for the sake of the Gospel. That would not be consistent with Scripture which states, "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8). Rather, Jesus is testing to what extent our true allegiance lies just as He did with Abraham. "After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, 'Abraham!' And he said, 'Here I am.' He said, 'Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you'" (Genesis 22:1–2). In the end, God did not allow Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, and neither would He expect us to do the same. However, it can be easy to misinterpret Luke 9:57-62 due to the stern rebuke Jesus gives His potential followers, but He does us an incredible favor in the process by not painting a misleading picture of what true Christianity looks like. The Christian faith requires dying to self, serving and forgiving others, enduring ridicule, suffering persecution, etc., all because the eternal benefits of following Jesus outweigh the temporary fears, risks, and personal sacrifices we assuredly endure on His behalf. The key is remembering the big picture of the Gospel, which keeps our eyes focused on the plow and our personal will submissive to the Lord's. Because if we allow idols to capture our hearts, we will never fully give God the glory He is due because we are preoccupied by our flesh. Therefore, we must be mindful "whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him" (1 John 4:15-16). 

Luke 11:14-23 (Devotion)

JESUS AND BEELZEBUL - "Now he (Jesus) was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, 'Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.'"

Spiritual warfare is real. Anyone who has ever felt the pull of temptation can attest to it, yet how often are we fully aware of all that is going on around us in the spiritual realm? Can we see it? Hear it? Feel it? Taste it? The Bible reminds us that we must "be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Therefore, it is imperative we understand how Satan perverts absolute truth with confusion in order to twist our minds into believing false truth. Here in Luke 11:14-23, we see the heart of man confused by Satan's influence to contradict and downplay a miracle Jesus performed. In the minds of some people, the authority by which Jesus healed a man is questioned. Was it Divine or Satanic? The amazing thing about Jesus is that He embodies the loving character of God the Father while maintaining His righteous judgment of unbelief. He could have chosen to ignore His naysayers. However, He took time to not only set straight their twisted logic, but sternly warned of the dangers unbelief has on man's eternal resting place. These people had the luxury of witnessing Jesus' miracles firsthand, yet still struggled with believing He was the Messiah. According to their logic, they simply wanted more proof, but inevitably their skepticism revealed the hardness of their hearts which resisted the testimony right before their eyes. "He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him" (John 1:10-11).

Keep in mind, this was not the first nor last time Jesus was questioned, challenged and doubted regarding His identity and purpose. "The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, 'Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation'" (Mark 8:11-12). Even Jesus labored at how hardhearted people were to doubt His divinity despite the countless miracles He performed, which is why He grievously wept before entering Jerusalem prior to His death. "And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, 'Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation'" (Luke 19:41-44). The sad truth is that despite Jerusalem suffering the wrath of God's fury for it's unbelief and subsequent destruction as Jesus prophesied, to this day the heart of man still resists yielding to the undeniable truth of the Gospel. In other words, people are CHOOSING doubt and skepticism over Biblical proof. What they fail to realize is that God's patience has an expiration date, and that hour is reserved for when we pass from this life to the next—from temporary to eternal. "But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed" (Romans 2:5).

Now certainly there is justifiable cause for concern when we hear relative truth packaged as absolute. In those instances, we are wise to question and test the authority of both the message and messenger. "Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:20-22). But when God chooses to reveal Himself in our lives, we must be properly equipped to discern whether the voices we hear are good or evil because Satan uses whatever means necessary to lead us astray from submission and obedience to Scripture. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already" (1 John 4:1-3). They key is understanding Satan's tactics and strategies which seek to ISOLATE our minds, MINIMIZE consequences, MAXIMIZE hypocrisy, and JUSTIFY sin, because the intoxicating perfume of temptation has a pleasing aroma which preys upon our weaknesses and provides opportunity for failure and compromise if we allow it. Satan knows if he can single us out from the herd like a young or wounded animal, we are much more susceptible to being overcome and killed by powers much stronger than we can bear. Therefore, we must remain close to the body of Christ in fellowship and accountability to ensure we have the necessary support and protection of those who love us unconditionally. "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

Isolation is a tactic we must be on guard about at all times, especially as men, because pride and arrogance are common tools Satan uses to feed our insecurities when we should be asking for help. It began in the garden of Eden when Satan tempted Eve by isolating her from God and continues to this day through the myriad of escapism tactics readily available to us through the technological advancements of our day and age. For instance, prior to the birth of the Internet in 1991, if a man was overcome by lust and sought an outlet to feed his desires, he had to venture outside his home to appease his cravings. Today, Internet and social media provide all the ammunition a man needs to severely enslave his heart in the privacy of his own home without anyone knowing about it to intervene and hold him accountable. The Bible teaches, "Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy" (Proverbs 27:5-6), but a friend is limited in his ability to help when we isolate ourselves to such an extent that no one is aware of our struggles. Once we are isolated, Satan then begins to wear down our psyche by minimizing the consequences we know will come as a result of our disobedience to God's righteous standard. In other words, minimizing consequences paves the wave for habitual addiction. Let us be clear: The minute we allow ourselves to minimize consequences, we maximize hypocrisy by our actions and do far more damage than good to ourselves, our friends and family, the church, and the world at large by inevitably justifying our sin rather than enacting heart change. "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries" (Hebrews 10:26-27).

When Eve bit into the forbidden fruit God specifically instructed her to avoid, she unlocked a knowledge that haunts us to this day. The ability to discern good and evil is powerful because it places us in a judgment seat every day of our lives. What we do with that responsibility is dependent upon the time we spend not only reading God's Word, but applying its teachings throughout every facet of our lives. Eve chose to justify her sin when God confronted her in the garden, which sealed her fate and invoked a chain reaction we all struggle with to this day. By justifying our sin, we are essentially attempting to minimize or altogether eliminate guilt, shame and regret, as is the case with blame-shifting. "The man said, 'The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.' Then the LORD God said to the woman, 'What is this that you have done?' The woman said, 'The serpent deceived me, and I ate'" (Genesis 3:12-13). The problem is that the more we justify sin, the more calloused we become toward the consequences of sin, and our spiral of degradation entrenches us deeper and deeper into a stronghold we have no power to overcome without Christ. Therefore, we must embrace honesty, humility, transparency, vulnerability and brokenness if we truly desire righteousness through accountability. It all begins with surrendering our selfish will for God's will and accepting His sovereignty despite our limited knowledge and wisdom. "And he (Jesus) withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, 'Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done'" (Luke 22:41-42).

What Jesus leaves us with at the end of Luke 11:14-23 is a key element to understanding the over-arching tactic Satan uses to break our will and hold us captive. Keep in mind, Satan spends very little time tormenting unbelievers because they have already succumbed to his power and chose to reject Christ. Therefore, he has already won those souls for the time being. Where Satan invests the bulk of his time, energy and resources is targeting those of us who have accepted Christ by undermining the areas which we feel we're the strongest in. Logic would tell us that if a man struggles with lust, Satan will target that weakness and prey upon it tirelessly by creating environments where that fleshly desire can flourish. What we fail to realize is that planting seeds of lustful opportunity is simply a distraction to indirectly to lure our attention, so that he can target our strengths in order to break us down from within. Think of it practically. A married man feels he is spiritually grounded but spends little to no time reading his Bible. He knows he is saved but struggles with lust, so he safeguards himself by not befriending or having personal conversations with other women, bouncing his eyes, and avoiding sexually graphic images on television or the Internet. All are good and wise choices. Unfortunately, where he is doomed to fail is not safeguarding the true root of pride which undermines his efforts. That is why Jesus said, "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation" (Matthew 12:43-45).

It is no different that the tactic Joshua used to capture the city of Ai (Joshua 8). By luring his enemies away from their stronghold, Joshua successfully ambushed his enemies by using their pride against them. Ai was a powerful city and their inhabitants knew it. But when their greatest strength was manipulated for the benefit of the Israelites, the people of Ai were quickly destroyed and their city plundered all because they assumed their strengths were unbreakable. Fast-forward to Luke 11:14-23 and we can see the power of Jesus' message that our perceived strengths can become our greatest weakness when spiritual warfare is ratcheted up. What we must realize is that the more time we invest trimming weeds without pulling them up from their root, the more their seeds will spread across our entire lives (just like they do in our lawns). We simply cannot become comfortable and complacent, assuming we can ignore our strengths to focus on shoring up our weaknesses. Satan is too smart for that and he will find opportunity to break through and tear our walls down if we are not cognoscente of his tactics and strategically ensuring we are guarded appropriately on all sides of our character. Jesus said, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned" (John 15:4-6). May we heed this warning and align our hearts with His, so that when Satan attempts to overcome us with guilt, shame and despair, we will hold fast to God's Word which assures our salvation and provides us the tools we need to overcome the forces of darkness by the power of the blood of the Lamb.

Matthew 7:24-27 (Devotion)

BUILD YOUR HOUSE ON THE ROCK - "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."

To conclude His sermon on the mount, Jesus reminds His audience to remember one simple rule: Listen and obey "these words of mine." Those who serve in military and law enforcement are extremely familiar with the principle of listen and obey, for the sake of their safety and the protection of others depends on it. It is also a lesson countless parents preach to their children on a daily basis to instill personal discipline, accountability, healthy boundaries, and respect for authority. Why then is it so difficult for the body of Christ to obey God's Word if it directly results in similar benefits? Perhaps it is because the Bible is absolute, all-encompassing, and frankly, unapologetic for standing boldly against the weight of cultural pressure to justify sin. Conversely, perhaps it invokes conviction which runs far too deep for our personal comfort. Whatever the case may be, we must overcome pride which seeks to resist submission and humble ourselves to love and serve others for the glory of God and not our own by obeying His Word. It is as radical a teaching as Christ could ever give, yet the foundation of Jesus' exhortation centers upon HIS WORD which we are called to not only read and hear, but obey unconditionally without reservation. "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like" (James 1:23-24). Keep in mind, Jesus was a rebel because He broke legalistic status quo mandated by the religious leaders of His day (Pharisees) who were hypocritical, manipulative, and self-consumed by power, prestige, and social status. Likewise, we are united with Him in our rebellion against the powers of darkness that surround us in our lives which seek to destroy our faith and unwavering resolve in the absolute truth of the Gospel. That is why Jesus reminds us as He did His disciples, "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles" (Matthew 10:16-18).

Undoubtedly, we live in a world bent on persecuting Biblical Christianity in the short term and eradicating it altogether in the long term. Look no further than social media posts to see how much hate, venom and judgment many in secular culture feel toward Christians who believe the Bible is absolute truth cover-to-cover and obey what it says unconditionally. As a result, there is a growing disconnect in the church today of self-proclaimed Christians and churches watering down the Bible and sidestepping certain passages that oppose secular issues and agendas in order to appease the culture. They fail to realize the big picture Jesus warned us about if we do not obey His Word. "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32-33). Therefore, it is more imperative than ever we personally examine the foundation we've set as our moral compass, because our theological foundation will either crumble under the crashing waves of relative truth or withstand firmly the onslaught post-modernism attacks us with. At the end of the day, we must choose who's side we're on because our salvation depends on it. "Do not think that I (Jesus) have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" (Matthew 10:34-39). Make no mistake, choosing to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior will likely create division with those we love, but the sword is meant to cut deep and will likely sever us from those who live to serve and glorify themselves rather than God.

Remember, the Bible is the only offensive weapon we have at our disposal to defend ourselves when we're attacked and persecuted. "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:13-17). When we put on the armor of God, we are spiritually preparing ourselves for battle. In essence, we are digging our trenches and fortifying our foundation with rock as opposed to sand, letting our enemy know we will not surrender our position because we have planned accordingly. Consider Jesus' words regarding how prepared we must be: "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps" (Matthew 25:1-4). Per the ESV Study Bible, "As God referred to himself as the "husband" of Israel in the OT, so Jesus pictures himself here as a bridegroom. It was the Jewish marriage custom for the groom and his friends to leave his home and proceed to the home of the bride, where the marriage ceremony was conducted, often at night. After this, the entire wedding party returned to the groom’s home for a celebratory banquet." Because of their foolishness, five found themselves separated from the bridegroom because they were not prepared, and inevitably rejected from attending the wedding feast because they chose foolishly and assumed they were adequately prepared.

"As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour" (Matthew 25:5-13). The most heart-wrenching element of Jesus' "Parable of the Ten Virgins" is that when the five virgins left the wedding party to purchase oil in order to light their lamps and enter the kingdom with the bridegroom, they found the door shut upon their return. No longer were they invited guests but outcast strangers. Their moment of opportunity had passed and they were cast into the darkness because they did not prepare wisely. Fast-forward to our present day and we are similarly surrounded by those who spiritually cannot see the forest through the trees. They boldly reject God or assume they are saved when they have not bore a single piece of good fruit whatsoever as evidence of their salvation. In other words, they trust in their personal sufficiency rather than the sovereignty of God as their foundation, which is why Jesus encourages us to build our house upon the rock of His Word (Matthew 7:24-27) immediately after warning us we will not be saved on judgment day if our decision to follow Him does not result in heart change (Matthew 7:21-23). 

But as we close our study of the sermon on the mount, let us be honest with ourselves. Truthfully, many of us haven't opened the pages of our Bible in weeks, months or even years, yet we confidently proclaim our faith in Jesus and identify ourselves as Christians. Consider the implications though of how "healthy" we truly are if this is our lifestyle. For instance, our human bodies can survive over 3 weeks without food and 1 week without water. However, if our bodies are emblematic of our spiritual health, do we really think we can survive any length of time without proper nutrition? Jesus said at the beginning of His sermon, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (Matthew 5:6), because our spiritual health is determined by what we consume (good or bad). In other words, garbage in—garbage out if we choose to ignore God's Word! Remember too what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14). The Word of God is sufficient for those who trust upon the Lord, which is why Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him" (John 6:53-56). Unity with Christ begins with faith and is sustained by His Word. Therefore, let us ensure we are not starving ourselves of God's absolute truth by conforming to the pattern of this world, but let us feast daily on God's Word to ensure we are properly equipped and spiritually healthy enough to defend our faith and defeat our enemy. "If you really want to be a rebel, read your Bible because no one's doing that! That's rebellion. That's the only rebellion left." (Song: "Rebel-Intro" by Lecrae).

Matthew 7:21-23 (Devotion)

I NEVER KNEW YOU - "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"

It is certainly unpopular in secular culture today to have the audacity as a Christian to believe God would sentence anyone to Hell. Those who oppose this notion typically throw stones declaring God is love, not hate, or they simply reject God altogether if indeed He does sentence unbelievers to Hell. The problem with this line of thinking is that man assumes the role of judge and jury using a hierarchy of sins based on predetermined bias and limited personal experience. Truthfully, only God knows the heart of man which Jesus specifically speaks to in Matthew 7:21-23. It is a sobering reality though that people we know and love will never spend eternity in heaven. It is a far greater shock to know that simply declaring oneself as "Christian" provides no certainty whatsoever whether he/she will spend eternity in heaven one day. Prior to making this statement, Jesus warned His followers to guard their minds from false prophets and provided a litmus test for us to know not only how to discern false teaching, but judge for ourselves whether we are bearing good or bad fruit. "You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit" (Matthew 7:16-17). The proof is in the pudding! In other words, we can publicly identify ourselves as Christians and spend eternity in Hell because the seed planted deep within our hearts does not yield a harvest of righteousness whatsoever (i.e. it never took root in the first place). As controversial as it may sound, we can even recite some form of the sinner's prayer or prayer of salvation and STILL not enter the kingdom of heaven one day. Why? Because if our faith begins and ends only with a hollow prayer, we are deceived. Faith must be born out of HEART CHANGE, not lip service, and God knows whether our prayer of salvation is genuine or not. 

We can look closely at the final hours Jesus spent dying on the cross to see how salvation begins with the heart. "One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, 'Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!' But the other rebuked him, saying, 'Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.' And he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' And he (Jesus) said to him, 'Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise'" (Luke 23:39-43). This criminal knew in his heart he was a sinner and deserving of death, yet defended Jesus when He was being mocked and persecuted. His faith in who he believed Jesus to be provoked righteous application despite his death sentence. Therefore, Jesus promised him the greatest gift man could ever desire, salvation, because his faith produced good fruit that testified to heart change. The key takeaway for us is that we need not doubt our salvation if we have experienced heart change by the power of the Holy Spirit. That does not assume we will never sin again in our lives. Rather, it simply means that our hearts are bent toward producing good fruit because we are diligently and faithfully working to align our personal will with the will of God. In essence, our attitudes should mirror that of King David, who though he sinned mightily in his life declared, "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24). Therefore, we can rest assured that the more we seek to glorify God and not ourselves, the more abundant our harvest of good fruit will be despite our struggles and failures along the way.

It does seem illogical that despite how we continually sin, God forgives us when we recognize and repent of our sins. In fact, God takes it one step further promising to cast our sins from His memory altogether! "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins" (Isaiah 43:25).  Many of us struggle though believing God is working in us and through us despite our repeated failures. Therefore, we must remember what is most important: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:17). Whether we yield good fruit or not is contingent upon a posture of repentant brokenness at the heart level. So no matter how bad we mess up, God continually waits for us like prodigal children ready to forgive if we would only recognize how much we need Him and how much He loves us. "'Yet even now,' declares the LORD, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.' Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster" (Joel 2:12-13). What an amazing promise! Again, this is imperative to understand because it helps us discern whether the Lord will say to us on judgment day, "Welcome home," or "Depart from me." Therefore, we need not allow worry to envelop our minds and render us incapable of knowing where we stand with God. Simply consider Jesus' question, "And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?" (Matthew 6:27), and respond according to the wisdom He gives. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34).

As we reflect upon the enormity of Matthew 7:21-23, we are given a specific example which illustrates Jesus' teaching. In the book of Acts, we learn of a magician named Simon, who upon hearing the good news of Jesus Christ preached by Philip in Samaria, came to faith and was baptized. "Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:14-17). What happens next brings into question whether Simon truly experienced heart change when he supposedly came to faith. "Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, 'Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.' But Peter said to him, 'May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.' And Simon answered, 'Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.'" (Acts 8:18-24). Compelled by idolatry in his heart, Simon the magician failed to realize that saving grace is unmerited favor. It cannot be bought nor earned for it is a free gift. And he who seeks personal gain from the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross unto death will hear the Lord say on judgment day, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness" (Matthew 7:23).

What we must realize is that "the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). If we read further, Peter immediately cautions that the day of the Lord will come like a thief, meaning our day of judgment could come at any moment. Therefore, we are wise to heed Peter's warning and take inventory of the fruit we bear. 

• Are our hearts aligned with God's will or our own? 
• Whose glory do we seek by the good deeds we perform? 
• Are we aware of any semblance of idolatry in our hearts?
• Are we ashamed or unashamed of God's Word in its entirety?
• Are we manipulating the Gospel for selfish gain?

In the end, we are deceiving ourselves if we think we can live sold-out for Christ yet thoroughly consumed by fleshly desires. With that mindset, pride will be our downfall and we will live in disillusionment, spiritually blind to our own blindness. "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned" (Romans 12:3). Rather, we are wise to relinquish our minds and surrender our hearts in submission and obedience to the Lord, for only He can save us from sin and death if we accept His free gift of salvation and apply what the Bible teaches in our daily lives to produce good fruit. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones" (Proverbs 3:5-8).

Matthew 7:15-20 (Devotion)

A TREE AND ITS FRUIT - "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 thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits."

It has been said that what we feed our minds with will determine our appetite, therefore we are wise to discern what we allow our minds to dwell upon vs. what we should resist. Undoubtedly, we live in a post-modernistic culture where truth is considered "relative" (i.e. there are no absolute truths; truth fluctuates based on personal perception or experience) and the Bible is cast as outdated, irrelevant and judgmental. For those of us who profess Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, saving faith is grounded in the absolute truth of God's Word contrary to what culture condemns. It is a package deal, yet many self-proclaimed Christians are lukewarm, tepid or even confrontational and apologetic regarding the Bible and some of its teachings. In other words, it has become "fashionable" for people to profess faith in Jesus but alienate themselves from Scripture either partially or altogether, as well as the community of faith in churches across the world. They simply fail to realize, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1), meaning Jesus and the Bible are one in the same! Make no mistake, there are mysteries contained in the pages of Scripture that no man can answer because God in His sovereignty chose to reveal what we need to know as opposed to what we may want to know regarding every issue under the sun. That is why faith in Jesus Christ is both the easiest and hardest decision anyone makes in his/her lifetime, because the Gospel seems too good to be true. It is also true that in His Word, God has explicitly condemned certain behaviors as sinful that our culture boldly contradicts and persecutes Christians for due to its acceptance and prevalence. In this case, God has drawn a line in the sand and we must choose whether we're aligned with His Word or the world's perspective as our moral compass.

Over the course of history, many shepherds have sought to profit from the Gospel for themselves at the expense of the flock. Whether driven by greed, power or acclaim, many false teachers have forced the body of Christ into a defensive posture as their hypocrisy and evil deeds are revealed for all to see at the expense of the church. Granted, false teachers need to be exposed, held accountable, and removed from any semblance of leadership within the church. However, that does not remove their consequences of action which not only taint or discredit the church's credibility within secular culture, but permeate the body of Christ like cancer and drive a wedge within the fellowship because they have misrepresented God's absolute truth. It is in these moments we must remember whose authority we submit to when the evil deeds of a few attempt to embitter our hearts and create division within the church. Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). At the same time, we must remember to "be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). It is upon this spiritual battleground of the mind where we find ourselves each day, for our culture relentlessly questions the Bible's authority at every turn in order to expose our personal beliefs and reveal where our true allegiance lies. And if our adversaries reveal any inconsistencies in our theology, they will exhaust all time, energy and resources at their disposal to contradict our beliefs using experiential knowledge and/or post-modernistic thinking as rationale, or simply manipulate Scripture out of context to twist God's Word into a weapon against us for their benefit.

False teaching simply preys upon our insecurities and vulnerabilities to benefit oneself at the expense of God. It robs God of the glory He is due, which is why Jesus passionately rebukes this level of hypocrisy and warns of the dangers attributed to those who would manipulate the Gospel for selfish gain. The biggest challenge regarding false teaching from our perspective as the body of Christ is knowing how to identify and expose false teaching when we hear it. First, we must realize that Satan will use Scripture itself against us. From the beginning of time, Satan used this strategy in the garden of Eden. "Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?" (Genesis 3:1). By causing Eve to question and doubt God's Word, Satan succeeded in tempting her to eat the fruit God clearly had forbidden. Satan identified her selfish vulnerabilities and preyed upon those by using God's Word against her. Satan even used the same strategy against Jesus when He was weak from fasting 40 days in the wilderness. However, Jesus resisted Satan's attack by using "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). "And he (Satan) took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’" And Jesus answered him, "It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’" And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time" (Luke 4:9-13). Fast forward to our present day and we can hear similar tempestuous language preached in pulpits all across the world—relative truth intermixed with Scripture in order to cast an illusion of being absolute while conveying a false message contrary to what God's Word truly says. In other words, pieces of Scripture can be easily taken out of context and used as ammunition for personal gain, all the while sounding perfectly reasonable and loosely supported by Bible verses for those who purpose themselves to lead others astray for their selfish benefit.

To better illustrate tactics false teachers use, we must be willing to identify common themes and strategies within our culture today. Consider universalism as an example. Universalism teaches that all human beings will be saved and spend eternity in heaven regardless of who or what they define as their God or higher power (i.e. all paths lead to heaven). The emotional selling point is that no one will spend eternity in hell. Who wouldn't want that? To support their claim, false teachers could easily use 2 Peter 3:9 to show that God's desire is that no man would perish as a premise for universalism. Indeed, 2 Peter 3:9 does in fact state that fact. However, when we filter this premise through Scripture in it's entirety, we see that John 3:16 and John 14:6 clearly identify that the only way to inherit eternal life is through saving faith in Jesus Christ alone. Prosperity gospel would be another common false teaching example, exhorting that God's desire is for us to be healthy and wealthy. In order words, faith is measured by how prosperous we are this side of heaven. This obviously preys upon our fleshly propensities toward privilege, monetary comfort, and success. In this case, John 10:10 could be taken out of context to affirm that God's desire is for us to live life abundantly. Moreover, James 4:2 is similarly used as a "name it and claim it" strategy to affirm our need to ask God to bring us health and wealth, who in turn will grant our desires if we have enough faith. In both instances, there is absolute truth to what John 10:10 and James 4:2 convey. However, they are falsely taken out of context and do not align with the entirety of Scripture. The Beatitudes themselves (Matthew 5:2-12) which began Jesus' sermon on the mount exalt the antithesis of health and wealth doctrine (i.e. blessed are the poor in spirit; blessed are those who weep and mourn; blessed are the meek; blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; etc.). Moreover, Matthew 6:19-21, Mark 10:25, Luke 9:23-24 and James 1:9-11 all paint a completely different picture contrary to prosperity doctrine of what is most valuable in the eyes of God, namely humility, servitude and selflessness.

In the end, we cannot identify false teaching throughout the post-modernistic culture we live in if we are not immersing ourselves in the absolute truth of God's Word IN IT'S ENTIRETY. We simply cannot pick and choose what we want to believe in God's Word as it if were a buffet platter, for the world is ready to pick us apart if we cannot articulate and support what we believe from the Bible. Peter wrote, "Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil" (1 Peter 3:13-17). The fruit we bear is predetermined by the amount of quality time we spend in communion with God through His Word. There simply is no other alternative if we desire to discern false teaching, bless others and glorify God. Therefore, we are wise to apply what the Lord God spoke to Joshua when he was commissioned to lead the nation of Israel in Moses' place as a reminder that our Christian faith begins and ends with the absolute truth of God's Word. "Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:7-9).

Matthew 7:12-14 (Devotion)

THE GOLDEN RULE - "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 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."

The Golden Rule is one of the most popular teachings in the world today, originated by Jesus and commonly accepted within our secular culture as well. Its premise is simple: "Treat others the same way we would like to be treated." It seems logical and easy to follow, but the biggest challenge is defining how we'd personally like to be treated by others and what that entails both from a superficial perspective and deep within our hearts. For undoubtedly we welcome words of praise, blessing and affirmation spoken to us and about us, but are we just as eager to hear words of judgment and accountability even if they are grounded in love and spoken for our benefit? Often times, we welcome praise and shun accountability when in actuality, we judge others rather than affirm their countenance and character. It requires a paradigm shift to think of the Golden Rule as more than a principle for superficial reciprocation because there are many instances where Scripture challenges us to value judgment and accountability in the same manner, which in turn refines our character rather than inflating our pride and ego. Consider the following:

• "Better is open rebuke than hidden love" (Proverbs 27:5).
• "Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue" (Proverbs 28:23).
• "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy" (Proverbs 27:6).
• "Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it" (Psalm 141:5).
• "Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you" (Proverbs 9:8).
• "It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools" (Ecclesiastes 7:5).

Make no mistake, the Golden Rule has infinite benefits from a behavioral perspective if we take the lead rather than hold back. For instance, if we wish to receive respect, we must first give it. If we crave affirmation, we must first seek to build others up as well. If we take pleasure in being served, we must be willing to get our hands dirty first. All of these behaviors model the example Jesus gave His disciples during the Last Supper when He assumed the role of a servant. "When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, 'Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them'" (John 13:12-17). What makes this example so striking is that Jesus did not merely teach a principle to benefit Himself. Rather, He applied its wisdom unto righteousness because it modeled a greater message and purpose of self-denial for the profit of others. There was no ulterior motive to the sacrifice He made because His motivation was rooted in unconditional, selfless love for all mankind. "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you" (John 15:13-15).

The temptation we must overcome as we apply the Golden Rule to our lives is not to allow our compulsion to be self-serving. We live in a culture that is saturated and inundated with "ME-centered" ideology, which caters FIRST to self as the primary reason for serving, respecting, and loving others. However, this ideology runs contrary to Scripture. The Bible reminds us, "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Therefore, if our actions are not grounded in humility and love for one another in spite of what it may cost us, how can we expect others to show us the same Golden Rule sentiment in return? In other words, we will never reap a profitable return on investment without risking something to begin with, so why would we expect the Golden Rule to be one-directional in our favor without making any initial investment whatsoever? King David felt the same way when encamped in his stronghold, professed publicly a desire he had which was fulfilled unbeknownst to him by his most trusted soldiers. "And David said longingly, 'Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!' Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it. He poured it out to the LORD and said, “Far be it from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it" (1 Chronicles 11:18-19). David could not bring himself to drink because he realized how self-serving his request was compared to the potential loss that could have come from such a meaningless desire. He had invested nothing to begin with, therefore the prize he received overwhelmed him with guilt and shame to the point where he acknowledged and made atonement for his mistake.

Perhaps an angle of the Golden Rule rarely examined is the impact judgment can have for better or worse in the life of a believer. Keep in mind, Jesus had just previously said, "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" (Matthew 7:1-2). The key to understanding what role judgment plays in our application of this teaching lies in what Jesus said next: "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" (Matthew 7:3-5). Let us be clear: Jesus is not condemning judgment in and of itself, but our use of judgment as a weapon of division and self-exaltation within the church. Judgment IS allowed in Scripture among believers, but applied FIRST through a filter of personal accountability in our own hearts. That does not assume (for example) a man cannot hold his brother in Christ accountable if he sees patterns of adultery or sexual deviance because he himself does not perfectly apply Jesus' teaching on lust (Matthew 5:27-30) in his own heart. What Scripture teaches is that in making a judgment call in the life of a believer, we do so understanding we are sinners as well in need of grace, mercy and forgiveness. Judgment that is grounded in love with personal investment in the well being of a brother or sister in Christ has a far greater success rate than judgment spoken in condemnation. It conveys indescribable love willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to come alongside one another despite the risk associated. Therefore, we are wise to understand that judgment according to the Golden Rule assumes we are willing to be held accountable by others in order for God to sanctify us according to His will and purpose.

When we sift through surface layers, we begin to see how far and wide the Golden Rule can impact our lives if we allow it. But as Jesus reminds us, the gate that leads unto righteousness is incredibly narrow and those who find it are few. Truth be told, many of us settle for the wide gate far more often than we care to admit. Time constraints, stress at home and in the workplace, various fears, lack of patience, cultural influences, etc., all have the ability to steer our decision making. Therefore, we must be intentional to not only guard our hearts but expand our perspective and open our eyes to all that Matthew 7:12-14 teaches us. Jesus said, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me" (John 14:23-24). Therefore, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:4-5). The Golden Rule was never intended to be superficial in nature, for there are greater rewards available to those who not only hear the Word of the Lord, but do what it says (James 1:22-25). The key is not settling for what we think benefits us most as our source of motivation. For if we are content to simply give and take without consideration for others, we will find ourselves blind to our own blindness, assuming we have chosen the narrow path when indeed we have chosen the path that leads to destruction.