Tuesday Mar 06, 2007

Wash Your Hands Before Dinner? Not Me.

So ... do you like my messages or are you "gluttons" for punishment?

In any case, welcome back.

Surprise, today's message is on “Works”. Why ”works”? It's easy to understand, easy to write, and I keep stumbling over opportunities to write messages on the subject. It will be very short.

The message is taken from Matthew 15:10-20.

Setting the scene is necessary ... Jesus slams on the Pharisees between Matthew 15:1-9. His message is about preparing foods in a traditional, ceremonial manner. -- In this case, He doesn't approve of it. If you're curious, check it out.

Now, having set the scene ...

10 Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “Listen,” he said, “and try to understand. 11 It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.”
12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?”
13 Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted, 14 so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.”
15 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Explain to us the parable that says people aren’t defiled by what they eat.”
16 “Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus asked. 17 “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. 18 But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. 20 These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”

In my “Shape Up and Ship Out !” message I wrote:

My recommendation is, starting at this very moment, you commit to producing works for Christ. A simple first step might be shaping up your life and living an upright life. A guidepost (a specific goal to walk towards) might be to avoid those things that are “ungodly, immoral, or illegal”. Isn’t that an easy goal to strive for? These simple, easy to obtain goals is a form of ‘works’ for Christ. That simple guidepost is great beginning on the road leading to the kingdom of heaven.




The guidance in Matthew 15:18-20 provides that “guidepost” to strive for. Those actions can be the “works” you begin doing first. Each of us knows the actions listed in those verses is generally considered “wrong” to do. If nothing else, each on action falls in my “ungodly, immoral, or illegal” category.

Before I finish, let’s give those who haven’t accepted Christ the opportunity to do so; Christians you can read along ...

Becoming a Christian is simple. Say to yourself: “Christ please come into my life and forgive all my sins. I make you my Lord and Savior.” If you said it, and meant it, you’re now a Christian. Congratulations.

I'm finished. Chores are waiting. Yeah!

OBTW: I'm not planning the messages ahead of time, that is, this messge refers to the last. It just happens. (Hmm : Or does it?)

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