October 5
Luke 8:1-3; Mark 3:20-30; Matthew 12:22-45; Mark 3:31-35; Matthew 12:46-50; Luke 8:19-21; Mark 4:1-9; Matthew 13:1-9; Luke 8:4-8; Mark 4:10-20
Unless one sees their need for a Savior, the call to Christianity is a difficult one. We are told to be expected to be misunderstood, misrepresented and persecuted. We are told that many of those who will do all of the above might even be members of our actual family, close friends, and people from our community. The earlier we understand that the world and Jesus are in opposite camps the more sure-footed our walk will be. For in life you must choose which camp you will be identified by. Once you decide your side you must seek to build it up, not fracture it. God left us His guidebook, the Bible. In it are commands, not suggestions. Anyone in His camp who chooses to lift up any cause which is unbiblical creates fractures within the family of God. There are non-essentials which we can disagree upon which allows us to be unified but not uniform. But we must unify under God’s unwavering truth contained in His Word. We can not allegorize that which is plainly stated. We can not search for definitions of words not intended by the actual writers inspired by the Holy Spirit. In all, we must discern at all times both our surroundings and our audience so we understand our mission and stumble no one who might have ears to hear and eyes to see.
We read in Mark 3:20-22, “ One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat. When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said. But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons.” Further dialogue in John 7:1-5, reveals how His own brothers misunderstood not only his actions and teachings, but even His motives. Jesus explained what happens when fractures are allowed to form and deepen within a group in Mark 3:24-25, “ “A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart.” We read the clear message from Jesus in Matthew 12:30, “ “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.”.
With this clear message from Jesus we must take seriously His words in Matthew 12:36, “ And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.”. Every word, every message, every “polite” conversation we embark on we will give an account for. If these words bring others closer to Jesus then they are worth much, if they push others away then they are idle. Some of those things which we consider essential, such as politics, or our views on specific worldly topics may seem to be of utmost importance, but they are not if they divide the body. God clearly defined who His true family is in Luke 8:21, “Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.”. We need to center our lives so closely on Jesus that we remember throughout each day which family we belong to and then choose our words wisely so as to properly represent our family and our Savior.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: