The vast treasure of the little flock

𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟭𝟮:𝟯𝟮‭-‬𝟯𝟰 “𝗙𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘁, 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺. 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘆. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗹𝗱, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘆𝘀. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼.

After pointing out God’s glory in all creation – in birds, flowers and grass and saying how trite they were – even in their existence – to human beings, Jesus gave the “therefore” passage above. It’s both supremely endearing and challenging, even convicting.

The “little flock” is nonetheless the object of God’s pleasure and recipient of the very Kingdom of God. This flies in the face of any “big flock” mentality. Small is good in this passage, and of course Jesus was speaking to the small band of original believers. As the church grew, “little flock” would no longer describe it, except in comparison with the overall population.

A strong part of Jesus’ description of the creation was God’s care for it. It was and is God who waters the earth, sends sunlight to plants and provides food for all the animal kingdom. This is an indication of his care for people, whom God cares about more. There is hierarchy in the creation, and humankind is its apex.

The instruction to sell possessions and give to the needy implies that one has possessions and one is not needy. Far from any human socialistic system, this is generosity after God’s own heart.

And once exercised, there is a new treasure obtained. This is a restatement of the proverb:

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘀 𝟭𝟵:𝟭𝟳 𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗗, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲.

… which is an almost scandalous truth concerning the heavenly economy. God becomes the debtor to human kindness and generosity. A reward is kept in eternity for the generous.

The final statement – “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” – shows that giving one’s possessions takes them off the throne of one’s life. You cannot worship something you give away and even renounce. Once done, the heart of a person – his/her intents and purposes – are directed and reside in heaven.

So, who is needy around me? Hands would go up if the question is asked. But clearly, there is godly counsel to be gained in this. Do I give grudgingly of any resource – finances, time, energy, etc. ? If so, that needs cleansing and correcting. I have freely received; get over yourself O my heart.

Do I demand notice and reward for my acts of kindness in this life? If so, Jesus says I have received my reward in full. That is NOT the treasure described in this passage. Give and I will prime the pump of blessing in my own life; that is very true. Let me be God’s conduit – his pipe – of blessing. Let it flow.

Turning towards the good news

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝟭:𝟭𝟰‭-‬𝟭𝟱 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗲, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱; 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹.”

Mark 1 covers a lot of history of Jesus’ life in just a few verses, but this statement from the Lord at the beginning of his ministry is both terse and deeply engaging.

The time being “fulfilled” provides the historical context for the life and ministry of Jesus. It happened exactly when God determined it would, and all things were set in place. From the dire spiritual state of the nation of Israel to the rule of Rome, with all the roads and travel lanes that had opened, the point of Jesus’ entry onto the scene was ordained.

The kingdom of God being “at hand” announced what was now available through Christ. Humankind would be touched as never before with miracles, teaching and opportunity to walk out lives directed and blessed by God the Father in Heaven. “It’s right here” says Jesus, come and get it.

There is no translation of the Greek word for gospel – εὐαγγέλιον (pronounced euangelion) – means anything gloomy or burdensome. It simply means good (“eu” prefix) news or message (angelion). Jesus repeatedly urges people to believe it – that there is good will from God for them in life – both to save and restore and give hope and a future. It makes all the difference in how people live.

Coupled with the word for “gospel”, “repent” – meaning turn and go the other way – refers to mindset and faith that is “bad news” or at least laced with that. Rather than thinking about this sin or that, the call is to change our minds and believe that God loves and cares for us. All other actions and thoughts related to believing the bad news simply fall away – though some certainly die hard.

Let me then believe, practice and thus preach the good news where and when God enables and opens the door. He loves me and loves us and wants the best for us.

Filling the house

Matthew 12:43-45 “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.”

Evil can be removed by deliverance or conquest, but unless it is replaced with virtue and righteousness, it will come back in greater proportions.  Jesus regularly cast out demons.  The behavior and effects those spirits caused was personally and socially destructive. 

The phenomenon of their returning to their former hosts is chilling and shows the need for a second spiritual act to be sure that the “house” is NOT empty.  That is, Jesus must fill the “house”.  The Holy Spirit, infinitely more powerful than any demon, will not cohabitate with any other spirit.  In God there is no darkness.

And Jesus did not leave the story with a single person re-possessed by the devil.  He concluded by saying this was also the tale of his evil generation.  In that sense, his ministry to that generation of people did accomplish the advent of the Kingdom of God, but if unbelief persisted, it was only temporary.   Believers went on in their liberty from the Evil One, for they obtained an infilling that left the “house” full and redeemed.

Salvation is not always readily noticed.  Sin can persist along with all the sickness and trials of the human condition.  (Guaranteed divine health is a proud travesty)  So if I look at the valleys of life and forget with whom I am filled, I may need reminding of the permanent state of my deliverance, ongoing salvation and destiny.  Though I may struggle, there is no “re-entry” of evil.  That battle is won.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Matthew 8:9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

Being under authority provides a flow of power and blessing.  Of course, it can also perpetuate a flow of hideous destruction.  It is the top-down course of permission and command that empowers the individual.

The Centurion was saying that he knew Jesus received his power to do the miraculous from God on high, just as he received his own power to act militarily from the hierarchy of Roman command above him.  Jesus was astounded by his understanding and faith and showered the human saying with praises heard nowhere else in the gospels.

Among Jesus followers, there is a tendency to either shirk or overplay human hierarchy.  After all, Jesus was only “under” God, right?  And there is another tendency to force submission and thus, proudly build ecclesiastical reporting structures that serve to build denominations or movements.  There is no question that hierarchy was in place in the early church, but there were no denominations and splinter groups were on their own.  So, we see human authority both abandoned and over-emphasized.  And while there is apparent freedom in refusing to submit, there is equal pride in being lone believers or leaders.  Pride will crimp the flow of God’s power, as it is pointedly opposed (see James 4:6).

In the story, power was needed for healing.  It was not power for power’s sake or just for show.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

The dynamic, timely flow of power from hierarchical structure heals and delivers.  This does not negate relationship – indeed, the motive of love is ever present in the exchange.  The need to be “plugged in” to a corporate “tree” – even in Christ – is intrinsic. 

So let me heed and continue to be one “under authority”, in the right heart and the right place that I might avail the power of God in time of need.

Suspended understanding

John 6:56-58 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.”

Many disciples ceased to follow Jesus after he said these words. It’s also clear if those who remained did not understand what Jesus was saying either, but they clung to him nonetheless because, as Peter said “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (verse 68).

The analogy of bread to Jesus’ body and wine to his blood is a reference to his sacrificial death for all humankind, as demonstrated in Luke 22:19 and as practiced during communion services across the world in a vast variety of ways and churches. It is a tangible reminder for Jesus followers to signify saving faith in Jesus’ death for their sins.

We have no record of the lives of those who walked away in misunderstanding this saying. But it’s certain that NO ONE understood it, so those who remained did not let their understanding dictate their faith. As Peter went on to say: “We believe and know that you are the Holy one of God.” (verse 69). Who Jesus was matter more than their grasping everything he said or did. Indeed, it could be said that they were confused most of the time.

Can I suspend understanding like that? Can I push through confusion and lack of understanding of the “how’s” and “why’s” and “what’s” and cling to the person of Jesus? It takes faith to know it will all be clear at some point. But if I know the “who”, I can float the the other unknowns. For I do eat the body and drink the blood, knowing fully what it now means.

This is not to say everything I might hear is the voice of the Lord. Truly, following the wrong human voice can be the blind leading the blind. But when a word has strong spiritual witness in the Holy Spirit, I can know it’s him and follow it on that basis alone. It’s required to “Test everything. Hold on to the good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and the good things need my attention as a follower.

So be it.

Affirmed by rejection

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝟭𝟮:𝟭𝟬-𝟭𝟭 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: “‘𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲; 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱’𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀’?”

This analogy of the builders with the rejected stone (see Psalm 118:22) has much more than meets the eye. The building experts, trained and experienced in their craft, get things so fundamentally wrong that they discard the most important piece of the foundation of the building. Far more than an expose of human ineptitude, which is in all honesty a healthy part of growth in any field of endeavor, the metaphor speaks to a more profound rejection – one motivated by hurried expedience, misguided attraction or outright jealousy.

Jesus HAD to be rejected by people or he would not have been the Messiah:

𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗮𝗵 𝟱𝟯:𝟯 𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗻, 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁.

Jesus was referring to himself in the quotation, directly confronting his accusers and detractors to their face. Yet he is the Cornerstone, the foundation upon which lives of faith are to be built.

His rejection did NOT stop him from continuing his ministry, and walking out his destiny of death on the cross, resurrection and ascension. THAT is what is marvelous in our eyes! Persistence, unceasing love and movement towards God. Despite rejection.

Can I own this? Can I be rejected by people of various types, particularly by those in authority and power, and still walk the way everlasting (Psalm 139:24)? Retracting and retreating from who I am and what I am called to do based upon God’s call is the desire of the kingdom of darkness. This is not an ambitious thrust into prominence; indeed it might be encouragement to stay obscure and yet powerful in ministry to God and others.

Rejection is affirmation if we listen to the right voice. It cements us as the beloved into the house of God, constructed of living stones as a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5). For the One who will never reject us sees His building blocks with the keenest of eyes and knows the end from the beginning.

Let us rejoice, for it is marvelous in our eyes!

Mountains, valleys, crooked and rough places

Luke 3:4-6: … The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

John the Baptist quoted Isaiah 40:3-5 and applied it to his ministry of repentance. Topologically, it reads like one is preparing a landing strip for a large aircraft. Or a railroad bed through the mountains. But John was speaking about preparing hearts to see the salvation of the Lord. So, the valleys and mountains, crooked and rough places pertain to the state of the souls of people. This is profound.

What is a valley of the soul then? A depressed, downtrodden area of shame and abandonment? It would make sense, yes. And a mountain? A proud, too-lofty peak that lords a person over others and even authority. Crooked and rough places are variants of sinful behavior, perhaps known to the person with excuses and justifications such that they were never confronted before.

Repentance takes no prisoners. Sin dies and a person has nothing else to lean on but forgiveness.

But it’s vital to remember that this repentance was in preparation of One who would set captives free. That is, though people may well seek to have sins erased, it is only the work of the Savior that truly frees. Forgiveness and freedom are granted separately, and freedom is of course, a far more hard-fought entity.

It is God’s will that humankind be free from sin, not just forgiven for it. Like it or not, that is a progressive move in the lives of his children. For humankind is deeply bound, realizing it or not.

What, then are my valleys, mountains, crooked and rough places? May the Holy Spirit convict. And how will I be set free, not just forgiven? By God’s grace, accountability and learning to walk a different path, even in my thought life and my words. That God will do it is sure – I’ve seen it for years. Freedom is glorious and worth every step taken to walk in.

Amen.

Gospel as life force

Acts 20:30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.

There was no church in the New Testament for which Paul had cared more and on behalf of whom had  exerted more prayer, ministry and overall effort  than the church at Ephesus.  It was by all accounts the gold standard of churches in Asia at the time of this account.

In the tearful good-bye that Paul had with its elders, he cited many examples of his selfless ministry, his devotion to the truth and his overall life of giving.  Now Paul was not one to boast so his motives in saying all that was to present an example for the leaders.  They were to keep the work of the gospel going even as he had.

The warnings he gave were not vain “what if” statements – they were very real trends he had already seen and encountered in his leadership role.  Indeed, by the time of the writing of the book of Revelation, the Ephesian church had lost its fire, its first love and was in need of revival.

One of the kinds of event that led to its decline was the invasion of the church by those who did not have the gospel as their life force.  They were described as wolves who would come in and prey upon the people, enticing and convincing them to abandon the truth of Christ.  Then Paul said the statement above, pointing to the very leaders he had in front of him.  There would be leaders that would build their own flocks, making up their own truths and stories to gain a following.

The word “disciples’ – “mathetes” in the Greek (from which we get “mathematics”) – are those who don’t just follow, but learn from a teacher.  So the leader(s) that would divide the body would gain those who would be their life-students.  And that’s where the lure is for a to-be-wayward leader.

There is little question that every leader has a distinct style, philosophy and approach to leadership.  Each leader is his/her own person, with an individual mix of gifts and attributes.  However, this verse speaks to the goals of leadership, not the style.  Is it a leader’s goal to create his/her own following at the expense of following Christ.  Too many gravitate towards giving Jesus lip service while dedicating their real effort to guaranteeing their own exaltation.  The underlying motivation is pride – lifting up self above others and at others’ expense.

So, it needn’t be a pursuit of wealth that marks the work of such leaders.  Indeed, pride may be taken in the superior sacrifice of being poor.  The question to ask is who is ultimately being followed in a ministry – Jesus or the local leader?  And it’s a cop-out to say “both”.

May I debase myself, be a blundering, blubbering fool in order to follow Christ.  And if I am tasked and charged with leading others, may I point solely to Him as the teacher.  Of course this means that I must be first a follower.

May I be sure to choose leadership that likewise humbly follows the Master, for self-exalting leadership spawns more of the same; I have seen it.  If pride is seen as normal and good, how terrible will be the demise of the one who practices it.

Foundations and storms

Scripture:

Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Observation:

The analogy using the foundation of a home is vivid and resolute. If one takes course of action 1, the house will stand firm amidst the storms and floods. If course of action 2, the house will fall with a “great crash”. The basis of the action taken is the words that Jesus had spoken. It is proper to think of this brief picture applying to all of the Sermon on the Mount. So there are 3 chapters of “words” that need to be listened to and applied. This is core Christian doctrine and it is as counter culture as it is freeing and nobilifying. It is no small body of teaching. So the words Jesus spoke are the key to this analog; they define direction. The “house” is the life of the listener, the disciple. The fundamental beauty and creative potential of human life is celebrated in that comparison. Not that people can’t decide life is awful and start to live decrepit lives of chosen loss and shame. For all who come to faith in Christ there is a rebuilding of the foundation. For no matter how beautiful and ornate the house is, the constant, unavoidable truth is that storms come. Life’s weather patterns are not always pleasant and easily navigable. And when bad enough weather comes, only the foundation will keep the beauty intact.

Application:

The work would seem so immense as to be infeasible except that a foundation is not built instantly or with spotty labor. No, its raw materials and the labor to utilize them are carefully and methodically chosen and applied. Even in this day of specialists, those pouring foundation are the first in to a building site and no one can build on top until they are done. And for the person newly in Christ, a new house is built. Old things pass away and all things become new. The idea of rebuilding can sound scary, but it’s not the person who does the work; it’s Christ. Though the call to salvation is radical in its requisite change, the work of Christ is what sustains it. The friend one finds in Christ is active and constructive always. Let me know this well. And communicate and celebrate it well.

There is instruction here about what to do in crisis. One should not go it alone but instead should draw upon life’s foundation in Christ: His teaching, worship and presence. That will keep the building standing and life’s heavenly progression constant. Though the world around offers all manner of aid and advice, it is founded upon crumbling principles. So when the storm hits, my heart must go to the deep place, to the Rock of my salvation. There are myriad temptations to forsake my relationship with God based on lies like the idea that I suffer because He’s angry with me or the notion that God would want nothing to do with someone in my forlorn state. Those lies are part of the storm; let me recognize them as such.

Prayer:

Father, I thank You for this scripture which I’ve known for so long. Let it take new root in my soul and build onto the firm foundation. In Jesus’ name, amen.