Giving to the poor is nice ---

In Luke there is a record of a man who was chief among the publicans and he had lots of money. He wanted to see Jesus when he traveled through Jericho.

Luke 19:4-9 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. NIV

When people started muttering about Jesus saying that he was going to Zaccheus' house, Zaccheus defended himself to Jesus, saying he had given to the poor and that he had never cheated anyone knowingly. Was this why Jesus noticed him?  No! Jesus noticed him because he was up a tree and when he called him down out of the tree  Zaccheus received him "joyfully". Jesus called him a 'son of Abraham' not because he was a direct descendant of Abraham but because of his believing!

Galatians 3:6-7 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.

It was Zaccheus' believing that obtained his wholeness. We are made whole by believing not our works. It is nice to give to the poor and do good things, but that is not what God is looking for. We really please God by believing. If you want to check out where your believing is there is a simple test. Where do you turn for help? In Mark we see Jesus Christ talking about the poor when he says:

Mark 14:7 "For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have me. " NASB

Until we get to the place where we get 'up a tree' with God, we cannot see what we really want to see. With humility and joyful thankfulness we have access to God through His son just by believing. With believing our spiritual vision can give us the clear picture of the throne room of God where we can go boldly, believingly and with confidence any time we want.

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor (Link-ptochos) in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Living Water

God frequently uses the human body to explain spiritual truths. Since he was the one who designed the body, His analogies are great! In Ephesians 4:16 one such analogy leaps off the page regarding growth:

Ephesians 4:15-16 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. NIV

The human body requires food for nourishment and water that facilitates nourishment for growth. Water is a key factor in the synthesis of large compounds. Water is need to build and repair tissue. It is a necessary  nutrient for ligaments and joints. Water is necessary for breaking down and carrying away the by-products not necessary for growth.

In John 4:13-14 Jesus Christ uses water as an analogy to teach the woman at the well, the important concept of worshipping God 'in spirit and in truth'.

John 4:13-14 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

The truth of God provides nourishment to our hearts. In addition to the truth God provides  His very own nature:

I Corinthians 6:17 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The Word of God is a fountain for living waters for us because of all that was accomplished through the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. God's spirit is given to every man who recognizes the Lordship of Jesus Christ and acknowledges the power of the resurrection. 'Captivity has been led captive' (Ephesians 4:8) and we are free to bubble over in the sparkling uncontaminated joy of spiritual living.

The analogy of the importance of water can be carried individually or collectively. In a body or group of believers who are united on the living truth, the spirit of God has unlimited avenues to promote growth as each individual lives in vibrant communication with God through His spirit. It is God's spirit and only God's spirit, through Jesus Christ that brings individuals together in any meaningful organic community.

Pawn or Servant?

Recently I heard someone describe a candidate on the news as a 'servant'. As I looked up his voting record, I felt a certain dissonance with that choice of  word in describing the man. A servant is an individual who is interested in the welfare of others.

Jesus Christ defined servanthood so simply in Mark 10:44

And whosoever of  you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

Sometimes in our world we get the word 'servant' mixed up with 'pawn'. A pawn is an individual that is manipulated for service. The individual is at the service of someone who is not necessarily interested in the welfare of all.

Anyone on God's slate of leadership truly knows the meaning of servanthood and has a 'superpac' strength that is beyond anything this world has to offer. I have known public servants that understand this principle and they are not necessarily very public with what they accomplish and probably not approved by the media because they are not 'pawnable'.

Get Out of Jail Free Card

Galatians 3:10-11 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

The law does not bring justification to an individual. You can't sacrifice, circumcise, genuflect or even quote bible verses to find your way into God's favor. It is what you believe in your heart (Link) that counts (Romans10: 9and 10) Attending one church over another doesn't cut it either. There is only one true church. The true 'eklesia' (Link) today is the body of Christ and Jesus Christ is the head of that body.

Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

We often view the law as a whistle-blower for what is right and what is wrong. God did not give the law in the Old Testament for any other reason but love. The law was a protection, keeping the Israelites out of trouble when they followed it. Evil exists and it endeavors to pull man away from the safety of God. The word 'cursed' in the above verses refers to a proclivity to exposure to the evil that  exists in the world. If a man choses to live by the law, he will reap the benefits of living wisely, but if he misses on even one point he is subject to the effects that result from disregarding the law.

Galatians 5:2-3 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Trying to do everything just right is stifling. It is impossible to do. If we adopt a legal attitude towards God, that is not what God intended.  It is Jesus Christ that throws us the key to the jail around our hearts and beckons us to live free. We are free to make a choice. Many people choose the option to stay complacent within the invisible bars of their own bonds. They rely on themselves and it is so limiting. Others chose to walk out of the ruts and prisons of life trusting God and they find true joy!

With the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, the most amazing gift of grace was bestowed on mankind. God poured forth His spirit on mankind.  It was and is His very essence that could fill, strengthen and complete anyone who chooses to believe. Our justification lies in believing what God has done for us, not what we have done for God. When we really understand this, it releases us and we can truly live for God.