the Great Invite

"And He said to him, 'Follow Me.'"
(Matthew 9: 9, NKJV)

Have you ever went to the mailbox and found an envelope that had that certain look and shape? You know, that envelope that you had been waiting for? That envelope that contained the invitation to that event, that baby shower, that wedding, that graduation. Have you ever gotten an invitation?

We love the invite. The invite makes us feel special, feel welcome, feel wanted, feel needed! We love the invite! We need the invite! And when you read the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 9 in the Bible, you find the most important of all invites that God gives to those who are following Him.

The passage tells us that Jesus is passing through an area and He sees a tax collector. One of the most hated men in all the Jewish world! A tax collector was viewed as the trash of society, a traitor to his own people. A Jew who had sold-out to the enemy, the Romans. He was charged to receive taxes for Caesar. For income, he was given the liberty to charge above and beyond the actual tax, the extra, he got to keep! Hated!

Can you imagine how Matthew felt? Then Jesus comes on the scene. Jesus only says two words to Him. Two words that would change his life! Two words that would take his low self esteem, his feelings of regret, anger, remorse, frustration, and bring complete and abundant healing and forgiveness. Two Words! Jesus said, "Follow Me."

He did not say, "Quit your job first." Jesus did not say, "Make amends with others first." Jesus said, "Follow Me." That's the great invite! Jesus is giving you that invite right now, as you read this blog! Jesus says, "Follow Me." Don't complicate it! Don't internalize it! Don't excuse it away! Jesus simply says to you, to me, to everyone person, "Follow Me." He loves you. He paid your sin debt on the cross. He died, was buried, arose from the grave, ascended to Glory all for you. He invites you to follow him. Just make the decision to turn to Him, love Him, follow Him.

Matthew did and he was never the same. He found what his heart longed for. So will you. After Matthew began following Jesus, the passage tells us the very first thing he did in his new faith was invite others to come to his house and meet Jesus. He invited all kinds of people. He didn't label them, there was no need too. Jesus looks beyond the sin and sees the person. It is the person He loves. It is the person He came to redeem, to heal, to invite to follow Him.

Are you a Christ-follower? If not, follow Jesus today. He is giving you the Great Invite. If you are a Christ-follower, follow the example of Matthew. Host a party at your house, talk to a friend, give the Great Invite to others. Invite them to Follow Him!

Beware of the Details

“But when he [Peter], saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’” Matthew 14:30 NKJV

Have you ever prayed, “God, help me make the right decision. I don’t know what to do” ? If we are serious about living our lives for Jesus we have. Often the decision is not really that difficult. You simply must decide which direction most lines up with the Word of God. Will the decision help you grow in your Christian faith? Will the decision give you more opportunity to glorify God? Or, will the decision require you to sacrifice your family, your faith, or your convictions?

Someone once said, “Most decision making is just gathering facts.” When we weigh the facts of our decision with God’s Word, what does the scale say?
The problem most of us have is not making the initial decision, it is that we get caught up in the details. One night Jesus came walking on the sea to the disciples who were fighting a terrible storm in their little boat. Peter saw the Lord and cried out to Him. Jesus told Peter he could get out of the boat and walk on the water to Him. The decision for Peter to get out of the boat was an easy one for Peter. He knew it was safer to walk on the water with Jesus, than to stay in a boat with the other disciples.

Peter got out, took a few steps and everything was grand. That is, until he took his eyes off Jesus and placed them on the details (the wind and waves). Peter forgot that the same Jesus who could walk on water, was the same Lord who could control the wind and the waves.

When you are making a decision, pray about it, and then weigh it against God’s Word. Once you make the decision, don’t get caught up in the details. Remember, when God gives you the direction to walk, He is still God over the details.

Proverbs 3: 5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (NKJV)

Stand Up for Liberty

July 4, 2011 marks the 235th anniversary of this country’s founding and independence. Our fore-fathers put their life on the line so that these United States may be a country built on liberty! A country built on liberty against oppression by a government and liberty to worship God.

On July 3, 1776, following the signing of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams wrote to his wife concerning what he had shared with Congress concerning the importance of that day:
“The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It out to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to he other, from this time forward forever."

You can feel the passion of John Adams as he wrote those words.
Friends,
1. Freedom should be Celebrated.
and
2. Freedom Isn’t Free.

Now, that is only the first portion of the letter John Adams wrote to his wife. In almost a prophetic tone, John continued to write in his letter…

"You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost to maintain this Declaration and support and defend theses States. Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth more than all the means; that posterity and will triumph in that day’s transaction, even though we [may regret] it, which I trust in God we shall not.”

Does our National freedom cost? Yes it does.Of those who signed the Declaration of Independence…
• 5 were captured and tortured before their death.
• 12 had their homes ransacked and burned.
• 2 lost their sons in the war.
• 9 either died from war wounds or the effects.

Since July 4, 1776, more than one million brave, American men and women have died defending the freedom of this dear country and the freedom of other countries.
We would do good to heed the words of the Apostle Paul and “Stand fast in our liberty.” (Paraphrase mine).

However friends, don’t ever forget, we are citizens of another land, other than simply America. We are the creation of Almighty God and for us who have given our heart to Jesus Christ, our citizenship is in Heaven. The Bible says we are simply Ambassadors in this land for Jesus.

In Galatians 5:1, the Apostle Paul challenges us to Stand upon is the Liberty we have in Christ Jesus our Lord!
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,[a] and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” (NKJV)

Our Freedom in Jesus should be Celebrated! And Our Freedom in Jesus Did Not Come to us Freely, It Required the Sacrifice of Our Savior, the Lord Jesus on the Cross!!!

1 Peter 1: 18-19, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

This independence Day weekend, please honor those brave men and women who have fought and those who continue to fight for our freedom. If you meet one, or their family, stop and say “Thanks.” But even more importantly, worship God, honor, and celebrate the freedom you have been given by Christ Jesus our Lord. Stand up for the one who died on the cross, paid your sin debt, was buried, and arose again from the grave to give you eternal life! Stand up for Him and proclaim His Salvation message with others! Remember this, Only Free People Can Tell Bound People Where To Be Free!