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God’s Camera, 17MAR

Reading the book of Matthew these days – I am walking to Jerusalem with Jesus… Actually, I’m resting – I have a lot more walking to do.  Jesus would say: “you better get good shoes”!!!

Jesus gave an explanation to the disciples after a conversation with a rich man who walked away disappointed, not knowing if he could give up all his possessions to follow Jesus. Truly that was a tough request to the man…  “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. (Matthew 19 scripture below)

The rich man thought he had kept all the right commandment laws for his whole life –  but he missed the real message of a new covenant being formed thru Jesus. Even with Jesus standing right there,  the man could not grasp the truth that Jesus was the Way…

“Let the dead bury the dead!” – give up your own dead ways – and follow HIM.

We are to keep the commandments, of course, but Jesus was also reminding the rich man that he was to be the steward of God’s gifts TO BE SHARED – wealth is to be shared – skills and gifts are to be shared. We have a calling to be a cheerful giver – and in the end we will gain 100 fold. Cheerful givers – not just money – but our service – when people are NOT watching – when we are not trying to impress. 

Following Him means letting go of us – letting go of our agendas – giving it our best and our all – in EVERYTHING!!!

Jesus just wants us to be real…

We are to be real in our giving – not playing for a crowd – and we are to give the gifts that God gave us…

An amateur golfer might say he plays better when the cameras are on – can see the little red light… Performance pressure will focus us, and we often thrive due to our desire to deliver….

Surely, I sing better when I pay attention – not just because there are people listening, but when I can hear the monitor feedback to correct myself… not paying attention I sing terrible in my rock concert selfie videos – but that is OK – because I’m not trying to be. Singing in the shower or the car – it is all OK and even better with no one watching…

But how about being a cheerful giver? God is ALWAYS watching.  Bringing our best even when the cameras are not on and others are not watching.  GOD HAS CAMERAS on – even in our heads…  But don’t worry – we are all human – we make mistakes – we are to live the best we can.

Follow Jesus – don’t try to impress Him.

Achieving perfection is impossible – with man it is impossible – so know that in anything and everything it is God and God alone who saves us…He’s already done EVERYTHING for us. Believing in God’s Word helps bring out the best in us. Jesus is the best in and for us.

We can try to live our lives by Peter’s advice:

Faith

Goodness

Knowledge 

Self-control 

Perseverance 

Godliness 

Mutual Affection 

LOVE 

We are to live in God’s LOVE!!!!!!!!!

Amen

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Matthew 19

16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

18 “Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.Then come, follow me.”

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

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2nd Peter 1

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.