Christianity

Good Gifts from a Good Father: Matt. 7:7-11

/ Neal Embry / Leave a comment

Today, we continue the discussion of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5-7.  There’s just a few posts remaining, and I hope and pray this series has been edifying and uplifting to all who have stuck with me through it.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.  Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

Jesus commands His disciples to pray.  We’ve already discussed the Lord’s Prayer, and if we look at the life of Jesus, we see a man who, though He was God incarnate, found it absolutely necessary to break away from ministry to spend time with the Father in prayer.  So, needless to say, prayer is vital in the Christian life.

But what do we do in prayer?  Going back to the Lord’s Prayer, we can break it down to three main acts: adoration, petition and confession.  We praise God, ask God, and confess our sin to God.  In this passage, Jesus discusses the second of these acts: petition.

I don’t have children, but I have several years of experience working with children.  Among the many things I’ve learned over the years about children is this: they aren’t shy when they’re trying to get something they want.  “Please, Mr. Neal, can we play that game one more time?”  “Please don’t tell my mom I hit that kid.”  “Please, I really want more (insert favorite unhealthy snack here).”

Kids know what they want, and they’re willing to go to great lengths to get it.  I remember, like any other kid, always asking my mom for candy in the checkout line at the grocery store.  I also remember, like any other kid, the painful word, “No.”

Kids are persistent.  While they sometimes lack respect and understanding, they don’t lack for the persistent attitude Jesus describes here and in other passages (Luke 18:1-8).  Do we have this attitude in prayer?  Asking, knocking, going to the door, expecting that God will answer?  To be sure, we cannot separate this text from the rest of Scripture that commands us to pray according to God’s will (Matt. 6:10; 26:39), and this text should not be used to promote some form of the prosperity gospel that allows us to expect that if we “just have enough faith,” God will richly bless us materially.

However, we ought not run to the other extreme and throw away all forms of petition to God.  Jesus has promised that for those who trust in Him as Lord and Savior, they have now been adopted as children of God and have access to the God of the universe in prayer, and we ought to take advantage of that and ask for good gifts from a good Father.

Let’s marvel at the simple fact that we can, through faith in Christ, even talk to God, much less know Him as our Father who gives us good gifts for His glory and our joy.  We were dead, condemned sinners.  And then, 2,000 years ago, God the Father sent His Son to live perfectly in our place, to die our death on the cross, and to rise again from the grave, defeating death for all who trust in Him.  And in His glorious grace, He has given us faith to respond to the gospel, to turn away from our sin and rebellion, and to trust in Christ as Lord and Savior.  He is making us new and helping us to live out the righteousness we’ve been given.  One day, we’ll be just like Jesus, we’ll worship Him forever, and we will love Him more than we can even imagine right now.  This is the greatest gift God has given: Himself, through Jesus Christ.  If you haven’t received that gift, I urge you to consider Christ, consider what He’s done for you, and trust Him.

Jesus tells the people listening to Him that even though they are evil, they know how to give good gifts to their children.  He uses extreme analogies, such as a son asking for a fish and receiving a serpent.  His point is that while we are totally sinful and unable to save ourselves, God, in His grace, has kept us from being as evil as we could be, and one of the ways we see that is in our ability to give great gifts to our children.  Non-Christians know how to give kick-butt presents, too.  This is God’s common grace, allowing us to retain bits and pieces of the image of God we were created to reflect.

How much more then, He argues, can the Father, who is perfect, give good gifts to His children?  How much more can a good God who has redeemed us, give us what we need in order to love and obey Him?  Jesus encourages His followers to pray, not because it’s a good, religious thing to do, but because praying in faith leads to receiving good gifts from a good Father.  Pray because God longs to give you good gifts.

Praying often comes at a price.  We must quiet ourselves, lay aside everything that would keep us from communion with God, confront our sin and humble ourselves at the cross.  We must recognize that God is God, that we are not, and commit ourselves to Him.  But the reward of knowing God and receiving good gifts from Him far outweighs the price of laying aside all other things to pursue Him.

As stated before, the greatest gift we receive from God is God Himself.  But in our walking with Him in this life, God longs to bless us with good gifts.  Because God is holy, it follows that any gifts God gives will be holy.  That is, praying for God to do something or give something He has ruled unholy would be foolish.  But for those who love God and desire to love Him more and obey Him in faith, there is a world of gifts waiting for us in prayer.

Struggling with sin?  Pray to the Father for a gift of grace to kill sin and grow in holiness, becoming the man or woman God has called you to be in Christ.

Feeling like a failure in ministry, or struggling to understand God’s Word?  Your heavenly Father, who has called you to ministry, will no doubt give grace and strength to accomplish what He’s called you to do.  The author of His Word desires that all should know Him, and we can pray for understanding in faith that our Father will help us know His Word for His glory.

God blesses us with faithful friends, jobs, vacations, financial stability, etc.  God, in His common grace, blesses unbelievers with these things as well, but for the child of God, we see them not as something we’ve earned, but as an amazing gift of grace from our great God and Father, and it leads us to worship.

Take time today to reflect on all the gifts God has already given you.  Thank Him for them, and take time to consider what you need, what you most want God to grant you in your walk with Him.  And pray for it, trusting that your good, perfect, heavenly Father “will give good gifts to those who ask.”

Father, may we marvel that we can even talk to you.  May we not forget the blood of your Son that was spilled for us that we may not only be forgiven, but be adopted as your beloved children.  May we not be ashamed to ask you to give us good gifts, knowing that you long to bless us with all we need.  May we trust that you are a lot smarter than we are, much wiser and much more loving than we are, and trust you to give according to your will.  May you be glorified as we receive good gifts from you, our good and perfect Father.

God bless,

Neal E.

Godly Judging: Matt. 7:1-6

/ Neal Embry / Leave a comment

Today’s post promises to be interesting, to say the least, as we tackle one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented passages in all of Scripture: Matthew 7:1-6.

One of the hallmarks of postmodern thinking is the theory of relativity.  No, not the one Albert Einstein developed.  Rather, this theory of relativity suggests that because there are no universal authorities on truth and morality, no one has a right to judge another for the choices he or she makes.  In denying the traditional arbiters of authority that power (the church, parents, schools, government), our society says that ethics, morality and truth is simply “what I say it is.”

That theory falls apart very quickly, not just biblically, but practically.  No one who is a victim of violent crime practically believes in practical moral relativity.  They want justice.  You stole my car?  I press charges for theft.  You assault me?  I press charges for assault.  You murder my family member?  I argue for the death penalty.  But in arguing for the punishment of this offense, I have deemed the actions of another wrong, so wrong, in fact, that they merit punishment.

Unfortunately, this theory has crept into the church through the misunderstanding of what Matt. 7:1 says, and has led to some Christians thinking that all judging is wrong, and that there is no place for church discipline or a personal rebuke.  This leads to an affirmation of sin by silence–Though I may see my brother or sister in sinful action, I “can’t judge them because Jesus said so,” so I have to let them continue on their destructive path.

Brothers and sisters, the Bible is clear: God never affirms sin.  He never lets sin go unpunished.  That may strike us as odd, because we know and rejoice that as Christians, we’re forgiven of our sins.  But how are we forgiven?  By trusting that Christ endured God’s judgment in our place!  We have not been saved by God lowering His holy standards–we’ve been saved because Jesus lived perfectly for us and took our rightful place on the cross.  Judgment has been carried out, but praise God that for those who trust in Christ, that judgment was satisfied at Calvary.

Because Jesus has died for our sin and called us to follow Him, we cannot tolerate our sin, and because we love our brothers and sisters in Christ, we cannot tolerate sin in their lives.  But we can, and are indeed commanded, to judge each other rightly, with humility and grace.  Praise God that He has told us how to do this in His Word:

“Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.  Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye, when there is the log in your own eye?’  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.  Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”

Here’s what Jesus is NOT saying: Don’t judge.  Jesus never says, at least not the way 2015 America interprets it, to not judge others.  When we examine what Jesus says in context, it’s clear that Jesus is warning those who would judge out of pride and hatred of their coming judgment, telling them that the way they judge others will be the way God judges them.

Jesus is telling His audience, which includes self-righteous Pharisees, to not judge in a way in which they themselves would not want to be judged.  Essentially, He’s adapting the Golden Rule to the way we are to judge one another: Judge others the way you would want to be judged.

I’d be willing to bet that 100% of people would rather receive constructive, helpful, humble criticism than a scathing, unkind, angry review.  Would you rather be yelled at and told that you’re worthless, not as good as the one criticizing you, hopeless…or would you rather someone tell you the truth, but in a way that is helpful, edifying and constructive, though at the time it might be painful?  You’d probably choose the latter, right?

When Jesus calls sinners out, He makes it abundantly clear that sin offends God, and all who sin deserve hell.  There is no playing around with the wrath and judgment of God.  However, here’s the beautiful truth about Jesus: As He calls us out in our sin, and destroys any sense of pride and self-righteousness before God, He invites us to turn from our sin, trust in Him to be our Lord and surrender to Him, and receive His forgiveness and His righteousness.

And as He calls us to go and tell others of the coming judgment and warn them of their need for repentance and faith, He would remind us that it is only by grace that we know Him and have salvation.  He would have us practice repentance and faith, before going to call others to it, so as to avoid hypocrisy and pride.

Before we go and confront a brother or sister in sin, we are commanded to examine our lives.  Is there sin I need to confess to God?  Is there something I’m struggling with that I need to take to Jesus and ask for His help and grace with?

When we get real with God about our own sin, and trust Him in repentance to help us follow Him, and receive the good news of the gospel, we are driven to others to share Jesus with them, helping them to see both their sin and the glorious Savior.  But if we don’t reveal sin, Jesus doesn’t look glorious.  If the bad news isn’t bad, the good news isn’t good.  If sin isn’t a big deal, then Jesus’ death means nothing and there is no reason to worship Him.  But if the Bible is true, and Jesus is able to save sinners, then godly judging between brothers and sisters in Christ is a gift from God that allows us to help each other pursue Christlikeness even as we rejoice in the gospel.

The goal of godly judging is not score-keeping.  The goal, as Jesus makes clear in this passage, is not to make myself feel better than my brother or sister.  The goal, for all believers, for those who give and for those who receive loving rebukes and admonishment, is holiness, to the glory of God.  The goal is to be who we are in Christ.

Lastly, Jesus says something that is not easily understood at the end of this passage (Or maybe it’s just me).  But, in verse six, Jesus says: “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”

The sad truth regarding Christian discipline is this:  Some will not accept it.  Some will not receive godly judging, and by so doing prove themselves (if it continues throughout the remainder of their life) to be lost, unsaved, with no part in Christ.  True Christians endure persecution, suffering, and the discipline that is often hard to take.  No one likes being told that they’re wrong.  While I’m grateful for the gift of repentance, it’s not fun.  Admitting our faults and asking for help never is fun.  But it is worth it, and it is commanded.

While we pray for those who reject discipline, who reject the gospel, Jesus makes it clear in verse six that we are not to continue “throwing pearls,” that is, the Word of God, the truth of Jesus, to those who refuse to receive it.  Sometimes, we have to move on, as painful as it is, to those who will receive the truth of Jesus.  Jesus told His disciples to do this: “And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.”

I remember being on a mission trip where our ministry was to go to people’s homes and offer to teach the Bible to them.  Unfortunately, not everyone jumped for joy when they heard why we were there.  Not all of the people received us.  Jesus’ command encourages us that while we hurt and are burdened by those who rejected us, we can move on and share the Word with those who will receive it.

So, in conclusion, let’s judge each other.  But let’s do it with humility, with grace, with a life that both practices and preaches repentance and faith.  Let’s help each other be more like Jesus.

Lord, may we be like you and judge each other rightly.  May we not downplay the seriousness of sin nor the glorious work of the cross.  May we love each other enough to hold each other accountable, so we can be more like you.  May right, godly judging be used in your church to make her more like you.

God bless,

Neal E.