Serving God with a Right Heart

 By: Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Romans 2:1-11

 

Matthew 6:2-4

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

(ESV)

 

Court cases are intriguing to us because while judges take office swearing to judge based on evidence and the law, they are flawed humans and can error in their judgments. Since all humans have sinned (Romans 3:23), they can have a bias in their judgment based upon the sin in their lives. However, Jesus, the sinless Son of God has no such bias in His life and can judge according to righteousness with no sin bias. Jesus is also God and knows the hearts of people making it possible for Him to judge according to the Heart. God’s judgment is righteous because,

 

1)      There is only one righteous judge (Romans 2:1-5) – Romans 1:16-32 makes a comparison of the righteous living by faith versus God’s wrath on the unrighteous. Romans 1:26-32 describes the process of unrighteousness in one’s life leading to a life of sin. Romans 2:1-11 continues this thought with Romans 2:1-5 reminding those living in sin that they have no basis for judging others because they are guilty of the same sins they accuse others of committing. God’s judgment rightly falls on all who sin, but some use the grace and mercy of God as an excuse to continue in sin, believing God will forgive them (Romans 2:2-4). Those choosing to use the grace of God in such a manner continue to live enslaved to sin even though they are dead to sin and alive to God (Romans 6:1-11). Since all have sinned (Romans 3:23), there is no person qualified to judge others for only Christ lived a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus did not just live a sinless life, but he took the death penalty for our sins upon Himself (Romans 6:23).

2)      God judges the heart (Romans 2:6-11) – What one treasures in their heart indicates what is most important to a person (Matthew 6:21). The works God uses to render His judgment (Romans 2:6) are not works done to earn salvation for Jesus did that on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9). Instead, the works used by God to render His righteous judgment are God’s judgment of the heart of one serving God. Those serving in a self-serving manner receive an immediate reward, potentially subjecting themselves to the wrath and fury of God and receive an immediate reward. Those serving to glorify God receive an eternal reward (Romans 2:7-10). God’s judgment is impartial and based upon what is in one’s heart (Romans 2:11).                   

 

Since all have sinned (Romans 3:23) no person is in a position to judge righteously. Only the one who knew no sin and chose to die for the sins of humanity has this position (2 Corinthians 5:21). From this position, Jesus as God can judge everyone according to his or her works. However, this appears to contradict Ephesians 2:8-9 that says salvation is a result of the grace of God and not one’s works. Paul is not speaking of one earning their salvation but the attitude one has in well-doing. For those doing good works in a self-serving manner, ignoring the truth of God’s Word in unrighteousness, the judgment is wrath and fury (Romans 2:8-9). However, for those with an attitude in well-doing that seeks to glorify and honor God, the reward is eternal life (Romans 2:10). Gold shows no partiality with his judgment rendered according to one’s attitude in well-doing.

 

We must each ask ourselves the question “why do I serve God?” If it is in a self-serving manner to look good to others, the reward is the wrath of the fury of God. We also do not serve God to earn our salvation but instead out of love for what God has done. Therefore, the attitude of a believer when serving God must be to give glory and honor to God. Those serving God with a self-serving agenda also receive an immediate reward (Matthew 6:2). Instead, one should serve God to bring glory and honor to God with an eternal reward (Matthew 6:3-4; Romans 2:7). One must serve God from a heart that treasures God (Matthew 6:21).

 

Having a right heart with God begins with one accepting the free gift of salvation offered by God’s free gift of salvation. If you have never accepted God’s gift of salvation, I invite you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.

The Yoke of Nebuchadnezzar

 By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Jeremiah 27

 

Matthew 11:29-30

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

(ESV)

 

In an industrialized society, the term yoke is something people reading this may not understand. A yoke is an agricultural tool, a wooden crossbeam placed on the neck of two animals that attaches to a plow or trailer two animals are to pull. During a recent trip to Ohio and the Amish community in the state, I saw where a yoke is still in use. With this definition in mind, the yoke of the Lord mentioned in Matthew 11:30 symbolizes the crossbeam of the cross we as believers in Jesus as our savior are to bear (Matthew 10:34-39). The yoke of the cross is not a yoke of blessing and bliss but one of trouble (John 16:33; Matthew 10:34-38). The yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, while not the yoke of the cross, does promise peace to the people of Judah about to go into exile and something under which they should come.

 

1)      Coming under the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 27:1-7) – The word of the Lord given to Jeremiah in this passage instructs the people to serve Nebuchadnezzar until the time of his reign comes to an end (Jeremiah 27:7). While this does not seem right because the people of Judah are living in the land the Lord has given them, they have been living in continual rebellion against God and practicing duplicitous worship, worshipping both Baal and the Lord. The consequences of this rebellion are in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 which include captivity and exile. Therefore, the people of Judah should not be surprised that they would come under the authority of their captors.

2)      Warnings (Jeremiah 27:8-22) – God issues three warnings to the nations, the king of Judah, the priests, and all the people.

a.       Warning to the Nations (Jeremiah 27:8-11) – This warning begins with a question of why a nation would choose death by the sword, famine, or pestilence instead of choosing life (Jeremiah 27:8). Unfortunately, there are false prophets in these nations who are telling the people they will not fall into Babylonian captivity. God’s warning to these nations is to ignore these lying prophets and come under the authority of the king of Babylon where they will be allowed to remain in their land (Jeremiah 27:9-11).

b.       Warning to Zedekiah king of Judah (Jeremiah 27:12-15) – Zedekiah, the king of Judah is given the same warning as the other nations (Jeremiah 27:12-13). The Lord also warns Zedekiah to ignore the lying prophets who are also saying Judah will not serve the king of Babylon (Jeremiah 27:14). The Lord warns King Zedekiah that He has not sent these false prophets and that following their prophecies will result in exile and death (Jeremiah 27:15).

c.       Warning to the priests and the people (Jeremiah 27:16-22) – The Lord also warns the priests and all the people

d.       about the vessels of the Temple that were carried off to Babylon (Jeremiah 27:16-18). The lying prophets are saying that these vessels will soon be returned which is a lie for not only will these vessels remain in Babylon, but the vessels remaining in Jerusalem will also go to Babylon until the Lord visits them (Jeremiah 27:19-22).

 

The people of Judah have continually rebelled against the Lord and failed to obey the Lord’s call to repentance. As such they must endure the consequences of their sin and go into exile, serving the king of Babylon. Fortunately, God is a merciful God and is providing safety while in exile in Babylon, and why he is warning the people not to listen to the lying prophets saying they will not serve the king of Babylon and instead subject themselves to the Yoke of Nebuchadnezzar. In addition, the warning to the priests and all the people indicates the vessels of the Lord are no longer going to be in Jerusalem, indicating that the presence of the Lord will not be in Jerusalem but Babylon (Jeremiah 27:19-22). Since there is safety in the presence of the Lord, the priests should encourage all the people of Judah to go to Babylon and dwell in the presence of the Lord there.

 

Under the New Covenant, the presence of God dwells in every believer in the person of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). However, we can become so caught up in our situation and the daily struggles of life that we forget about the presence of God in our lives. The challenge for all reading this is to live their lives with an awareness of the presence of God in their lives. We are God’s children and should live our lives with full awareness of the love of our Heavenly Father (1 John 3:1; Psalms 1:1-2). May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post. 

A Life Changing Choice.

 By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Romans 1:16-32

 

Romans 1:16-17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith,^[a] as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.

(ESV)

 

The text of Romans 1:16-32 occurs in the section of Romans dealing with the guilt of humanity. Humanity is born into guilt from sin (Romans 3:23) and under a death sentence for their sins (Romans 6:23). Fortunately, our loving God sent His son Jesus to die for our sins so we can have a choice. In this section, Paul contrasts the consequences of one choosing the path of righteousness through faith in Jesus as Savior or rejecting God’s gift of salvation and continuing in the guilt to sin.

 

1)      The path of righteousness (Romans 1:16-17) – Paul had an encounter with Christ that would have been hard to ignore or reject. Most reading this did not see a blinding light hearing an audible voice of the Lord when they accepted Christ. Instead, most reading this experienced the conviction of the Holy Spirit and a realization that they needed a savior. This conviction gives one a choice of remaining in the guilt of their sin of taking a path of righteousness provided by the work of Jesus on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9).

2)      The path of unrighteousness (Romans 1:18-32) – The path of unrighteousness leading to God’s wrath is a default choice requiring no action since every individual is born into sin and in need of a savior. However, it is not God’s desire that anyone choose this path (2 Peter 3:9). While each person has the right to choose the path of unrighteousness, God’s creation gives them no excuse when it comes to God’s existence (Romans 1:18-20). However, continued rejection of God as one’s savior has consequences,

a.       God made us to worship something and if it is not God, it will be something in His creation (Romans 1:21-23). Paul is speaking to Romans who were pantheistic, believing in many gods. Rome was full of statues and temples built to worship these gods. Therefore, the choice of whether one chooses righteousness or unrighteousness is a choice of who one will worship.

b.       Succumbing to the lusts of the flesh (Romans 1:24-25). Disengaged from the worship of the God of truth, one begins to succumb to the lusts of the flesh seeking pleasure to fill the void in one’s life from the absence of God.

c.       Engaging in dishonorable passions (Romans 1:26-27). The only passion that can bring satisfaction to the soul is the satisfaction one receives from a personal relationship with God their creator. This disappointment with lusts of the flesh leads to one engaging in dishonorable passions as they continue to attempt fill the void in their lives with pleasures of the flesh.

d.       A debased mind (Romans 1:28-32). As one continues to experience disappointment with seeking pleasure from the flesh, they can become bitter and engage in a list of evil activities listed in Romans 1:28-31. Paul’s teaching concludes by stating that those continuing to follow the path of unrighteousness deserve to die (Romans 1:32).

 

Life is full of choices with the most important choice any individual makes is how they respond to the Gospel. Will they accept God’s gift of salvation provided by His grace through the work of Jesus on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9), or reject it, continuing in their unrighteousness. Those continuing in unrighteousness have no excuse for creation illustrates the invisible attributes of God (Romans 1:18-20). Continued living in unrighteousness results in idolatry, according to the perversions of the flesh, and engagement in sinful behaviors. This section of Romans occurs in the section on guilt with Paul establishing the difference between a life of righteousness by accepting Christ contrasted by an unrighteous life devolving into perversion and sinful behaviors (Romans 1:16-32)

 

People today have the same choice as the Romans Paul is addressing. Since Romans 3:23 says we all have sinned, the choice of unrighteousness is the default choice. Therefore, for one to change direction, one must choose to change direction. This is the role of the Gospel, a change of direction that leads to eternal life (John 3:16). There is no reason for anyone reading this to remain in his or her sin for while we were sinners, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8). If you are reading this and have never prayed to make Jesus your savior, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

Congratulations to those who just prayed because you have decided to spend eternity with God and escape His wrath. I encourage you to find out more about God, the one you will spend eternity with, by regular attendance in a Church teaching from the Bible. May God Challenge and bless everyone reading this post. 

The Confident Prophet

 By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Jeremiah 26

 

Jeremiah 26:13-15

Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you. ¹⁴ But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. ¹⁵ Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the Lord sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”

(ESV)

 

We live in an age of entitlement with people claiming victimhood to receive preferential treatment when it comes to government assistance for their plight. What is lacking from this line of thinking is courage like  the Lord told Joshua to have before entering the Promised Land (Joshua 1:9). Jeremiah also had the courage and did not fear death when declaring the Lord and must have had the same level of courage as the Apostle Paul who knew absence from his earthly body meant he would be in the presence of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6).

 

Jeremiah 26 has three sections that demonstrate the courage of the Prophet Jeremiah which are,

 

1)      Declaration of the Word of the Lord to the people (Jeremiah 26:1-6) – The Lord gives Jeremiah a word and instructs him to boldly speak this word to all the people from the cities of Judah coming to worship in the House of the Lord, and not to hold back (Jeremiah 26:1-2). The purpose of this word is to give the people of Judah one more opportunity to repent of their ways and receive forgiveness from God (Jeremiah 26:3). The word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah in the House of the Lord was that the House of the Lord would become like Shiloh (Jeremiah 26:4-6). While Scripture does not provide the details of the destruction of Shiloh, Scripture does not mention it as the center of worship after 1 Samuel 4.

2)      Death Threat (Jeremiah 26:7-15) – The priests and prophets hear the words of Jeremiah and after hearing the words, they laid hold of Jeremiah, telling him he shall die (Jeremiah 26:7-8). Their issue with Jeremiah is with him declaring the destruction of the House of the Lord (Jeremiah 26:9). Hearing this, the officials took their seats at the New Gate of the House of the Lord to make judgments (Jeremiah 26:10). The priests and prophets state their case with the officials (Jeremiah 26:11). Jeremiah then makes his case stating he is declaring the word of the Lord given to him (Jeremiah 26:12). Jeremiah, the confident prophet does not fear death for speaking the Word the Lord has given him and declares the word again to the officials and tells them if this means he will die, to do what they think is good and right. However, he reminds them that if they execute him for speaking the Word of the Lord, they will be bringing innocent blood upon themselves (Jeremiah 26:13-15).

3)      Deliverance (Jeremiah 26:16-24) – After Jeremiah’s defense and warning, the officials and all the people tell the priests and prophets Jeremiah does not deserve death because he has spoken to them in the name of the Lord (Jeremiah 26:16). This caused certain of the elders to rise, reminding the people of Micah who spoke words like those of Jeremiah, and how he was not put to death (Jeremiah 26:17-19). They also remind them of Uriah the son of Shemaiah who was put to death after prophesying against the city (Jeremiah 26:20-23). Jeremiah is delivered because the hand of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, deli8vering him from a sentence of death (Jeremiah 26:24).

 

I just spent a week in Ohio visiting with family. It was a refreshing time with family which included a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If we were to build a courage hall of fame, Jeremiah may be one of its charter members, along with Joshua. These men of God did not fear death for they understood that should death come, it means they would be in the presence of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6). Jeremiah’s qualification for inclusion in a courage hall of fame is his standing firm in declaring the Word of the Lord given to him even under a threat of death.

 

People of courage are needed to provide role models of courage. This does not mean we turn our backs on victims but instead help them find courage. The greatest source of courage is courage in the Lord. Joshua had this courage, went into the promised land, and followed the instructions of the Lord and the walls of Jericho fell (Joshua 6). Jeremiah stood firm when facing death and was willing to die (Jeremiah 26:13-15). Even Jesus courageously went to the cross, enduring excruciating pain so we could be saved by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus's courage in going to the cross means victims of sin, which includes us all (Romans 3:23) can have deliverance from sin. If you are presently a victim of sin, I urge you to seek deliverance from victimhood by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

Jesus did not come into the world to condemn it, but to save it (John 3:17). Jesus made a path for everyone who is a victim of sin to escape. Those that just prayed have escaped the victimhood of sin. My prayer is that those that just prayed would continue to grow in courage as they find A Church or Bible Study teaching God’s Word. In Jesus there is no need to be a victim for those in Christ are children of God (John 1:12). May God bless and challenge everyone reading this post.