Matthew 12:31-37...The extreme plan, the extreme conclusion, the extreme consequence

 

Here is looking at you just outside the main entrance of the church last week.  It looks like a mother and last year's child.  They were munching on a bush that had some green on it and maybe some fiber content.  You can see our outside cross in the background.  Moose are large and can be aggressive so keeping your distance is a good thing.  Thankful for many doors out of the church!

This week is a hard one for me.  We are helping my dad (94) transition again to a more suited situation for his needs.  These situations make you look back to the man who raised you and what he could do and also look forward to see some struggles you might face.  The state of your mind seems to be so important in walking through these later years.  I know sometimes what happens up there is out of your control (like my mom) but I hope to keep being curious about the world around me.

Jesus gets right in the faces of the Pharisees (brood of vipers) and their extreme plan (to destroy Him) and their extreme conclusion (that He was operating under the power of the devil) to share with them the extreme consequence (a sin that could not be pardoned).  I see this exchange as a warning invitation to them to change course with what they have seen that only God could do.  He shocks them out of their assumption that they are the good trees bearing good fruit to being told they were the bad trees bearing bad fruit.  The fruit that was coming out of their mouths (blasphemy) was revealing what was in their heart.  

Sometimes Jesus gives us just a piece of the pie so that we might desire another piece.  I think that is what is going on here.  Jesus takes us from what we say to where it comes from.  Even if we think we are basically good then He challenges that with raising the bar of what we will be accountable for, every idle word.  Jesus backs us into a corner that the only solution is not within ourselves but outside ourselves with Someone stepping in to replace our stony heart with a heart of flesh.  I think reading this passage and also others that I need to change from saying, "Ask Jesus into your heart" to saying "Jesus, please replace my stony heart with a heart of flesh that longs after Your words and ways."  This would be more accurate to the Scriptures' description of what is going on in relationship to conversion.

On another note, another minister has fallen this week.  It seems like these are happening left and right as of lately.  Ministers disregarding the humble submission to God's word and living it to the end.  Another hidden life was revealed that does damage to the body of Christ and also puts another hurdle in the effective witness of the church.  It doesn't diminish God in any way but it reduces our efforts in showing Him as He is.  There is some sorrow for me not because this would be someone who I would be shoulder to shoulder with for the cause of the gospel but because the circle of those I glean from gets smaller and smaller.  

The video below is from Sunday's service.  Streaming difficulties that I hope are solved this week so I had to set up the laptop in the front pew so that is your view from the first row pew of SCC.  We were able to add another person to the platform to help us with the music portion of the worship service and for that I am very thankful.

Adam