Cheap Ointment

"For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me." -Matthew 26:11

There are times that we should practice being "frugal" I suppose. "Waste not, want not.". "There are children starving all over the world...", etc. Likewise, we must discern when to pull out all the stops, pour it on thick, and use what we've got ....as you don't know when a "moment" will pass ....never to be re-created again. This is a truth I am constantly reminding myself of with my own family. There is no institution in our lives more significant than our family. Scripture places a high value on the family (1 Timothy 3:5); both for practical reasons of our personal ministry calling, and simply because God created "family". We'll not always have our children, for example. We should value the time with them, and make sacrifices anywhere we can afford ....and quite possibly in the areas where we canNOT afford. It is left to us to discern the difference. Family is worth it.

The woman who poured the expensive ointment on Jesus' head got this! While the disciples were thinking "practically", they weren't thinking "lovingly". Their Savior presented this woman with what was to be a final opportunity to "love" the Savior as He dwelt among them. What a beautiful moment! I'd say the ointment wasn't costly enough ....even cheap, compared to the tab Jesus was about to pay.

As Christ-followers We Are Entitled To....

^{...ETERNAL LIFE WITH THE LORD OF ALL CREATION! Anything else is cake! Anything less is, at least, deserved.}

^{I hear the word "entitlement" thrown around a lot nowadays ....mostly referring to socio-political discussions. A dictionary definition of "entitlement" indicates...'a right to a guaranteed benefit'. It is feared that we, as Americans, have fallen into a sense of "entitlement", and no doubt so has the rest of the modernized world. But as a Christ-follower... "entitlement" is our only hope of salvation!}

^{Let me be just a little more careful with my words here. God doesn't "owe" you or I a single thing. We are "His" creation, whom He can redeem (cash in) if He so desires, or can be disposed of if He so desires. Those seem like very harsh words don't they? Again, let me be careful not to paint a portrait of a giant, mean, god. The God to whom we submit, who owes us nothing, is, in fact, anything but that. He is "holy" (set apart) and He is just! Anything less would make Him a lesser god. I would submit He is either Lord "of" all, or not Lord "at" all. It is only by His "grace" that we are "entitled" salvation. Knowing that He could just as easily choose NOT to entitle a single positive benefit to me, and knowing that He does so because He loves me is a humbling, fearful, and encouraging thought (under-statement).}

^{He is the Lord of all creation. Who am I that He is mindful of me?}

O LORD, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow. -Psalm 144:3-4

Blessing & Encouragement

"and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women," -Luke 1:42

I made a friend on a trip to Kenya a couple of years ago. She taught me a new word just yesterday. UBARIKIWE (Be Blessed). I love the beautiful language of Kiswahili! I fell in love with Kenya and many Kenyans too. Can't wait to get back.

Stopping in at a local hub, on the way to work this morning, I ran into another friend, a life-long friend. We said good morning, and when I asked how she was doing ....a giant smile wrapped her face and she said, simply, ..."Blessed!! I am blessed!" Oh my... the power of words. I was certainly not in a bad mood; no "mood" at all I don't suppose. I hadn't even thought about what "mood" I might take on for the day. Yet these few simple words changed my mental "route" for the day. These encouraging words proved to be a guide for my day. I couldn't help it. I was ENCOURAGED!!

"So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:10) I thought about encouraging words from His word when she spoke those simple words to me. What awesome power God's word has! What awesome power His word has when lived out by another.

UBARIKIWE Jane Njambi Gatuche
UBARIKIWE Michelle!

Surrender to Christ and UBARIKIWE.

Blessings,

Steve Terrell

Our Best Intentions ...Are As Filthy Rags

 ²⁸ "What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' ²⁹ And he answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went. ³⁰ And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go. ³¹ Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. ³² For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him." -Matthew 21:28-32

Well ....what'dya think?? You can relate with this story ....especially if you're a parent. At the end of the day "simple obedience" out-does all good intentions. We want our children to learn that, and we expect them to live by such logic. Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words.

 I love parables .....and coming from the Master Story-teller no less. There are soooo many lessons we can learn, as ministers of the gospel, from Him whom we minister "for"! Let me be careful not to fail to state the obvious. This is the Lord, Himself; Creator of all things, God in the flesh, manifest in flesh. Why wouldn't His stories be perfect? These are not ambiguous, arbitrarily designed visages of one's imagination. They are specifically targeted, Master-crafted, visions of the One who invented imagination.

What lessons can we learn from the Master Story-teller?

Lesson #1:

Beyond even the story at hand ...Jesus' use of parables (earthly story with a heavenly meaning) spoke to people in relative terms, involving the culture around them, and "meeting them where they are". Don't mistake this, in relation to modern evangelicalism, for "bending" to man's means. This is the essence of becoming all things to all men that, by all means, some might be saved! (1 Cor. 9:22) If you can't find logic, or reason, in developing a missional mind-set, going into the highways and byways to reach the lost ....then consider Jesus' methods of "reaching the world with the gospel".

Lesson #2:
In any of Jesus' parables the imperative nature is usually obvious. "Son, go and work...." is not wishy-washy, nor without demand. Don't miss the focus here. Relate what Jesus is trying to get across ...within the details of the story. If we are to "be saved" then it isn't going to be by our own means or methods ...and certainly not by our good intentions. It will be according to "His" means.And don't confuse a parable stating "go and work" with any form of working your way to salvation. It cannot be done. He was speaking to men who understood "work", in terms of lifestyle as well as Mosaic law. They understood "literal obedience" to the law. Jesus simply wanted them to understand simple obedience ....to Him!

Lesson #3:

"Repentance" is seen in verse 29. Regardless of this son's original intentions, or his sinful, disobedient nature ....he, ultimately, changed his mind. This is what true repentance is!! It is not lip-service or only good intentions. Our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), says the Scriptures, and there are none righteous ....not even one (Romans 3:10). Our hearts are deceitful and wicked ...who can know it?? (Jeremiah 17:9) If our good intentions will determine our salvation ...we are damned already. Nor will our actions, alone, propel us toward the Father. It is "grace alone" that even opens the door to salvation. The only positive "action" we can perform is that of choosing, by faith, to trust and obey Christ ...resulting in a changed mind / intentions (Romans 12:2) ....repentance.

Lesson #4:

Let's assume, just for a moment, that our intentions are pure. Maybe not even what we would deem pure, but basically "good". Good by who's standard.... ours, yours, mine? What is our heart-felt, inner-most intention ....with most anything?? I'd dare submit it is anything but self-less and pure, or even basically good. Good for us maybe, and just maybe even our selfish intentions can provide some worldly good as a by-product ...but are they "good" according to a standard of sinlessness? Mine aren't. This 2nd son mentioned gave immediate, obedient, "lip-service", but his actions proved to be otherwise. By the way.... (not that this is a side-bar) this only indicates that his original intentions were probably just as disobedient. There was no intention of going to work. Just lip-service. The picture Jesus paints here is that of one who either is a liar from the word "go" ....or a foolish son who doesn't even stop to consider the "cost" of his response. Either way ...disobedience was the result. Yet "grace" would be available to him as well ...if he "chooses" to change his mind (repent).

Can it be said that prostitutes and tax collectors are more righteous than the upstanding citizens of the world (no offense to either profession)? Well, at least speaking of the hypothetical prostitutes and tax collectors Jesus spoke of ...I'd say the answer is YES!!! Not because of anything they had done, or what they "do". For all have sinned and have fallen short of God's glorious standard (Romans 3:23). But the decision to "repent", to change one's mind about Christ, invites righteousness, by God's graceful standard, to be bestowed upon them.

I'd rather be made righteous, than to be righteous, any day.

The Reclamation

It would appear that "The Reformation", while an absolute necessity in the history of "the church", failed to eradicate all of the man-made doctrines, which the church had accumulated. Even if it would have... we have, since, filled "the church" with our own set and brand of "man-made" items; not all bad, per se, in and of themselves, but off the mark to be sure. Unintentional idols which distort, or cloud, our view of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

It would also appear that "the church" is beginning to wake up to this reality. This would seem to be a significant time, in history, that Christ' church should be very careful! Careful not to stifle the Holy Spirit, but also careful not to merely repeat the same errors of those gone before us. Hind-sight truly is 20/20. May we take advantage.

Some have called for "Revolution"! By definition..... this would indicate an overthrow, and replacement, of the "established" system currently in place. I have concerns that this would abandon many good, well-meaning, though sinful, and fallen-short "people" in the process. May we not forget that it is the people of the world that we hope and pray and work toward the goal of communicating the truth of the gospel. God chose "people" to carry out His work ...the good fruit which comes from knowledge and faith in The Risen Savior.

Instead of "revolution", and beyond "reformation" .....maybe a simple "reclamation" is in order for the church. The gospel needs no revolution. It is finished!. The truth requires no reforming. Mankind, those who make up Christ' church, needed that... and probably still do as an age passes. We, as Christ-followers, are called to simply claim, and proclaim, the saving truth of the gospel to a lost world in need of an absolute truth.