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Matt 12:11-12 - And He said to them, "What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 "How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." NASU
The most important thing for us to remember is to "do good." Jesus asks the Pharisees a question "What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out?" What Jesus is really saying is this: "You know if one of your sheep falls into a pit you are going to help it get out of there. You will not allow it to become a meal for wolves or coyotes and you will even do this on the Sabbath."
It was on days like that when I felt like I was drowning in work that I would ask my secretary, "Is there anyone in the hospital or did any visitors attend this past Sunday?" I knew instinctively I had to go and visit someone in the hospital or someone who was looking for a congregation to join. You don't know how many times I walked out of a hospital with a rejuvenated spirit. Why was I feeling better? I had allowed God to use me to "do good" for someone else. As I walked out of the hospital, I remember thinking to myself, "There isn't anyone in here who wouldn't want to trade places with you." You may not like your situation in life right now, but I can tell you I know people who would trade places with you in a New York second.
Maybe you can volunteer at a hospital or animal rescue center or you have an elderly neighbor that you can help. If you want to be happy, then try this one thing: "do good" to others. Jesus even promoted doing good on the Sabbath day. There is a lesson for us here: it doesn't matter which day of the week you want to do good. You can do good on Sunday or the Sabbath or any day in between. Doing good isn't restricted to any one day of the week. Think On These: People seldom get dizzy spells from doing good turns. People who do good today never have to apologize for their actions tomorrow. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend.
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John 6:5-6 - Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?"
This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. NASU
Jesus was testing Philip and all the disciples who were there. Philip does a quick head count and tabulation and his answer is "200 denarii worth of bread is not sufficient…" I find that Andrew gives the most amusing answer when he says, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people." If the other disciples have any suggestions they are not recorded for us. There is a lot to be said for not opening your mouth. One thing for sure you can't stick your foot in your mouth if you don't open it.
Why is it so hard for us to trust in God? I have been associated with college wrestlers for 29 years. Here is my observation: the wrestlers depend on their training partners and their coaches. If some of the toughest guys on earth display for us how to trust others then why won't we display trust in God. Jesus trusted God and that is the example we are to follow today. Trust God. It is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of faith and intelligence. Jesus' question about how to feed the 5,000 was to strengthen the disciple's faith.
You find yourself in an impossible situation and the next thing you know, you're out of it. It then dawns on you: God was involved in your situation. I saw a saying online that goes like this: I asked God, "Why are you taking me through rough waters? He replied, "Because your enemies can't swim." Trust God even when it doesn't make sense.
The friend's son and daughter-in-law were trying to have a baby for a couple of years. I will not go into all of the details but there were lots of obstacles in their way. Finally, the son said to his wife, "We will turn it over to God and accept His will." She is now pregnant and due any day. What is your situation? Here is a solution: "Turn it over to God, and then wait patiently." Think On This: It is not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend. Matt. 18:10 - "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven." NASU
First, who is the "you" Jesus is referring to? The "you" is a reference to His 12 disciples (see vs.1). The disciples were discussing with themselves "who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." They present this question to Jesus and here is how He answers it. Jesus calls a child to His side and informs His disciples that if they don't become like this child they will not be entering into the kingdom of heaven (vs.2-6). Second, who is the "little ones" Jesus is referring to in verse 10? When He says, "See that you do not despise one of these little ones…"? The "little ones" is a reference to "little children" mentioned in verse 2 and 3 and to "young or new believers" in Jesus mentioned in verse 6. We are told not to despise or "think down upon" these little ones. Matt.18:1-14 uses the phrase "one of these little ones" three times (verses 6, 10 and 14). Matt. 18:6 - "…whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble,…" Matt. 18:14 - "So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish."
The disciples were discussing who was the greatest in the kingdom of God. You can be sure at the top of their list would not have been a little child nor a new believer in Christ. Yet, Jesus says, "…their (the little children and new believers) angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven." We never want to forget this: God is interested in children and new believers in Christ. In fact, He is interested in them so much that He has assigned an angel to them and the angels have immediate access to Him to inform Him of what is happening in their lives. So what do Guardian Angels do? They report to God what is happening in the lives of the "little ones."
"SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET"? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? NASU Angels are ministering spirits sent out by God to render service to those who will inherit salvation or Christians. Yes, Christians have angels helping them during their life. In fact Jesus even told this story about what happened to a man named Lazarus after he died: Lk 16:22 - "Now the poor man (Lazarus) died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom;…" The angels carried him away after he died. I believe you and I have angels helping us. We might not be able to see them, but that doesn't mean they are not there. Ps 91:11 - "For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways." Now would probably be a great time to say, "Thanks" to the Lord for the angel who ministers to you. Think On This: When you believe in angels, you have friends in High Places. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend. Luke 5:3-6 - And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's,… And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. 4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." 5 Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets." 6 When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break;…" NASU
Then failure comes crashing through our life and we are bewildered. We are perplexed and we sit in unbelief that this has happened to us. "How could this happen to me? I was prepared. I had all the answers." I like what R. C. Foster said: "Their fruitless toil, through the night, gave Jesus His opportunity." Did you hear that? Their failure gave Jesus His opportunity. Your failures will give Jesus an opportunity to work with you like never before. It is always easier to work with some one who believes he needs help. At first, Peter didn't believe he needed any help. After all he was the fisherman. Jesus was a carpenter. After Jesus performs the miracle, and their boats are loaded with fish, Jesus goes from being "Master" which also could be interpreted "teacher" to LORD (vs.8). When we do things the Lord's way like Peter and his crew did there will be success.
I remember when I was first converted to Jesus and thought I had to speak to Him with King James English. I was so relieved when I was informed, "speak to Him in my own language." Of course, I left out the cuss words. You read His Word, and in so doing you are searching for answers to your life. You ask for His blessing on your endeavors. You ask Him to keep you from all evil and to protect you. You have to understand that sometimes He may even protect you from yourself by not allowing you to accomplish some things that would bring great harm to your life. When Jesus sees that you are able to handle the successes that can come in life. He will give them to you.
Think On These: Most failures are experts at making excuses. Failure is a better teacher than success, but seldom finds an apple on her desk. Failures are divided into those who thought and never did, and those who did and never thought. Happy 2017 To You All Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend. |
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