Author: Chuck Musselwhite

The Greatest Commandment

Jesus was questioned by the Sadducees and Scribes right before He went to the cross. The subjects they challenged Him on covered almost every area of the Jewish faith. They were hoping to catch Him is some doctrinal error, but His answers not only answered, but astounded. One of the final questions came from the scribes asking Him the greatest commandment. He gave them two.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭12:30‬

“AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.'”

This command was first given in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. It is known as the Shema. Jews were to write this on a scroll of paper and then put it into a tiny box and nail it to their house doorpost. It was to remind them of what was most important. Jesus uses this to tells the Jews the greatest commandment. He summarizes the first four commandments into one.

Back Into Alignment

I have a friend who’s dad is a retired ironworker. He had built huge buildings and bridges over his career. Just recently, they called him out of retirement to help with a project that had gotten out of control. It was a high rise building four inches out of plumb by the fourth story. They…

Follow the Pattern

Were you very good at drawing within the lines? I wasn’t. It not that I was trying to be a rebel; I just had too heavy of a hand on my crayon. I know it is hip today to draw outside the lines because it supposedly expresses creativity. That can get us into trouble in other areas. When we stray outside the lines of doctrine, it gets us in trouble. Paul tells Timothy to follow the pattern.

2 Tim 1:13-14

Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

As the Apostle Paul begins his final letter, he gives some sound advice to his protege, Timothy. He tells him to follow the pattern of sound words he has heard and guard the good deposit the Holy Spirit has installed in him. To follow the sounds words means to stick to the teachings in which he was taught. Timothy followed Paul around for years, and Paul is telling him to follow his example. All of that good teaching needed to be guarded against unsound doctrine.

Learning to Forgive

Have you ever noticed how selfish toddlers can be? Their favorite word is “mine!” They don’t like sharing, and if someone takes their toy, they will often hurt the person. Teaching them to ask for forgiveness can be straight-up comedy. Nothing in their body wants to cooperate. Learning to forgive others when they have done something wrong is even more difficult.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭11:25

“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.”

Jesus was never shy when He spoke on the topic of forgiving other people. Here He tells us that if we are in church worshipping and haven’t forgiven somebody, then we need to go and make things right so that God will forgive us. Essentially what Jesus is saying is that we need to want to forgive others as much as we want God to forgive us. That’s easier said than done.

Your Greatest Gain

Yesterday the stock market hit a new high, property values reached all-time levels, and consumer confidence is on the rebound. The gurus would have you believe that the rebound is happening, and prosperity is right around the corner. Before you drink the kool-aid and buy into what they are selling, ask yourself one question, “Is this all there is?” Your greatest gain shouldn’t be in your portfolio or bank account but in your spirit. Your greatest gain comes with the combination of godliness and contentment.

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:6

“But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.”

As a young pastor, Timothy has a lot of challenges coming at him all at once. It would be easy to focus on the wrong goals and end up frustrated. His mentor, Paul, tells him how to take those in stride. Before Timothy was to work on the issues of the church, he was to work on himself. Paul tells him to build godliness and be content. If Timothy concentrated on those, the mounting stress of the church would diminish.

Eye of the Needle

The legend has it that there was a small gate in the wall that surrounded Jerusalem. When they closed the main gate at sunset this small gate, called the “eye of the needle” was the only way you could get in and out of the city. It was only big enough for a human to walk through. If you had a camel and needed to get inside, the camel would have to get on its knees and crawl. That wasn’t an easy task, and Jesus uses it as an example to make His point.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:25‬

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

This scripture always catches people off guard. First, you ask yourself, “Is it impossible for a rich person to go to heaven?” Next, you look at it and wonder how a camel can go through the eye of a needle? Jesus is trying to make a point. Money can get in the way of us following Him. Paul tells us that the desire for money is the root of all evil. If we allow it to consume us, it will make us do things we would’ve never considered before.

Provide for Your Family

One of the primary responsibilities, when you get married, is to provide for your family. This means the essentials like food, clothing, and shelter. For most people, this is a no-brainer, and we do it willingly. For others, it is a struggle because of the hard-luck that has befallen them. To forsake our families when we are capable of working is one of the lowest acts in God’s eyes.

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭5:8

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Paul was big on Christians being responsible. Previously, he had said that if you do not work, you will not eat. Today, we look at a verse directed at the men of the house and their responsibility to provide for their family. If they don’t, it is an act that is equal to denying their faith, and you rank lower than an unbeliever. You can almost sense from the tone of Paul’s words that he is tired of dealing with this issue.

Jesus’ Death Gives Us Life

I watched a video the other day of a father riding across the United States on his bicycle to raise money and awareness for organ donors. One stop was in Louisiana to meet the person who received his daughter’s heart after her sudden and tragic death. As he put a stethoscope on the man’s heart, he realized that her death gave life to this man. When we look at the cross, we need to understand that Jesus’ death gives us life.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭9:31‬

“For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.”

Jesus told the disciples several times that He would have to die but that He would rise again. Each time they heard the first part and were so grieved by it that they didn’t hear the second part. Even after Jesus’ death, they forgot His words about His resurrection. It wasn’t till the ladies at the tomb told them, and Jesus appeared to them in the upper room did it dawn on them that He was telling them all along.

Profit for Your Present Life

In the Greek and Roman societies during Paul’s time, athletic ability and body image were worshiped. The Greeks had the Olympics and their gods, who were revered for their beauty and strength. The Romans had their emperors and military, which projected power and domination. Paul contrasts that by telling us what is truly profitable, disciplining ourselves for godliness.

‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:7-8

“But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

In the Greek and Roman societies during Paul’s time, athletic ability and body image were worshiped. The Greeks had the Olympics and their gods, who were revered for their beauty and strength. The Romans had their emperors and military, which projected power and domination. Paul contrasts that by telling us what is truly profitable, disciplining ourselves for godliness.

What Would You Say?

I had a teacher who would often say to the class, “opinions are like ears; everyone has two of them.” I would always be one of the few to laugh, not because I got it, but because it was true. Everybody usually has two opinions on the same subject, and they usually contradict one another. If someone asked you about Jesus, what would you say? Would you tell them that He is the Son of God who came to earth to forgive your sins?

Mark 7:27-29

And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”

Jesus wasn’t asking these questions for His ego. He was asking them to see if the Disciples would trumpet what others were saying or if they genuinely believed in their hearts that Jesus was the anointed one. Israel had a history of rejecting the people God had sent them. It started with Joseph, then to Moses, King David, the Prophets, and finally, Jesus. Were those Jesus picked going to profess He was the Messiah?