A Year of Grace

Matthew 20:29 – As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind. ³⁰ Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”   ³¹ “Be quiet!” the crowd yelled at them.  But they only shouted louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

³² When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, “What do you want me to do for you?”  ³³ “Lord,” they said, “we want to see!” ³⁴ Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him. (NLT)

When I was a younger Christian this passage always puzzled me. Here were two blind men, begging for mercy from Jesus.  Jesus asks what I once thought was a strange question:  “What do you want me to do for you?”  Wasn’t it obvious?  Could Jesus not see what they were in need of? 

The answer to both of these questions was – of course!  It was obvious, and Jesus knew what they needed.  Likewise, Jesus knows what we need. To understand why Jesus would ask a question with what appears to be an obvious answer, let us consider the following passage from the Book of James: “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? ² You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. ³ And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.” (James 4:1-3). 

Perhaps, we don’t scheme and kill to get what we want, or do we?  I’ve witnessed plenty of relationships destroyed over earthly desires.  I’ve seen families broken and torn apart all in the ‘pursuit of happiness’.  When we read about blind men asking for mercy, we know what they need.  When we ask for mercy, is it as clear?  What do we really need, and what is it we really want Jesus to do for us?

From these verses let us learn two things.  First, we need to evaluate the difference between our desires and our needs. Second, let us be quick to go to God for our needs. The Lord’s Prayer still stands out as a great model for prayer even after two thousand years. Those who know me well know that I am not a prosperity Gospel preacher. I do not believe that God wants us to have bigger houses or bigger cars.  If we get those, praise God, but God is in the daily bread business.

Today is a great time for us to lay aside our myriad of earthly desires so that we can tell God what it is that we need. 

Posted by Ramón Torres

Matthew 20:20 – Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. ²¹ “What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”  ²² But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”  “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”   ²³ Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”

²⁴ When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. ²⁵ But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. ²⁶ But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. ²⁸ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (NLT)

On the face of this reading, it sounds as if the mother of James and John is a little out of place.  Perhaps, but consider what Jesus had told his followers in Matthew 19:28-29 – “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”  As in the end of this passage, Jesus followed his statement in chapter nineteen with this verse:  “But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” 

Throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus often spoke of kingdom life. Many Christians keep looking to the future for this kingdom. While the fullness of God’s kingdom has not yet come for us here, we can experience something of this kingdom right here and now, and in this passage Jesus shares with us how. We can experience kingdom life now by living a life of servanthood. Jesus shares with us here, and throughout the Gospels, that kingdom life is radically different from the life that this world offers. Joy in kingdom life is found by serving others.

We experience joy when we serve.  Each of us probably knows this joy through mission work, whether abroad or locally. Serving others benefits both those being served and the one serving. The world has a strong pull on us, however. For various reasons, we often find it difficult to give of our time. When we endeavor to live life in the kingdom, we begin to recognize that time is not ours to begin with, it is God’s.

Today, give back some of the time that God has given you. Serve someone. No service is too small in the kingdom! 

Posted by Ramón Torres

Matthew 16:21 – From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.

²² But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!”  ²³ Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. ²⁵ If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. ²⁶ And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? (NLT)

In today’s reading, Jesus had been telling his disciples of the things that would soon take place in Jerusalem.  Just a few verses before today’s reading, Jesus had praised Peter for being blessed with the spiritual insight to recognize Jesus for who he was – the Son of the Living God.  Here, however, Jesus rebukes him strongly, saying, “Get away from me Satan!”  How could Peter get turned around so quickly?  The same way that we can get quickly turned around.  The answer is there in verse twenty-three: “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

I don’t believe that Peter was aware that he had become a spokesperson for Satan.  I’m sure that he spoke out of a genuine concern and love for Jesus, but he was not seeing things from God’s point of view.  Peter was genuinely concerned, but he was still wrong.  When we take our eyes off of God, we, like Peter, can be well intentioned and still become a spokesperson for Satan.  There can be times in the life of any disciple of Jesus in which they do not make a deliberate choice to reject the things of God, and yet still stand opposed to the things of God.   

How can we make sure that we are seeing things from God’s point of view?  We see things from God’s point of view by staying in constant contact with God.  We stay in God’s Word.  We stay in contact with trusted Christian friends who hold us accountable.  We maintain a spirit of worship.  We pray before we react.  These are the things that we must continually strive to do so that we will not unknowingly reject the things of God.   

Today, let us stay connected to God so that we will see things from God’s point of view. 

Posted by Ramón Torres

Amos 5:18 – Woe to you who long
    for the day of the Lord!
Why do you long for the day of the Lord?
    That day will be darkness, not light.
¹⁹ It will be as though a man fled from a lion
    only to meet a bear,
as though he entered his house
    and rested his hand on the wall
    only to have a snake bite him.
²⁰ Will not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light—
    pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?

²¹ “I hate, I despise your religious festivals;
    your assemblies are a stench to me.
²² Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
    I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
    I will have no regard for them.
²³ Away with the noise of your songs!
    I will not listen to the music of your harps.
²⁴ But let justice roll on like a river,
    righteousness like a never-failing stream!

 Today, across our nation, many will gather to remember the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.  They will gather to remember not only the life of a man, but the life of a movement. This great movement, which for this country found its voice in Martin Luther King, did not begin with Martin Luther King.  This movement did not begin in this country.  From our reading from an ancient prophet, we hear that this movement was alive some twenty-eight centuries ago. 

 “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”  These words were spoken by a simple herdsmen named Amos who could not understand how a people who claimed to worship a God of justice could then turn around and use their system of human justice as an instrument of their own greed.  Indeed, in the days of Amos the name of God was used to oppress the poor, and Amos, a simple herdsmen by trade, could not stand idly by and watch as the children of God were ruthlessly burdened in the name of justice.  So, the prophet cried out, “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

 Amos was not blind to the fact that the government of the land, which by all rights should have stood up for those who could not stand for themselves, was corrupt and unjust. The courts were easily swayed by money. Not only were the poor oppressed, but the opportunity for a fair trial was non-existent. Perhaps worst of all, Amos recognized that the religious institutions of the day, while busy with its various religious activities, was totally oblivious to the living conditions of the common people.  To be sure, there were sacrifices and prayers of every kind, but what did all this religion amount to except to nurture a false hope?

Likewise, Martin Luther King could clearly see things that many people refused to see.  He had the power to speak out against injustice.  Most of all, he realized that if religion was to be true to its nature it must be concerned not just with religious rituals and prayers, but that it must be concerned with all of life.  While still a young man Martin Luther King had the courage to face those who hated him and boldly proclaim that: “Any religion that professes to be concerned with the souls of men and is not concerned with the slums that damn them, the economic conditions that strangle them, and the social conditions that cripple them is a dry-as-dust religion.”

 It was a dry as dust religion that Amos sought to change.  Through Amos, God spoke to the people. God told them that it was not sacrifices that satisfied the heart of God.  It was not feasts; it was not elaborate shows of fanciful assemblies.  The songs that God’s children offered up in praise of God were nothing more than noise.  Indeed, God refused to even listen to their music!  What made Amos a visionary is the same quality that made Martin Luther King a visionary.  Like Amos, Martin Luther King challenged the entire religious system.  He did not challenge a few.  He did not challenge the black church. He did not challenge the white church. He challenged the Church – all of Christianity. He challenged the whole system, from smallest congregation in the backwaters of Mississippi to the largest and fanciest churches in New York City.  Martin Luther King, Jr., challenged the church to understand the true nature of God.

The issue for Amos came down to the understanding of the very nature of God.  That was the issue for Martin Luther King, Jr., as well.  This must be our issue today.  Our actions, our behavior, must be modeled after our beliefs and concepts of God Almighty.  This is true for our congregations, and this is true for us as individual Christians.  Because of our understanding of the nature of God, each of us must seek to relate to one another as God would, not as we would like. 

Amos, though he lived thousands of years ago, was ahead of his time when it came to spiritual insight.  Martin Luther King, Jr., knew those same insights.  And we, three millennia after Amos, six decades after Martin Luther King, Jr., must continue to strive to achieve what they could see so well – injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.  Whatever we do to the least of the children of God, we do to God. 

Posted by Ramón Torres

Acts 24:10 – The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you. ¹¹ You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple. ¹² My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city. ¹³ These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing. 

¹⁴ “But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. ¹⁵ I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. ¹⁶ Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.

¹⁷ “After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. ¹⁸ My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. ¹⁹ But some Jews from the province of Asia were there—and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me! ²⁰ Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of, ²¹ except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’” (NLT)

Historically speaking, this passage is rather straight forward.  Paul had arrived in Jerusalem and was quickly arrested (Acts 21).  Paul reveals that he is a Roman citizen, and his case is moved to a Roman official. He is taken from Jerusalem to Caesarea, where the local Roman Governor will officiate over his trial.  In today’s passage, Paul is given his opportunity to speak.

There is one line in Paul’s defense that I find striking: “I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!”  What if we were on trial for what we believe?  Would we be able to defend ourselves?  When I consider Paul’s testimony, I am reminded of what the Apostle Peter wrote:  “If someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.” (1 Peter 3:15-16).

There are many programs, books, and seminars that would teach us how to share our faith.  I have had personal experience with a number of these.  Some are great, some are rather harsh.  Yet, the truth remains: As Christians we should always be prepared to explain why we put our hope and trust in Jesus, and we must do this in a way that is respectful to those who are listening.

If you cannot plainly explain the hope that you have in Jesus, I encourage you to learn how.  Your pastor will probably know some great resources for you, or perhaps your pastor will teach you. 

Today, prepare yourself to share with others the hope that you have! 

Posted by Ramón Torres

2 Peter 1:1 – This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ.  I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.

² May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. ³ By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. ⁴ And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

⁵ In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.  ⁸ The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. (NLT)

It’s a new year and many people have made resolutions to better themselves.  Have you ever wondered how much money is spent on books, seminars and workshops that are designed to help people become better parents, or a better spouse?  Many men and women truly desire to be better, and in this passage we are told that God has already given us everything we need to be a better person.  In fact, “God has given us everything we need for living a godly life” (verse 3).  I am not saying that all the books and seminars and workshops designed to help us become better in our relationships are wrong (I’ve spent my fair share of money on them), but I am saying that if they are not based upon biblical principles, then they probably won’t produce much change. 

We are told that all that we need for living a godly life comes from God’s divine power.  How do we tap into this divine power?  Is there a secret formula?  The answer is also there in verse three:  “We have received all of this by coming to know him.”  God does supply us with all we need to live a godly life, but we must nurture our relationship with God in order to receive what we need.  Nurturing a relationship takes time and effort.  We live in a time when many people do not bother putting forth the effort to foster and maintain good relationships.  Good marriages do not happen by accident, they take work.  Those who truly seek to live a Christ like life are called disciples for a reason – it takes discipline.

Today let us resolve to discipline ourselves. Let us nurture our relationship with God through Jesus Christ so that we can receive all that we need today for living a godly life.   

Posted by Ramón Torres

I love the Christmas season! I love the music, the food, the fellowship.  I love it all!  I never feel as if Christmas celebrations start too early! However, I do feel that they end too soon. Why do I feel this way? Well, what is the first part of Christmas? Christ!  What I love celebrating is Christ. Wouldn’t it be nice if we really could celebrate the presence of Jesus Christ all year long? What if we could celebrate in July the presence of Jesus Christ as we do in December? No doubt, some of you may be saying, “I’m not cooking pecan pies and pumpkin rolls in July!” And I suppose we would grow weary of the continual business of the celebration.  Or would we?

When we consider what we celebrate – the prescreens of God Almighty, who came to earth to pay for our sins and secure our place in heaven – perhaps we should strive to live out our lives in continual celebration for Jesus, our Christ! I am reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul who said: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). I find it interesting that Paul says, “I will say it again!” He stresses the again because sometimes we need to hear it again, and again. 

My prayer for each and every one of you as this Christmas Season continues is that you will rejoice! I pray that you will rejoice again and again throughout the year, and every day, for what God has offered to you at no price – grace, forgiveness, and eternal life. 

Today, and everyday, let us celebrate the gift of Christ our Savior!

Posted by Ramón Torres

I love this time of year!  There is nothing about the month of December that I don’t like.  I enjoy all of the Christmas preparations.  I love giving presents.  I love spending extra time with family and friends.  However, while it is certainly, “the most wonderful time of the year,” the truth is that with all the extra things that happen, it can also be the busiest time of the year.  Even though we have our catchphrases like, “Jesus is the reason for the season,” and “Keep Christ in Christmas,” the busyness of the season creeps into our lives.  We love Christmastime, but sometimes we lose focus. 

There is a story in the Gospel of Mark of the apostles doing many great things.  They return to Jesus and report to him of the great things being done (Mark 6:30).  The busyness of the Apostles was certainly a good thing.  They had driven out demons, and healed many sick people (Mark 6:13).  What I find interesting is the response that Jesus gives to the Apostles for their work: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

During this busy time of year, packed with one thing after another to do, one place after another to go, we would do well to spend some time with Jesus in a quiet place.  The rest would do us all some good.  Whatever wonderful things are happening in your lives this December, take some time to rest.  Let’s not get so wrapped up in celebrating the birth of Jesus on the 25^th that we forget to celebrate the presence of Jesus this day.    

Merry Christmas! 

Posted by Ramón Torres

Luke 12:22 – Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. ²⁴ Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! ²⁵ Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? ²⁶ And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

²⁷ “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. ²⁸ And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 

²⁹ “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. ³⁰ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. ³¹ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. (NLT)

In the verses that come just before this passage, Jesus told the parable of the rich fool.  Remember, the man in that parable wanted to tear down his old barns in order to build bigger barns so that he could store more wheat.  The man had more than enough to begin with, but he wanted more, and he died before he could realize his dream.  This is why Jesus begins this passage with, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life.”  

The people to whom Jesus spoke were, for the most part, poor peasant people.  We live like kings compared to their lives, yet we continue to worry about everyday life.  An abundance of possessions will not remove worry from our lives.  Indeed, we live in a rich land, yet anxiety disorders are an epidemic in our country.  In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders are the number one mental health problem in America, surpassing even depression.  I am not suggesting that all with anxiety disorders have a spiritual problem, but I am suggesting that many of our worries are the symptom of a spiritual problem.  

There are things in life that we should plan for, and there are some things in life for which we should have a reasonable amount of concern, but there are many things for which we should trust in God.  Notice in verse thirty that Jesus tells us that our Father knows our needs.  Much of our time worrying is not for needs, but desires.

Today, let us trust God for what we need.  Instead of worrying about what we desire, let us celebrate the multitude of blessings we already have!

Posted by Ramón Torres

Luke 10:25 – One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”  ²⁶ Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”  ²⁷ The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”  ²⁸ “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”  ²⁹ The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
³⁰ Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
³¹ “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. ³² A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

³³ “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. ³⁴ Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

³⁶ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.  ³⁷ The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” (NLT)

In this well know passage from the Gospel of Luke, we have the theme of faith in action.  In this passage Jesus explains what a life lived for God and for others will look like through the story of the Good Samaritan.  Jesus makes it clear as to who are our neighbors, and they are anyone in need.  We can choose our friends, but we cannot choose our neighbors.  God does not play favorites, and neither should we.

What I find most striking about this passage is what started this conversation, and this answer from Jesus, was the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  For most people who have been churched their entire lives, they might lead this man down the famous “Roman Road”.  They might tell this man to confess Jesus as his Savior.  They might tell this man to repent and believe the Gospel.  All good and decent answers, but not the answer that Jesus gave!

Am I saying that we need not confess Jesus as our savior?  Not at all!  But I am saying that this passage, and others, tell us that if Jesus is our Savior, then there will be a different lifestyle in which we lead.  This lifestyle will be defined by service to our neighbors.

Which begs us to ask ourselves over and over again, who are our neighbors?  As we continue to struggle with the question – and we should – we will be led to live as one who has been saved by Jesus.  Paul reflected these words of Jesus some years later when he wrote: “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law” (Romans 13:8).

Today, let us ask ourselves, who are our neighbors?  Let us seek to love God, and love others, as we live as one of Jesus’ redeemed.  

Posted by Ramón Torres